Pennsylvania’s knife laws have recently undergone significant changes, making it essential for residents and visitors to understand their rights and responsibilities when owning, carrying, or using knives. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the current legal landscape.
Types of Knives: What’s Legal and What’s Not
- Legal Knives: Most knives are legal to own and carry in Pennsylvania, including pocket knives, hunting knives, butterfly (balisong) knives, and, as of January 2, 2023, automatic knives (switchblades). The repeal of the switchblade ban means that automatic knives are no longer considered “offensive weapons” under state law.
- No Statewide Blade Length Limit: Pennsylvania does not set a specific legal limit on knife blade length. The legality is determined more by the knife’s type and intended use than by its size.
- Gravity and Ballistic Knives: While the switchblade ban has been repealed, gravity knives (which open by the force of gravity or wrist action) and ballistic knives may still be restricted, especially if intended for unlawful use.
Carrying Knives: Open, Concealed, and Intent
- Open and Concealed Carry: Pennsylvania law does not distinguish between open and concealed carry of knives. Both are generally permitted unless there is intent to use the knife unlawfully.
- Criminal Intent: The key legal threshold is intent. Carrying any knife “with the intent therewith unlawfully and maliciously to do injury to any other person” is illegal.
- Common Lawful Purpose: Knives carried for legitimate reasons—such as work, hunting, fishing, or daily utility—are generally permitted. The courts have clarified that knives must have a “common lawful purpose” to be legal.
Location-Based Restrictions
- Schools and Courts: It is strictly illegal to carry knives in or on the grounds of any school (public or private, K-12) or in court facilities.
- Philadelphia and Local Ordinances: Pennsylvania does not have statewide preemption, meaning cities and towns can enact their own knife laws. For example, Philadelphia has a strict ordinance prohibiting the possession of any knife on public streets or property, regardless of intent or knife type.
- Other Sensitive Locations: Always check local ordinances before carrying a knife, as additional restrictions may apply in parks, government buildings, and other public spaces.
Age and Transfer Restrictions
- Minors: It is unlawful to sell or transfer any “deadly weapon”—including knives designed as weapons—to anyone under 18 years old. The prosecution must prove the knife was designed as a weapon.
Special Exceptions
- Curio and Lawful Use: Certain knives may be owned or carried for specific lawful purposes, such as collecting (“curio exception”), theatrical performances, or having taken it from an aggressor in self-defense.
- Law Enforcement and Military: Members of law enforcement and the military are generally exempt from many knife restrictions when acting within their official duties.
Penalties for Violations
Violating Pennsylvania’s knife laws can result in:
- Arrest and confiscation of the knife
- Fines or criminal charges, especially for carrying in restricted locations or with unlawful intent
Summary Table: Pennsylvania Knife Law Highlights
| Aspect | Statewide Law | Local Variations (e.g., Philadelphia) |
|---|---|---|
| Switchblades/Automatics | Legal as of 2023 | May be banned locally |
| Concealed Carry | Legal (no distinction) | May be banned locally |
| Blade Length Limit | None | May be restricted locally |
| Schools/Courts | Prohibited | Prohibited |
| Sale to Minors | Prohibited for deadly weapons | Prohibited |
Key Takeaways
- Most knives, including automatics, are legal to own and carry in Pennsylvania, provided you do not have unlawful intent.
- Local laws can be stricter than state law—always check municipal codes, especially in cities like Philadelphia.
- Never carry knives in schools, courts, or other restricted areas.
- Selling or giving knives designed as weapons to minors is illegal.
- Lawful purpose and intent are crucial to staying within the law.
Stay informed and check both state and local regulations to ensure you exercise your knife rights responsibly in Pennsylvania.
Sources:
- https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/pennsylvania/
- https://kniferights.org/legislative-update/pennsylvania-switchblade-ban-repeal-signed/
- https://tkellknives.com/knife-laws-in-pa-understanding-pennsylvanias-carry-regulations/
- https://www.aclupa.org/en/legislation/hb-1929-eliminating-automatic-knives-offensive-weapon-definition
- https://nobliecustomknives.com/us-knife-laws/pennsylvania-knife-laws/