United States · checked 2026-10-26 · Medium confidence

Knife carry law in New York State (outside NYC local rules)

Possessing a switchblade (automatic) knife, cane sword, metal knuckle knife or ballistic knife is a misdemeanour. Gravity knives were removed from the ban on 30 May 2019. Daggers and other knives are an offence only with intent to use unlawfully, which police may infer. No statewide blade-length limit; New York City adds its own rules.

This summary rests on mostly official, partly secondary sources. Open questions are listed at the end. Treat anything marked unclear as a reason to leave the item at home.

How we apply the law

Rules are checked from the top. The first one that fits decides. Every verdict on this site comes from this list, not from hand typed cells.

1ProhibitedAny knife or tool, automatic
Mere possession of a switchblade is a class A misdemeanour under 265.01(1). The definition covers button or spring release in the handle.
Source
2UnclearAny knife or tool, spring assisted
Definition requires a blade that 'opens automatically'. Whether spring-assisted knives qualify depends on the mechanism and police/court view; We did not verify case law. Treat with caution.
Source
3No restriction foundAny knife or tool, gravity or flick opening
Gravity knives dropped from the per-se weapons list in 265.01(1) on 30 May 2019. NYPD still warns of arrest depending on circumstances and intent.
Source
4No restriction foundA fixed blade
No statewide length or carry ban found. Daggers, dirks and dangerous knives are an offence if possessed with intent to use unlawfully; possession itself is presumptive evidence of that intent (265.15(4)).
Source
5No restriction foundA folding knife, a multitool, a keychain tool or scissors only
No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Source
6No restriction foundAnything else
No specific statewide restriction found for other items; intent-based offences still apply.
Source

34 popular knives and tools, checked here

Specifications come from the makers. Where a maker does not publish the cutting edge length, a length rule can only be answered if even the full blade length falls on one side of the line. Otherwise the result is unclear, on purpose.

Product	Specs	Result
Buck 110 Folding Hunter	blade 95.3 mm (3.75 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Leatherman Arc	blade 70.1 mm (2.76 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Benchmade Bugout	blade 82.3 mm (3.24 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Victorinox Cadet (Alox)	blade 64 mm (2.52 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Victorinox Classic SD	blade 40 mm (1.57 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Victorinox Climber	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Morakniv Companion (stainless, Hi-Vis Orange shown)	blade 104 mm (4.09 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide length or carry ban found. Daggers, dirks and dangerous knives are an offence if possessed with intent to use unlawfully; possession itself is presumptive evidence of that intent (265.15(4)).
Spyderco Delica 4 (Lightweight)	65 mm cutting edge (2.56 in)	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Gerber Dime	blade 38.1 mm (1.50 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
CIVIVI Elementum	blade 75.2 mm (2.96 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Nagao Kanekoma Higonokami SK (Niwaki-sold Kanekoma)	blade 71 mm (2.80 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Victorinox Huntsman	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
ESEE Izula-II	blade 66.8 mm (2.63 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide length or carry ban found. Daggers, dirks and dangerous knives are an offence if possessed with intent to use unlawfully; possession itself is presumptive evidence of that intent (265.15(4)).
Spyderco Ladybug 3	43 mm cutting edge (1.69 in)	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Leatherman Micra	blade 40.6 mm (1.60 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Benchmade Mini Bugout	blade 71.6 mm (2.82 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
W.R. Case & Sons Mini Trapper	blade 69.9 mm (2.75 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Opinel No.07 Stainless Steel	blade 80 mm (3.15 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Opinel No.08 Stainless Steel	blade 85 mm (3.35 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Spyderco Para 3	67 mm cutting edge (2.64 in)	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Gerber Paraframe I (stainless, plain edge)	blade 76.5 mm (3.01 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Ontario Knife Company RAT Model 1 (RAT I)	blade 88.9 mm (3.50 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Spyderco Roadie	44 mm cutting edge (1.73 in)	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Leatherman Skeletool CX	blade 66 mm (2.60 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Victorinox Spartan	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Spyderco Squeak	44 mm cutting edge (1.73 in)	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
CRKT Squid (Thumbstud)	blade 54.76 mm (2.16 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Leatherman Squirt PS4	blade 40.6 mm (1.60 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Victorinox Swiss Card Classic	blade length not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X	blade length not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
W.R. Case & Sons Trapper	76.2 mm cutting edge (3.00 in)	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Leatherman Wave Plus	blade 74.2 mm (2.92 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No statewide restriction on ordinary non-automatic folders or tools found, apart from the intent offence. Local rules (NYC), schools and transit apply.
Kershaw Leek	blade 76.2 mm (3.00 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why Definition requires a blade that 'opens automatically'. Whether spring-assisted knives qualify depends on the mechanism and police/court view; We did not verify case law. Treat with caution.
CRKT Squid Assisted	blade 60.2 mm (2.37 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why Definition requires a blade that 'opens automatically'. Whether spring-assisted knives qualify depends on the mechanism and police/court view; We did not verify case law. Treat with caution.

What the verdict does not cover

Public transport and restricted zones: Schools: 265.01-A school-grounds offence exists (text not read). NYC transit bans weapons (NYPD). Other zones not verified.
Schools, workplaces and events: School grounds offence under 265.01-A not opened this session; courts and federal buildings have separate rules.
In a vehicle: Switchblade or dagger found in a car is presumed possessed by all occupants unless on one person's body (265.15(3)).
Age limits: No statewide age limit found for ordinary knives; not verified.
Buying and importing: Manufacturing or shipping switchblades as merchandise is a class A misdemeanour (265.10). Many online retailers refuse NY shipping for automatics; ordinary knives may be bought. Import rules not checked.
Penalties: 265.01 possession: class A misdemeanour (up to 1 year).
Recent changes: 30 May 2019: gravity knives removed from 265.01(1). nysenate.gov shows latest revision 2024-11-29; no 2025-2026 change seen.
Pending changes: None verified.

Sources

Penal Law 265.01(1)-(2)
“He or she possesses any firearm, electronic dart gun, electronic stun gun, switchblade knife, pilum ballistic knife, metal knuckle knife, cane sword”
Penal Law 265.00(4)-(5) definitions
“"Switchblade knife" means any knife which has a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle”
NYPD knives FAQ (2019 repeal)
“On May 30, 2019, the New York State ban on gravity knives was repealed.”
Penal Law 265.15 presumptions

What we could not confirm

Spring-assisted status under NY case law
265.01-A and 265.02 not read
Statewide preemption of local knife laws not checked

Keep going

General information, not legal advice. Know something we got wrong? Tell us and include a source.