Are Butterfly Knives Legal? Balisong Laws by State (2026 Guide)

Written by Nathaniel, in the workshop. Last checked 30 August 2026.

Quick answer: Yes. Butterfly knives (balisongs) are legal to own in the large majority of U.S. states. As of August 2026, only a handful of jurisdictions (New Mexico, Washington State, Washington D.C., and in practice New Jersey) prohibit them outright, while states like California heavily restrict sale and carry. In most other states you can legally own a balisong, though concealed-carry and blade-length rules vary widely.

Legal disclaimer: This guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. Knife laws change frequently and city or county ordinances can be stricter than state law. Always verify current statutes and consult local laws (or a licensed attorney) before buying, carrying, or transporting any knife. Last updated: August 2026.

What States Are Butterfly Knives Illegal In?

Four. That is the short list, and most pages bury it under two thousand words before they get to it.

• New Mexico. Balisongs are treated as switchblades and prohibited.
• Washington State. Prohibited under the state’s spring-blade statute.
• Washington, D.C. Prohibited.
• New Jersey. Prohibited in practice; possession without an explainable lawful purpose is an offence.

California is the state everyone asks about separately, and it earns that. Owning a balisong at home is generally lawful there, but sale and carry are heavily restricted. That puts it in its own category rather than on either list.

Everywhere else, ownership is generally lawful. Carry is the part that moves: by state, by county, and sometimes by the city you happen to be standing in. That is why every row in the table below carries a “verify locally” note, and why we are not going to tell you that you are fine.

We sell these knives, so read that list with the appropriate amount of suspicion and check it against the statute yourself. They are public documents. Our sources are linked at the bottom of this page, which is more than most pages ranking for this question bother to do.

Butterfly Knife Laws by State: Quick-Reference Table (2026)

The table below summarizes balisong ownership status in all 50 states plus Washington D.C. “Restricted” means ownership is generally allowed but carry, blade length, sale, or location rules apply. Read the notes and check your state’s current statute before carrying. Where sources conflict or no balisong-specific case law exists, we say so: consult local laws.

Statuses reflect ownership under state law as of August 2026, based on the sources listed at the end of this guide. “No restriction reported” rows rely on secondary databases rather than balisong-specific statutes. Always confirm before you buy or carry.

What Federal Law Says About Butterfly Knives

There is no federal law that bans owning a balisong inside your own state. The key federal statute is the Federal Switchblade Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. §§ 1241–1245), and it does three specific things:

• It regulates interstate commerce, not ownership. The Act prohibits knowingly manufacturing for, transporting in, or distributing switchblade-class knives in interstate commerce, with penalties of up to a $2,000 fine and five years in prison. It does not restrict purely in-state sales or possession within the 50 states.
• Balisongs are generally swept into the federal definition. The Act covers knives that open “by operation of inertia, gravity, or both,” and U.S. Customs has historically classified butterfly knives as switchblades for import purposes (CBP ruling HQ H019251; 19 CFR Part 12). The 2009 “bias toward closure” amendment that protects assisted-opening pocket knives does not help balisongs, because they have no spring biased toward closure.
• The federal possession ban is geographic, not general. Section 1243 applies only on federal lands, Indian lands, U.S. territories, and within special maritime jurisdiction. Not in the states generally.

Advocacy groups report ongoing Second Amendment litigation challenging the Federal Switchblade Act and certain state bans, so this area of law is actively moving. Two things are true everywhere regardless of state law: knives are prohibited past TSA security checkpoints (checked baggage only, per TSA rules), and schools, courthouses, and federal facilities are off-limits.

Butterfly Knife Legality: Owning vs. Carrying vs. Shipping Are Three Different Questions

Most confusion about balisong legality comes from mixing up three separate legal questions:

• Owning. Can you legally possess a balisong at home? In the large majority of states, yes. Even California allows home possession (it bans carry and sale of blades 2″ and over, not possession at your residence).
• Carrying. Can you take it with you in public? This is where most restrictions live. Several states allow open carry but prohibit concealed carry (Oregon, Hawaii, North Carolina, Rhode Island over 3″), and many others impose blade-length limits or permit requirements. A balisong that is perfectly legal in your safe can become a misdemeanor in your pocket.
• Shipping. Can a seller legally send one to your address? Interstate dealer shipments sit in a gray zone under the Federal Switchblade Act, and USPS prohibits mailing switchblade-class knives to civilians; reputable sellers use common carriers and refuse orders to prohibited jurisdictions. Expect any responsible U.S. retailer to decline live-blade orders to New Mexico, Washington State, Washington D.C., New Jersey, and California.

States Where Balisongs Were Recently Legalized or Deregulated

The clear trend over the past decade has been toward legalization. Recent verified changes:

• Hawaii (2024). For decades the best-known balisong ban, Hawaii legalized manufacture, sale, transfer, possession, and transport of butterfly knives on May 14, 2024 (HB 2342, Act 21), following the Teter v. Lopez Ninth Circuit litigation. Concealed carry remains banned, open carry only, and penalties are enhanced if a knife is used in a crime.
• Massachusetts (2024). The state’s switchblade ban was struck down on Second Amendment grounds in Commonwealth v. Canjura (Supreme Judicial Court, August 27, 2024). Balisongs are generally treated as legal since the ruling, though carry statutes still apply.
• Vermont (2025). Repealed its ban on switchblades with blades 3″ and over, with past convictions expunged, removing the last automatic-knife restriction on the books.
• Delaware (2025). SB 108 removed switchblade sale and possession restrictions.
• Earlier milestones. New York repealed its gravity-knife ban in 2019 (making balisong ownership legal statewide), and Texas’s 2017 HB 1935 reform made balisongs legal to carry (ownership was already lawful) with only location restrictions for blades over 5.5″.

One notable exception to the trend: Washington State. Its 2024 repeal bill (SB 5860) passed the Senate 45–3 but died in committee, and a second attempt (SB 5962) cleared the Senate Law & Justice Committee 8–1 in February 2026 before dying without a floor vote that same month, so the spring-blade ban there remains in force as of August 2026.

Are Balisong Trainers Legal?

Trainers, balisongs with a blunt unsharpened “blade” that has no cutting edge, are how most flippers learn. Because most knife statutes define the prohibited item by its blade, trainers generally fall outside those definitions and are treated as legal even in restrictive states. That said, a few strict jurisdictions define knives by mechanism rather than edge, and no state has litigated trainers specifically. If you live in a prohibited or heavily restricted state, consult local laws before ordering even a trainer.

A Filipino Craft, Not a Movie Prop

These laws exist for a reason that has nothing to do with the knife: 1980s action movies cast the balisong as a street weapon, and legislatures reacted. But the balisong is a traditional Filipino craft object with roots in Batangas province, where smiths have hand-forged them for generations as working knives and heirlooms. Understanding that heritage doesn’t change the law, but it explains why collectors, martial artists, and flipping enthusiasts treat the balisong as functional art rather than a threat, and why the legal trend keeps moving toward treating it like any other folding knife.

If Balisongs Are Legal in Your State

If your state appears green in the table above (and your city has no stricter ordinance), you can legally own a balisong, and there’s a real difference between a mass-produced flipper and a hand-forged Batangas blade. A few starting points from our workshop:

• Browse authentic Filipino balisong knives, hand-forged in the Batangas tradition.
• Looking for a gift or a collector’s piece? See our personalized butterfly knives with custom engraving.
• Already own one? Keep it smooth and rust-free with our knife care guide and supplies.

Before checkout, double-check three things: you’re 18 or older (many states restrict sales to minors), your shipping address is in a state where we can legally send a live blade, and your local city ordinances don’t add extra rules. If you’re in a restricted state, a trainer may be the right way to start. When in doubt, consult local laws first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are butterfly knives illegal in the United States?

No. There is no nationwide ban. Federal law only restricts interstate commerce in switchblade-class knives; ownership is governed by state law, and most states allow it. As of August 2026, outright prohibitions are limited to New Mexico, Washington State, Washington D.C., and (as a practical matter) New Jersey, with California heavily restricting sale and carry.

Why are butterfly knives illegal in some states?

Most bans date to switchblade-panic legislation of the 1950s–1980s, when the flipping action seen in movies led lawmakers to lump balisongs in with automatic knives, gravity knives, or “spring blade” knives. Courts and legislatures in Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, and Delaware have rolled those laws back in recent years.

Are butterfly knives legal in California?

Partially. A balisong with a blade of 2 inches or longer is classified as a switchblade under Penal Code § 17235, and Penal Code § 21510 makes it a misdemeanor (up to 6 months and/or $1,000) to carry it on your person, keep it in a vehicle in a public place, or sell/transfer it. Possessing one at home is legal, and balisongs with blades under 2 inches are legal.

Is it legal to buy a balisong online and have it shipped to my state?

If you live in a state where balisongs are legal, generally yes, though interstate shipments technically sit in a gray area under the Federal Switchblade Act, and USPS cannot be used for switchblade-class knives. Reputable sellers ship via common carrier and will not send live blades to prohibited jurisdictions (NM, WA, D.C., NJ) or California. Verify your own state and city rules before ordering.

Are balisong trainers (dull blades) legal everywhere?

Generally yes, because trainers have no cutting edge and most statutes define restricted knives by their blade. But a few jurisdictions regulate by mechanism, and there is little case law on trainers. If you’re in a prohibited state, consult local laws first.

Can I fly with a butterfly knife?

Only in checked baggage. TSA prohibits all knives, including balisongs and trainers, in carry-on bags. Also make sure the knife is legal both where you depart and where you land. Crossing into a ban state with a balisong in your luggage can create legal exposure.

How old do you have to be to buy a butterfly knife?

Many states restrict knife sales or transfers to minors, and most reputable retailers (including us) require buyers to be 18 or older. Check your state’s specific age rules before purchasing.

Can I carry a balisong concealed in my pocket?

Don’t assume so. Even in states where ownership is fully legal, concealed carry is frequently restricted. Oregon and Hawaii prohibit concealed balisong carry entirely, and many states impose blade-length limits (e.g., 3″ in Rhode Island, 3.5″ in Nebraska) or permit requirements. Check your state’s carry statute and local ordinances before pocketing one.

Is a butterfly knife illegal?

Not in most of the United States. Ownership is lawful in the large majority of states. Four jurisdictions ban them outright and California restricts sale and carry heavily. The question almost never has a national answer. It has a state answer, and often a city answer underneath that one.

Where are butterfly knives illegal?

At state level: New Mexico, Washington State, Washington D.C., and New Jersey in practice. Beyond that, several cities are stricter than the states they sit in, including New York City, Chicago, Denver and Philadelphia. A knife that is lawful to own two miles outside a city limit can be an offence inside it.

Are balisongs illegal, or is that a different knife?

Same knife. “Balisong” is the Filipino name and the older one. “Butterfly knife” is the English description of how the two handles open. Statutes use different words again: gravity knife, switchblade, spring-blade. That wording is exactly what decides whether the law catches it, so when you read your state’s statute, read the definition section and not just the offence.

What does butterfly knife legality actually depend on?

Three things, in this order: how your state’s statute defines the mechanism, whether you are owning it or carrying it, and whether your city has an ordinance of its own. Blade length matters in some states and is irrelevant in others. Whether the blade is sharpened rarely matters at all, because most legislation names the handle mechanism rather than the edge. That is why balisong trainers are not automatically legal where live blades are not.

Legal Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Knife laws change frequently. Several states have amended their statutes since 2024 alone, and municipal ordinances (such as those in New York City, Chicago, Denver, and Philadelphia) can be stricter than state law. Nothing here creates an attorney-client relationship. Before purchasing, possessing, carrying, or transporting a butterfly knife, verify the current law in your state and municipality using official statutes or a licensed attorney. Where our sources conflicted or no balisong-specific case law exists, we have said “consult local laws”. Take that seriously. Last updated: August 2026.

Sources

• Knife Rights. Federal Switchblade Act guide: kniferights.org/resources/federal-switchblade-act
• CBP ruling HQ H019251 (balisongs as switchblades for import): customsmobile.com; 19 CFR Part 12 import regulations: ecfr.gov
• California Penal Code § 21510: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov; analysis: shouselaw.com
• Hawaii legalization (HB 2342/Act 21, 2024): kniferights.org; akti.org/state-knife-laws/hawaii
• Massachusetts, Commonwealth v. Canjura (SJC 2024): mass.gov; akti.org
• New Mexico, NMSA § 30-7-8 and State v. Riddall (1991): akti.org/state-knife-laws/new-mexico; law.justia.com
• Washington, RCW 9.41.250 (current text): app.leg.wa.gov; failed repeals SB 5860 (2024) and SB 5962 (2026): legiscan.com/SB5860; legiscan.com/SB5962; akti.org/state-knife-laws/washington
• New Jersey, N.J.S. 2C:39-3(e): akti.org/state-knife-laws/new-jersey
• New York (2019 gravity-knife repeal; NYC Admin Code 10-133): legalclarity.org
• Connecticut (CGS § 53-206), Delaware, Minnesota: akti.org/connecticut; akti.org/delaware; akti.org/minnesota
• Delaware SB 108 (2025): legis.delaware.gov
• Vermont & Delaware 2025 reforms, ongoing litigation. Knife Rights 2025 year in review: theoutdoorwire.com
• State-by-state overviews (secondary sources used for generally uncontested states): worldpopulationreview.com; allowedhere.com; knifeinformer.com; legalclarity.org; artisancutlery.net; nobliecustomknives.com; coolkatana.com
• TSA knife rules: tsa.gov
• Texas HB 1935 (2017): kniferights.org; nobliecustomknives.com

Related guides

• Travelling With a Balisong: Flights, Borders and Shipping. Moving a knife rather than owning one: checked baggage, crossing state lines, shipping and customs.

Shop the collection

Once you have checked the law where you live, browse the authentic Filipino balisong collection for hand forged Batangas butterfly knives, or start at the Balisong Butterfly homepage to see every steel and handle we make.

• High carbon balisongs, our largest collection, tough and easy to sharpen.
• D2 tool steel balisongs, hand forged in the classic Batangas patterns.
• Damascus balisongs, forged from genuinely layered steel.
• Custom balisong knives, built to your steel, handle and engraving.