Pennsylvania Switchblade Ban Repeal Takes Effect (2024)

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Pennsylvania Switchblade Ban Repeal Takes Effect? ›

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf today signed House Bill 1929, repealing Pennsylvania's ban on automatic knives! The repeal is effective on January 2, 2023. Until then possession of automatic knives (except as a curio) remains illegal in Pennsylvania.

The PA Switchblade Ban Repeal, or HB 1929, makes it legal to own and carry automatic knives in Pennsylvania – or will make it legal anyway, when it goes into effect on January 2, 2023.

At a Glance: As of January 3^rd, 2023, restrictions on the commerce, possession, and carry of automatic knives originally enacted in April of 1956 have been removed. No statewide laws limit the public carry of knives apart from sensitive locations, and criminal intent restrictions obtain in Pennsylvania.

January 2, 2023 - Gilbert, Arizona: Knife Rights' Repeal of Pennsylvania's ban on possession and carry of Switchblade Knives takes effect today, January 2, 2023. Manufacture and sale of automatic knives in the state is also now legal.

In January it became legal to carry an otf but PA is weird with knife laws. Different municipalities all have different knife laws and most of the time it's at the discretion of the officer anyways. In most places you're fine carrying a non auto with a blade 3.5" or less.

The state criminal code does not limit the size of the blade that can be carried, like many states do. Owning a butterfly knife, also known as a balisong knife, is allowed in Pennsylvania. Gravity knives, also known as paratrooper knives, are illegal under the Federal Switchblade Act.

There is this hazy part of the law called the “CURIO EXCEPTION” in Pennsylvania. This says, you can technically own any knife you want, but you have to make a good argument for your purpose in owning the knife. So if you own a 25-inch Japanese katana or an automatic knife, you need a compelling argument.

In california switchblades are perfectly LEGAL to Own and possess in your home. There is nothing in the CA penal code outlawing possession. They are just illegal to carry out in public places is all the law says about them. Where can you buy a switchblade?

1958, Congress enacted the federal Anti-Switchblade Act, which banned interstate sale of switchblades, and outlawed them in federal territories or on federal waters. Because few states had domestic switchblade factories at that time, the federal act made it illegal to purchase switchblades in most states.

What states are switchblades illegal? ›

A few states, among them Delaware, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Mexico, and New York, prohibit sale, transfer, ownership or possession of automatic knives or switchblades as deadly or prohibited weapons, while others such as New Hampshire and Arizona have no restrictions on sale, ownership, possession, or carry (with some ...

Is It Legal for People With Felonies To Own a Knife? The answer to this question is “yes.” Pennsylvania makes no distinctions when it comes to people with felonies or warrants owning knives.