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Illinois Switchblade & Automatic Knife Laws (2026)

Conditional: Switchblade/automatic knives are legal to own and carry for a person with a valid Illinois FOID card (720 ILCS 5/24-1(e)(2)); ballistic knives stay banned for everyone.

ConditionalVerified Jul 7, 2026

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Official source: ilga.gov →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Switchblade & Automatic Knife Laws in states bordering Illinois

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

IndianaPermitted
Switchblade/automatic knives are legal to own and carry statewide; Indiana repealed its switchblade ban in 2013, and IC 35-47-5-2 now bans only ballistic (projectile-blade) knives.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: iga.in.gov · Full Indiana rule →
IowaPermitted
Automatic/switchblade knives are legal for adults to own and carry; Iowa Code 702.7 lists them as 'dangerous weapons' but no law bans possession and 724.5 permits unlicensed carry.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: legis.iowa.gov · Full Iowa rule →
KentuckyPermitted
Kentucky has no ban on automatic/switchblade knives; adults may own and carry them, though any knife other than an ordinary pocket or hunting knife is a 'deadly weapon' under KRS 500.080(4).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov · Full Kentucky rule →
MissouriPermitted
Missouri repealed its switchblade ban in 2012; owning or carrying an automatic knife is legal unless done in violation of federal law (RSMo 571.020.1(6)(d)).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: revisor.mo.gov · Full Missouri rule →
WisconsinPermitted
Wisconsin repealed its switchblade ban via 2015 Act 149; no statute restricts automatic, OTF, gravity or other knives by type, and any adult may own and carry them (Wis. Stat. 941.23).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov · Full Wisconsin rule →

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