What kind of knives can you legally carry in Pennsylvania? (2024)

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Carrying a knife is a way of life for many Pennsylvanians.

(Shutterstock user Aleoks)

Carrying a knife is a way of life for many Pennsylvanians.

People use them every day for work, for sport, for crafting and for self defense. Knives are carried by everyone from avid sportsmen to soccer moms.

And unlike guns, the sale, possession and carrying of knives is not heavily regulated. But that doesn't mean there aren't any rules.

Pennsylvania and federal governments restrict which kinds of knives can be owned and where they can be legally carried.

PennLive spoke to knife advocates and law enforcement to clearly explain the rules and regulations relating to knives in Pennsylvania.

What does Pennsylvania's knife laws say?

Pennsylvania's criminal code makes it illegal for people to carry certain kinds of "offensive weapons." These prohibited weapons include bombs, grenades, brass knuckles, stun gun, blackjacks, some firearms and certain kinds of knives.

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Adam Reed said the code specifically prohibits any "dagger, knife, razor or cutting instrument" thats blade is "exposed in an automatic way by switch, push-button, [or] spring mechanism."

The code prohibits the possession of implements used "for the infliction of serious bodily injury which serves no common lawful purpose."

Does the federal government have knife limitations?

Yes. The U.S. Congress passed the Federal Switchblade Act in 1958 following the hysteria caused by movies and popular culture icons -- like James Dean in 'Rebel Without A Cause.'

The law prohibits the transportation, possession, sale and distribution of switchblade knives.

Switchblades are defined as any knife "having a blade which opens automatically -- (1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or (2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both."

In 2009, an exception to the law was passed that protects assisted opening knives -- which are typically opened using a flick of the thumb -- from being incorrectly considered a switchblade.

What knives are not allowed in Pennsylvania?

There are a number of knives thats blade is "exposed in an automatic way by switch, push-button, [or] spring mechanism" on the market that are not legal to own in Pennsylvania.

These knives include switchblades, gravity knives and ballistic knives.

Jan Billeb, executive director of the American Knife &Tool Institute, said her organization is actively working to repeal the prohibition on automatic knives in Pennsylvania.

"We view auto-open knives as useful tools that provide one-hand operation, and their prohibition impedes many tradesmen, such as electricians, plumbers, farmers, etc. from doing their jobs," she said.

What kind of knives are allowed?

It is legal to carry assisted-open knives, pocket knives, buck/bowie/hunting knives, butterfly/balisong knives, daggers and razors.

Any knife thats blade is not exposed "in an automatic way by switch, push-button, [or] spring mechanism" is allowed in Pennsylvania, Reed said.

Pennsylvania's knife laws are few and fairly easy to understand. But that's not the case in many states.

Other states place further restrictions on what kinds of knives can be carried, the size of the blades and where they can be carried.

"Some states have no or few laws, and some have very involved and confusing laws that do not include any definitions to help guide knife owners or law enforcement," Billeb said.

"We work on repeal of archaic terms and clarification for easy understanding of reasonable laws and changes that help consistent enforcement."

What does'common lawful purpose' mean?

While the state's knife laws are easy to understand, there is one area that is up for debate. That is the part of the law referring to "common lawful purpose."

Pennsylvania law says thattheknife mustserve a "common lawful purpose." The phrase has been debated and refined thanks to court cases.

In 1975, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania took up the issue of "common lawful purpose" after David Gatto was arrested for having a 30-inch knife in downtown Scranton.

The court ruled in Commonwealth v. Gatto. that the knife was an implement for the infliction of bodily injury and served no common lawful purpose.

Judge William Cercone said in his opinion that: "Had appellant been on a journey through the tropical rain forests of South America, attempting to travel by foot from Bogota, Colombia to Caracas, Venezuela, it could then be reasonably concluded that a thirty-inch knife had a common lawful purpose; but, appellant was in a high crime urban area of Scranton, Pa. at 3:30 in the morning."

What's the deal with carrying knives through different jurisdictions?

States have reciprocity agreements with one another that allow gun owners to legally transport firearms in both the state of origin and the state of destination. Billeb said no such agreements are provided for knife owners.

This means that issues can pop up due tothe current patchwork of knife laws incities, states, counties and towns. Like gun owners, Billeb said knife owners should be afforded the same type of protection.

Billeb said her organization has been leading the federal effort to pass the Knife Owner's Protection Act.

Where can I carry a knife in Pennsylvania?

Reed said the state law indicates that you cannot carry weapons -- including knives -- on school property or in court facilities. Knives are also not allowed in certain government facilities.