Automatic knife & balisong laws?

S

Skytorn

Joined
Jan 22, 2010
Messages
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Out of curiosity, what are the laws re: automatic knives and balisongs in the US?

I figured they must be legal in a state or two if so many companies make them.

Where can they be carried? Where can they be purchased?

Thank you!
 
laws may vary by state, county, and city.

your question is far too broad to provide a reasonable answer.
 
The major federal law that applies to automatics and balisongs is US Code Title 15, Chapter 29. Contrary to a great deal of misinformation, this law does not make these knives illegal in the US. It only makes them illegal to sell over state lines with the exceptions of police and military buyers. It (or it might be another statute) also prohibits the importation into the US from other countries, including kits.

Now not to sound like a broken record on this forum, but "is it legal" is an incomplete question. There is legal to own/possess, legal to sell, legal to carry openly and legal to carry concealed. There is a great deal of variability across states. States that prohibit any ownership are uncommon, but most make concealed carry illegal. Some states consider switchblades and balisongs to be one and the same (like California). Others restrict switchblades, but not balisongs (like Maryland).

The federal law in essence makes mail and online ordering illegal unless one has the unique fortune to live in the same state as the seller company AND there is no state law prohibiting sale or possession.
 
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how big is a fish :D

seriously, though, MORIMOTOM hit it on the head - your question would require a 3,000 part answer :(
 
zignal_zero said:
how big is a fish :D

seriously, though, MORIMOTOM hit it on the head - your question would require a 3,000 part answer :(
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Well I thought I covered it pretty well, but yeah I was hoping the poster would reply with something more specific.
 
glistam said:
Well I thought I covered it pretty well, but yeah I was hoping the poster would reply with something more specific.
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or at least have a region attached to his profile, so we had an idea where he was :)

ETA - YES, good job clearing up the whole federal law myth that seems to be as common as the: class 3 license, 3 step rule, palm sized blade limits, and barefoot driving :D
 
Glistam's answer was basically what I was looking for. This is just all out of curiosity. I live in UK at the moment, Canadian by citizenry, and in both of these countries balisongs and switchblades are illegal as hell.

I was under the impression that the same would be true in the US since otherwise every two-bit company would be making switchblades.

To inquire further, in what states is it legal to carry an automatic knife or balisong on your person, concealed or otherwise, in public, as a civilian?
 
Skytorn said:
Glistam's answer was basically what I was looking for. This is just all out of curiosity. I live in UK at the moment, Canadian by citizenry, and in both of these countries balisongs and switchblades are illegal as hell.

I was under the impression that the same would be true in the US since otherwise every two-bit company would be making switchblades.

To inquire further, in what states is it legal to carry an automatic knife or balisong on your person, concealed or otherwise, in public, as a civilian?
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That would be a little hard to compile with any certainty, but I can give some examples of states I am familiar with.

In Maryland (my neck of the woods), it is legal to carry automatics so long as they are not concealed. Strangely enough it is illegal to sell or even barter an automatic here, so the only way to legally obtain one is to travel out of state to somewhere like Arizona or Utah. Balisongs on the other hand are are considered "penknives" under state law due to case law. "Penknives" are knives that fold into their handles and are special exemption under MD weapon law such that they are not even considered weapons at all. So they are legal to carry even if concealed.

California considers both knives to be the same thing and makes them illegal to carry (concealed or not) or sell, but as an interesting departure from most states, exempts those with blades under 2". So you can legally carry a Pro Tech Runt or a Palacio mini balisong. You can also own +2" autos and balis in CA, but like MD you would have to travel out of state.

Vermont pretty much gives you free rein to carry anything, even a handgun without needing a permit. It is however illegal to sell an auto with a blade over 3". Go figure.

Utah they have little to no laws on knives except for a concealed "dangerous weapon" statute that is very subjective and is mostly based on intent instead of strict liability carrying. I note most Auto sellers are based in Utah.

Hope that helps.
 
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Skytorn -

i can only give you information on MY state (Florida). we have NO law targeting balisongs or switchblades. however, any knife other than "a common pocket knife" is considered a weapon. in Florida, it is illegal to CONCEAL a weapon without a permit. it is also illegal to openly carry a firearm (generally). openly carrying non-firearm weapons (switchblades, balisongs, swords, etc) is perfectly legal.

but you would have to specifically search state law for EVERY state you plan on living in or visiting. it get sticky, some states recognize concealed carry permits from other states, some don't. it's the United States, not the Uniform States, each of the 50 is a completely different animal.
 
What everyone else said :) As for Texas, you can own them, but you can't carry them unless they are in your home or vehicle. It's a bit tricky beyond that:

A folder over 5 1/2 inches is illegal to carry, but a switchblade is "prohibited." So...just to be safe, keep it under 5 1/2 inches and make it assisted opening or manual :p

To push things further, city ordinance where I'm at is 3 1/2 inches. Luckily, since I'm an officer in training (cadet) once I graduate I don't think that local ordinance is going to mean much :D
 
In Texas switchblades being a "Prohibited" item means you cannot own one (in your home or car), and balisongs are illegal to carry.

If your going to be an officer I would ask a bit more because I ahve seen cops get in some trouble for carrying an automatic knife.
 
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