are balisongs legal in maryland

M

Mr Krieg

Joined
Feb 3, 2014
Messages
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basically just read the title, i was thinking about buying a balisong this morning (most likely a benchmade) and i was just wondering if they are legal in maryland, because if not im not going to spend the mondey to get one
just seeing if anyone on here knows before i go cruising around the internet
 
Yes they are. Maryland's knife laws contain exception for "penknives" which do not count as weapons under the law. A penknife is any knife that folds into it's handle when not in use, regardless of size, according to the case Mackall v State, and it has been upheld numerous times. A balisongs folds into it's handle, just in a different orientation than a single-pivot folder. Furthermore, the switchblade statutes does not cover them because that law contains language requiring a spring and actuator to be involved.

You can find them for sale in many knife stores in the state without a problem.
 
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