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Kentucky Switchblade & Automatic Knife Laws (2026)

Permitted: 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).

PermittedVerified Jul 7, 2026

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Official source: apps.legislature.ky.gov →

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

Switchblade & Automatic Knife Laws in states bordering Kentucky

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

IllinoisConditional
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.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: ilga.gov · Full Illinois rule →
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Switchblade/automatic knives are legal to own and carry statewide; Indiana repealed its switchblade ban in 2013, and IC 35-47-5-2 now bans only ballistic (projectile-blade) knives.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 →
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Missouri repealed its switchblade ban in 2012; owning or carrying an automatic knife is legal unless done in violation of federal law (RSMo 571.020.1(6)(d)).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 →
OhioPermitted
SB 140 (eff. 4/12/2021) repealed Ohio's switchblade/gravity-knife ban; only 'ballistic knives' remain restricted, so automatic knives are legal to own and carry (ORC 2923.11).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: codes.ohio.gov · Full Ohio rule →
TennesseePermitted
Switchblades are legal to own, possess, transfer and transport — Public Chapter 647 of 2014 removed them from the prohibited-weapons list effective July 1, 2014. But the same act made employing a switchblade during a dangerous offense a Class D felony (39-17-1307(e)) and raised the maximum fine to $6,000 where the deadly weapon is a switchblade (39-17-1307(d)(3)(B)).
Verified Jul 30, 2026 · Source: publications.tnsosfiles.com · Full Tennessee rule →
VirginiaPermitted
Switchblades are legal for adults — VA repealed possession/transfer limits (2022) and removed them from the concealed-carry ban list (2023); only ballistic knives remain prohibited to sell/give (18.2-311).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →
West VirginiaPermitted
West Virginia bans no knife by type; switchblade, gravity and OTF knives are lawful 'deadly weapons' that adults 21+ may own and carry, concealed included, without a license (2016 constitutional carry).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: code.wvlegislature.gov · Full West Virginia rule →

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