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Ohio Switchblade & Automatic Knife Laws (2026)

Permitted: SB 140 (eff. 4/12/2021) repealed Ohio's switchblade/gravity-knife ban; only 'ballistic knives' remain restricted, so automatic knives are legal to own and carry (ORC 2923.11).

PermittedVerified Jul 7, 2026

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Official source: codes.ohio.gov →

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

Switchblade & Automatic Knife Laws in states bordering Ohio

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Switchblade/automatic knives are legal to own and carry statewide; Indiana repealed its switchblade ban in 2013, and IC 35-47-5-2 now bans only ballistic (projectile-blade) knives.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 →
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 →
MichiganPermitted
Michigan repealed its switchblade/automatic-knife ban (MCL 750.226a) via Public Act 96 of 2017, so automatic knives are legal to own and carry.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: legislature.mi.gov · Full Michigan rule →
PennsylvaniaPermitted
Act 119 of 2022 (eff. Jan 2, 2023) struck automatic/switchblade knives from 18 Pa.C.S. 908's 'offensive weapons' definition, making them legal to own and carry in PA.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: legis.state.pa.us · Full Pennsylvania 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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