🗽 New York Knife Laws
Overview
New York does not have statewide preemption, so local ordinances may impose additional restrictions. Both open and concealed carry face restrictions. There is no general blade length restriction. Switchblades and ballistic knives are prohibited; disguised knives have restrictions.
Quick Legal Facts
Carry Laws & Blade Length
New York does not distinguish between open and concealed carry at the state level. Possession of per se illegal weapons (switchblades, pilum ballistic knives, metal knuckle knives, cane swords) is prohibited regardless of carry method. For other knives, possession with intent to use unlawfully is a crime. New York City Administrative Code 10-133 separately prohibits carrying any knife visible in public, including clips or handles showing outside clothing.
New York State knife law applies equally to concealed and unconcealed knives. There is no separate concealed carry prohibition at the state level. Carrying any dagger, dangerous knife, dirk, machete, razor, stiletto, or other dangerous instrument with intent to use unlawfully is a Class A misdemeanor under 265.01(2). Possession of per se banned weapons is illegal regardless of carry method. New York City and transit authorities impose additional restrictions on knife carry.
No statewide blade length limit exists under New York Penal Law. The state regulates knives by type and intent, not blade length. However, New York City Administrative Code 10-133 prohibits carrying a knife with a blade of 4 inches or longer in public. Other local ordinances may impose blade length restrictions because New York has no statewide preemption.
Knife Type Legality
| Knife Type | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Switchblades | Illegal | Switchblade knives are per se illegal to possess under 265.01(1). Defined in 265.00(4) as any knife with a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring, or other device in the handle. Manufacturing and transporting switchblades is also prohibited under 265.10. Limited exemptions exist under 265.20 for law enforcement, active-duty military, and holders of valid hunting/trapping/fishing licenses. |
| Balisongs / Butterfly Knives | Legal | Balisong (butterfly) knives are not per se illegal. They were historically prosecuted as gravity knives, but the 2019 repeal of the gravity knife ban (S4863/A5944, effective May 30, 2019) removed gravity knives from 265.01(1) and other sections. Courts have recognized balisongs as distinct from gravity knives (People v. Zuniga). However, possession with intent to use unlawfully remains criminal under 265.01(2), and NYC blade length and visibility rules still apply. |
| Disguised Knives | Restricted | Cane swords are explicitly per se illegal under 265.01(1) and defined in 265.00(13) as a cane or swagger stick concealing a blade. Metal knuckle knives are also per se illegal. Undetectable knives (defined in 265.00(5-d) as knives not detectable by metal detectors, commercially manufactured as weapons) are prohibited with intent. Other disguised knives (pen knives, belt buckle knives) may be prosecuted as dangerous knives with intent under 265.01(2). A 2019 Assembly bill (A6921) proposed explicitly banning all disguised knives but was not enacted. |
| Assisted-Opening | Unclear | New York law does not specifically address assisted-opening knives. In People v. Berrezueta (2018), 104 N.E.3d 726, the Court of Appeals held 6-1 that a spring-assisted knife with a flipper on the blade was a switchblade under 265.00(4). New York has not adopted the federal "bias toward closure" exception from the 2009 amendment to the Federal Switchblade Act (15 U.S.C. 1241). Assisted-opening knives carry significant legal risk in New York and may be prosecuted as switchblades. |
| Ballistic Knives | Illegal | Pilum ballistic knives are per se illegal to possess under 265.01(1). Defined in 265.00(5-a) as any knife with a blade that can be projected from the handle by hand pressure applied to a button, lever, spring, or other device. Manufacturing and transporting ballistic knives is prohibited under 265.10. They are also classified as "automatic knives" under 265.00(5-c). Federal law (18 U.S.C. 1716) independently prohibits ballistic knives. |
Relevant Statutes(11)
- N.Y. Penal Law § 265.00.—Weapons Definitions
- N.Y. Penal Law § 265.01—Criminal Possession Fourth Degree
- N.Y. Penal Law § 265.02—Criminal Possession Third Degree
- N.Y. Penal Law § 265.01-A—Weapons on School Grounds
- N.Y. Penal Law § 265.05—Weapons Possession by Minors
- N.Y. Penal Law § 265.06—Weapons on School Grounds
- N.Y. Penal Law § 265.10—Manufacture and Transport of Weapons
- N.Y. Penal Law § 265.15—Presumptions of Possession
- N.Y. Penal Law § 265.20—Exemptions from Weapons Restrictions
- N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law § 1.20—General Definitions
- N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law § 2.10—Peace Officer Designations
Legal Disclaimer
This information is provided for general educational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Laws change frequently and local ordinances may impose additional restrictions beyond state law. Always verify with official state sources before making decisions about knife carry or ownership. KnifeInformer is not a law firm — consult a qualified attorney for specific legal questions.
