🌰 Ohio Knife Laws
Overview
Ohio has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Both open and concealed carry of knives are legal. There is no general blade length restriction. Ballistic knives are prohibited.
Quick Legal Facts
Carry Laws & Blade Length
Open carry of knives is legal in Ohio. No Ohio statute restricts the open carry of knives. ORC § 2923.12 addresses only concealed carry and, as amended by SB 140 (effective April 12, 2021), explicitly excludes knives not used as weapons from its restrictions. The sole exception is ballistic knives, which are classified as dangerous ordnance under § 2923.11(K) and prohibited under § 2923.17.
Statute: R.C. § 2923.12, R.C. § 2923.11
Concealed carry of knives is legal in Ohio. SB 140 (effective April 12, 2021) added § 2923.12(H), which states: 'For purposes of this section, deadly weapon or weapon does not include any knife, razor, or cutting instrument if the instrument was not used as a weapon.' This means concealed carry of any knife is legal unless the knife is actually used as a weapon. Ballistic knives remain prohibited as dangerous ordnance regardless of carry method. Note: SB 215 (constitutional carry, effective June 13, 2022) and SB 288 (effective April 4, 2023) further amended § 2923.12 but those changes pertained to handguns, not knives.
Statute: R.C. § 2923.12, R.C. § 2923.11
Ohio has no statutory blade length limit. No provision of ORC Chapter 2923 imposes a maximum blade length for knives. Statewide preemption (effective September 13, 2022) prevents local municipalities from enacting their own knife regulations.
Statute: R.C. § 2923.12, R.C. § 2923.11
Knife Type Legality
| Knife Type | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Switchblades | Legal | Legal to own, carry, sell, and manufacture. SB 140 (effective April 12, 2021) removed switchblade knives, springblade knives, and gravity knives from the prohibited weapons list in § 2923.20. Prior to this amendment, § 2923.20(A)(3) made it unlawful to manufacture, possess for sale, sell, or furnish switchblade knives. Concealed carry is also legal under the § 2923.12(H) knife exemption. Statute: R.C. § 2923.20, R.C. § 2923.12 |
| Balisongs / Butterfly Knives | Legal | Legal to own and carry. Ohio law does not specifically mention balisong or butterfly knives by name. They are not classified as switchblades under Ohio law. Under the § 2923.12(H) knife exemption (effective April 12, 2021), balisongs may be carried openly or concealed provided they are not used as a weapon. Statute: R.C. § 2923.12, R.C. § 2923.11 |
| Disguised Knives | Legal | No Ohio statute specifically prohibits disguised knives (such as belt buckle knives, lipstick knives, cane swords, or pen knives) by name or category. Under the § 2923.12(H) knife exemption, any knife, razor, or cutting instrument may be carried openly or concealed unless used as a weapon. However, a disguised knife used as a weapon would still fall under the deadly weapon definition in § 2923.11(A). Statute: R.C. § 2923.12, R.C. § 2923.11 |
| Assisted-Opening | Legal | Not specifically addressed by Ohio statute. Assisted-opening knives are not classified as switchblades under Ohio law. They are legal to own and carry both openly and concealed under the § 2923.12(H) knife exemption. Ohio does not regulate knives by opening mechanism. Statute: R.C. § 2923.12, R.C. § 2923.11 |
| Ballistic Knives | Illegal | Ballistic knives are classified as dangerous ordnance under § 2923.11(K)(1), defined as 'a knife with a detachable blade that is propelled by a spring-operated mechanism.' Under § 2923.17(A), it is a fifth-degree felony to knowingly acquire, have, carry, or use any dangerous ordnance. Exceptions exist for law enforcement and military acting within the scope of duties, and for inoperable items kept as collectibles under § 2923.11(L)(5). The § 2923.12(H) knife exemption does not override the dangerous ordnance prohibition. Statute: R.C. § 2923.11, R.C. § 2923.17 |
Relevant Statutes(7)
- R.C. § 2923.11—Weapons Definitions
- R.C. § 2923.12—Carrying Concealed Weapons
- R.C. § 2923.122—Weapons on School Premises
- R.C. § 2923.123—Concealed Weapons in Government Buildings
- R.C. § 2923.131—Weapons Under Disability
- R.C. § 2923.17—Unlawful Possession of Dangerous Ordnance
- R.C. § 2923.20—Unlawful Transaction in Weapons
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.
