Balisongs - Are they illegal in IL, USA?

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PuffTheMagicDragon

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Jan 29, 2014
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I really, really want a balisong, but I have recently learned that they are categorized as an "automatic knife" in my home state of Illinois. As such, you cannot order them online and have them shipped here. It's also really hard to find them being sold in a store or something, but my friend and I have found a flea market that sells them for about $20. I was wondering why they are classified as automatic knives, if it's illegal to carry one around, and if it's illegal for the guy at the flea market to sell them. Additionally, if it isn't illegal to carry one around, are there any legal restrictions on blade/overall length?
 
The word "automatic knife" does not appear anywhere in Illinois state law. The actual law is this (edited for brevity:

720 ILCS 5/24-1
Sec. 24-1. Unlawful Use of Weapons.
(a) A person commits the offense of unlawful use of weapons when he knowingly:
(1) Sells, manufactures, purchases, possesses or carries any bludgeon, black-jack, slung-shot, sand-club, sand-bag, metal knuckles or other knuckle weapon regardless of its composition, throwing star, or any knife, commonly referred to as a switchblade knife, which has a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle of the knife, or a ballistic knife, which is a device that propels a knifelike blade as a projectile by means of a coil spring, elastic material or compressed gas; or
(2) Carries or possesses with intent to use the same unlawfully against another, a dagger, dirk, billy, dangerous knife, razor, stiletto, broken bottle or other piece of glass, stun gun or taser or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument of like character; or
Click to expand...

No part of this law in any way describes a balisong. It's possible there is a local city law about them, but not at the state level.
 
Basically for IL as long as you are not carrying it with intent to harm someone, you can carry it. Unless it an automatic. Balisongs are not automatics. So don't say its for self defense to a cop.
 
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