Pennsylvania Knife Laws: What to Know

For more than six decades, Pennsylvania classified switchblades and automatic knives alongside items like bombs and metal knuckles. This changed on January 2, 2023, when the state repealed its longstanding ban on automatic knives, aligning with many other states that have eased similar restrictions originally enacted in the 1950s.

However, the repeal did not eliminate all restrictions. Regulations concerning intent, location, and age remain in place, and a first-degree misdemeanor conviction carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and a potential $10,000 fine. 

Understanding the boundaries of Pennsylvania knife law remains essential, as penalties for violations remain strict.

Pennsylvania’s Knife Law After the 2023 Changes

• Automatic knives, butterfly knives, pocket knives, hunting knives, and assisted-opening knives became legal to own and carry in Pennsylvania as of January 2, 2023.

• Knives and cutting instruments were removed from the statutory definition of “offensive weapons” under Title 18 § 908.

• Carrying any knife with criminal intent is a first-degree misdemeanor under § 907, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

• Knives are banned in all public and private K-12 schools under § 912 and in court facilities under § 913.

• Pennsylvania does not have a statewide preemption law, so cities and municipalities can pass their own knife restrictions.

• Philadelphia’s old ban on carrying “cutting weapons” on public streets was declared unenforceable in 2023 by a federal court.

• Selling a deadly weapon to anyone under 18 is a first-degree misdemeanor under § 6302.

How the Law Changed

For decades, Pennsylvania grouped automatic knives with items like grenades and sawed-off shotguns under Title 18 § 908, which criminalized possession of “offensive weapons.” That classification dates back to April 4, 1956, when the governor signed two bills into law banning automatic knives.

Pennsylvania was part of a wave of more than 30 states that passed similar bans starting in 1951, fueled by a nationwide panic over switchblades that, according to researchers and advocacy groups like Knife Rights, was largely overblown. The federal government followed with the Federal Switchblade Act in 1958.

This change occurred through House Bill 1929, signed by Governor Tom Wolf. The bill passed the Pennsylvania House by a vote of 202 to 1 and the Senate unanimously, taking effect on January 2, 2023. Pennsylvania thus became the 21st state to relax restrictions on automatic knives from that period.

What the Current Law Says

The updated § 908 no longer lists knives or cutting instruments as offensive weapons. Instead, the statute now defines offensive weapons to include:

• Bombs and grenades

• Machine guns

• Sawed-off shotguns with barrels under 18 inches

• Firearms designed for concealment or silent discharge

• Blackjacks and sandbags

• Metal knuckles

• Stun guns, stun batons, tasers, and similar electronic weapons

• Other items that serve no common lawful purpose

Because knives and cutting instruments were deliberately removed from that list, the following knife types are now legal to own and carry in Pennsylvania:

Pennsylvania law does not distinguish between open carry and concealed carry of knives, except that the person carrying the knife must not intend to use it criminally.

Criminal Intent Is What Matters

The legality of carrying a knife in Pennsylvania hinges on intent. Under § 907, a person commits a first-degree misdemeanor if they possess any instrument of crime with the intent to use it criminally, or if they carry a concealed weapon on their person with criminal intent. The prosecution must prove both concealment and intent.

This matters because it means a knife that is perfectly legal to carry in one situation can become the basis for criminal charges in another, depending entirely on the circumstances and what the state can prove about the person’s purpose.

A folding knife clipped to your pocket during a camping trip is one thing. The same knife carried into a confrontation you initiated is something else entirely.

Both § 907 and § 908 violations carry the same penalties:

• Up to 5 years in prison

• Up to $10,000 in fines

Places Where Knives Are Prohibited

Even with the 2023 changes, certain locations remain completely off-limits for knives of any type. Pennsylvania statute § 912 defines “weapon” broadly in the context of schools, and that definition includes any knife, cutting instrument, or cutting tool, along with firearms, nunchuck sticks, and any implement capable of inflicting serious bodily injury.

Under § 912, possessing a weapon in any of the following locations is a first-degree misdemeanor:

• Elementary schools (public)

• Secondary schools (public)

• Private schools

• Parochial schools

Section 913 extends the same prohibition to court facilities. Carrying a knife into a courthouse, regardless of the type of knife or your reason for having it, is a criminal offense.

There are no exceptions in the statute for the size of the blade or the type of knife. A small pocket knife and a large fixed-blade hunting knife are treated identically under these provisions.

The Curio Exception

Pennsylvania’s § 908 includes a specific defense that allows a person to possess what would otherwise be a prohibited weapon if they can show the possession was limited to certain purposes. This is called the “curio exception.”

Under this defense, a defendant must prove by a preponderance of evidence that they possessed the weapon:

• 
  

• Solely as a curio or collectible

• As part of a dramatic performance

• Briefly, after finding it or taking it from an aggressor

• Under circumstances that negate any intent or likelihood of unlawful use

This defense applies at trial and puts the burden on the defendant to demonstrate one of these conditions. It is not a blanket permission to carry prohibited weapons freely. It is a legal argument available after charges have been filed.

Rules Around Minors

Pennsylvania law addresses the sale of weapons to people under 18. Under § 6302, it is a first-degree misdemeanor to sell or cause the sale or lease of any deadly weapon to a minor. A knife that was designed as a weapon and is capable of producing death or serious bodily injury falls within the statutory definition of a deadly weapon.

This means retailers and private sellers alike can face criminal charges for selling certain types of knives to minors. The statute does not specify blade length or knife style. It focuses on the weapon's design purpose and capability.

Local Ordinances and the Philadelphia Situation

One of the more overlooked aspects of Pennsylvania knife law is the absence of a statewide preemption statute. This is different from how the state handles firearms, where local governments are largely prevented from passing their own gun regulations. With knives, cities and municipalities retain the authority to impose restrictions beyond state law.

Philadelphia is the most prominent example. For years, the city maintained one of the most restrictive knife ordinances in the country, banning the use or possession of any "cutting weapon" on public streets under § 10-820 of the Philadelphia Code.

That changed in 2023 when Knife Rights, along with plaintiffs Keith Fetsurka and Scott Mele, settled civil rights litigation against the City of Philadelphia and its police commissioner. The settlement included $10,000 in damages and, more importantly, a federal court injunction.

United States District Court Judge Gerald McHugh entered judgment in favor of the plaintiffs and declared Philadelphia’s cutting weapons possession policy unenforceable. The city was enjoined from enforcing the ordinance in the future.

Despite that ruling, other municipalities in Pennsylvania may still have their own knife-related ordinances on the books. If you live in or travel through different parts of the state, checking local rules before carrying is a reasonable step.

Key Points to Remember

Pennsylvania’s Knife Law After Reform

Pennsylvania’s knife laws are less restrictive than they were before 2023. The state removed knives from its offensive weapons list, legalized automatic knives, and courts invalidated Philadelphia’s ordinance banning carrying cutting weapons on public streets. These represent substantive legal changes.

At the same time, the statutes around intent, prohibited locations, and sales to minors remain in full effect. A first-degree misdemeanor is a serious criminal charge, and it applies to anyone who carries a knife in a school, a courthouse, or uses it to harm someone.

Because laws may vary by municipality, it is advisable to check local regulations before carrying a knife in Pennsylvania or traveling with one. For specific legal concerns, consulting a Pennsylvania attorney can provide guidance tailored to your circumstances.