In Washington State, these knives are considered « feather blade knives. » This means that you are not legally allowed to sell, possess, dispose of or manufacture butterfly knives. It is legal to have a butterfly knife in the state of Michigan because that state considers butterfly knives to be « folding knives. » In the United States, butterfly knives are illegal in eight different states with varying degrees of legality. States where a person cannot legally own a butterfly knife include: It is not clear whether it is legal or illegal to wear butterfly knives in New Jersey, as the criminal law is ambiguous. Serious lovers of pocket knives and EDCs know that traveling with knives can be challenging. It is not surprising that knives are dangerous. And as such, many countries and individual states here in the United States have different laws about what makes a pocket knife compared to a gun (usually the length of the blade) and whether it`s legal to own or sell it. Of all the styles and shapes of knives, the butterfly knife, also known as the Balisong knife, is the most commonly criminalized. Below you will learn where and why the butterfly knife has been classified as illegal. Since January 1989, the British government has classified butterfly knives as offensive weapons. This means that it is illegal to wear them in a public place, although it is allowed to possess them in private.
Ballistic knives are also illegal in California under The Penal Code 21110 PC But since butterfly knives now tend to serve strictly decorative purposes, your best bet is to find beautifully made Balisongs, in reputable knife stores or sometimes in antique stores. Wherever you try to buy butterfly knives, be sure to familiarize yourself with local knife legislation. As you can see, the answer to the question « Are butterfly knives legal? » is quite complicated. If it is said to be illegal, it is not legal to do any of the aforementioned things. Some other states also allow the possession of butterfly knives as long as the knives are not hidden. In addition to Utah and Oregon, visible butterfly knives are also allowed in Wyoming, North Dakota and Oklahoma. Owners of butterfly knives in New York must also have a proper hunting or fishing license to make their harbor legal. Let`s take a look at everything you need to know about butterfly knives and their legality. Under Virginia state law, it is legal to open and hide carrying bags. In the state of Texas, a butterfly knife is considered a switching blade. It was therefore illegal to own, manufacture, sell, repair or transport butterfly knives in the state.
As of September 2013, however, switch sheets were legalized. Butterfly knives are also known as balisongs, fan knives and batanga knives. Originally from the Philippines, it is a kind of foldable pocket knife. Rolling-powered Balisongs have small ball bearings housed in a circular concavity around the hole in the pivot point. These bearings make it possible to rotate the handles of the Balisong. In the United States, legality varies from state to state. For example, in Hawaii, it is illegal to own, manufacture, sell, transfer or transport songs from Bali. In California, all knife blades larger than 2 inches are banned, so many butterfly knives would fall into this category. But in Maine, it`s legal to buy, sell, and wear Balisongs/Butterfly Knives. The legality of butterfly knives tends to revolve around their designation as « gravity counters » or « switching blades. » Since balisongs don`t have much use, it`s easy to call them weapons.
In addition, butterfly knives can be extremely dangerous. With enough skill, they can be opened extremely quickly (like a switch blade) and cause serious damage. Butterfly knives were declared illegal in Germany after the Erfurt massacre in July 2003. In this country, it is illegal to buy, own, carry, lend, modify, exchange, use or manufacture butterfly knives. There are also pure washer beacons, which are usually much cheaper and of lower quality than other types, since they do not require rings, but the handles still bind to the tang when the screws are tight enough and the washers, alder and handles wear out much faster due to the increased friction. The legality of a knife depends on the type of knife and how some states classify it. Some states classify butterfly knives as switching blades, daggers, or gravimeters, so it`s illegal to possess them in these areas. In the state of California, it is legal to own an automatic knife if you keep it at home. However, any Nice that has a blade more than 2 inches long is illegal to carry or carry. The overlap of these laws can be confusing. Legal advice from a criminal defense attorney can help clarify things for people who want to carry knives for self-defense purposes.
Butterfly knives are illegal in some states for several reasons. First, they are often associated with criminals. This is because many movies feature criminals with butterfly knives. Many knife enthusiasts feel that this is not a legitimate reason to ban these knives, as there is no data showing that criminals are actually more likely to use butterfly knives than other knives. As long as a butterfly knife does not represent an objective danger in the state of Massachusetts, it is legal to be worn both secretly and openly. However, there are some limitations depending on where the knife is transported. I occasionally see posts/comments in the question feed about the legality of Balis in different parts of the US/world, so I thought I`d launch this guide together. I know that KnifeUp is where we usually recommend people to visit it, but I thought, since no one has created a versatile guide yet, that it could be useful. I`ve referenced three reputable online sources for these laws, but if something goes wrong, let me know. As always, city/county/municipality laws may vary by area, so if you`re really paranoid, it`s in your best interest to check with your local police department – but usually there`s no difference between state/city law.
In the state of Kentucky, it is legal to carry a hidden or outdoor butterfly knife in a place where it is not otherwise prevented from possessing and hiding a lethal weapon. Cities and counties in the state of Kentucky are unable to pass gun restrictions and laws due to the state constitution and revised laws. Much to the chagrin of many knife lovers, these controversial blades have restrictions in several countries around the world. While the legality of butterfly knives in the United States varies from state to state, the USPS prohibits the shipment of this type of knife because of its link to crime and violence. Butterfly knives, also called balisongs or fan knives, come from the Philippines. The term Balisong comes from the Tagalog words « balling sungay », which means « broken horn ». Initially, butterfly knives were used as self-defense tools or pocket knives. Some reports even claim that they were used as razor blades before they became popular.
The origin of the knives is unclear. Oral traditions claim that knives were first used in 800 AD. Were produced in the Philippines. However, there is no documentation or archaeological evidence to prove this. Mass production of Balisong in the Philippines can only be observed until the early 1900s. Another claim is that Balisong was originally an adaptation of a French measuring tool called King`s Foot, invented between the 1500s and the late 1700s. However, it is not known how it was introduced to the Philippines. There are theories that it could have been introduced by sailors from the Spanish Empire, which was then allied with the France. [8] [9] Most modern Bali songs, such as benchmade 51, do not use tang pins.
Instead, they use « zen pins, » which are two small pins built into the top of the Balisong`s handles and come into contact with the bottom of the blade. A Balisong with Zen pins cancels out the problem of Tang pins dropping (as is typical for some cheaper models). These laws only apply to Balisongs/butterfly knives, NOT to other types of knives There are two main types of Balisong construction: « sandwich construction » and « canal construction ». In Utah, the law is similar to that of the state of Oregon. It is legal to own these knives, but you are not allowed to hide or cover them. The vast majority of U.S. states allow butterfly knives. In fact, there are 42 butterfly knives of the rule of law. Some of the other eight states allow people to own butterfly knives, but severely restrict the use of these knives. Why are butterfly knives illegal in some places and not in others? What are the states where butterfly knives are legal? We will look at these issues and more in the following article.
It is illegal to hide a butterfly knife in North Dakota, even if you own one and are allowed to carry it openly. Even in states where the possession and carrying of knives is legal, there are still places where the possession of knives is strictly prohibited. All federal property falls into the category of these prohibited places. Citizens are not allowed to carry butterfly knives on federal property, hidden or otherwise, unless that person is a federal agent. But because balisongs has a rich history and such intricate and unique designs, you can find antiques that serve a purely aesthetic purpose. Many butterfly knives can have beautiful patterns that are reminiscent of damask knives. But if you are interested in collecting butterfly knives, it is better to learn where to start. Balisong has been banned in several countries, mainly because of its ease of use in crime and its ability to be easily hidden for the same purpose. In some jurisdictions, its criminal use is considered a knife crime.
