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Virginia Switchblade & Automatic Knife Laws (2026)

Permitted: Switchblades are legal for adults — VA repealed possession/transfer limits (2022) and removed them from the concealed-carry ban list (2023); only ballistic knives remain prohibited to sell/give (18.2-311).

PermittedVerified Jul 7, 2026

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Official source: law.lis.virginia.gov →

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

Switchblade & Automatic Knife Laws in states bordering Virginia

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

District of ColumbiaRestricted
Switchblade knives are banned: it is unlawful to possess a switchblade knife in the District of Columbia (D.C. Code 22-4514(a)).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: code.dccouncil.gov · Full District of Columbia 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 →
MarylandRestricted
Owning and openly carrying a switchblade is legal, but Md. Crim. Law 4-105 bans selling/transferring it and 4-101 bars carrying it concealed.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: mgaleg.maryland.gov · Full Maryland rule →
North CarolinaConditional
No NC statute bans owning or openly carrying an automatic knife, but a switchblade isn't an 'ordinary pocket knife,' so it can't be carried concealed off one's premises (N.C.G.S. 14-269(d)).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: ncleg.gov · Full North Carolina 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 →
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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