Understanding Your Knife Rights in Washington : A Legal Guide

Legalization of Spring Blade Knives: Effective July 1, 2025, spring blade (automatic or “switchblade”) knives are now legal to possess, buy, and carry in Washington, except where knives are generally banned (like schools or jails). This brings Washington in line with most other western states and removes a decades-long ban.

What’s a Spring Blade Knife? Any knife where the blade opens automatically by spring, gravity, or similar mechanism. However, knives designed to bias toward closure (like assisted openers) were already not considered “spring blades” under state law.

Open Carry: Most knives can be openly carried in Washington. However, local rules may still apply—especially in cities like Seattle, Tacoma, and Vancouver, where blade length caps are enforced and certain knives are always banned in public.

Concealed Carry: You may not conceal carry any fixed blade knife, or any folding knife with a blade longer than 3.5in, unless you are actively hunting, fishing, or in another lawful activity. This means keeping such knives hidden on your person is generally illegal without a valid shown need.

Cities May Impose Stricter Rules: For example, in Seattle the blade limit for carry is just 3.5in, and many downtown areas have even stricter ordinances. Always check local rules before carrying any knife.

Schools: All knives are banned from K-12 school grounds statewide regardless of type or blade length. This includes inside vehicles on school property.

Transit Stations/Public Transport: As of June 2024, it is illegal to possess any knife at transit stations (bus, train, and trolley stops)—a rule currently under challenge but in effect as of this writing.

Courthouses, Jails, Government Buildings: Knives are always banned—possession can result in criminal charges.

Large Public Gatherings and Some Venues: Events, concerts, and locations with security checkpoints often enforce “no knife” rules.

Allowed: Bowie knives, dirks, daggers, stilettos, smartphones with built-in utility tools, and Swiss Army/multitools are all legal to own and (in most places) carry, if you obey blade length and concealed carry laws.

Illegal: Certain knives (gravity knives, butterfly knives) were previously illegal, but much of this has been superseded by the 2025 reforms. Always check local codes for any carry restrictions.

No Statewide Minimum Age: There is no set minimum age for buying knives, but minors face stricter rules for carrying in public or on school property. Many stores refuse sales to minors as a matter of policy.

Parents and guardians are urged to educate minors on knife safety and legal responsibilities.

If you carry a knife with intent to intimidate or cause alarm, or “furtively conceal” a weapon, you can face serious charges. Knife use or display to threaten, regardless of size, can escalate to violent offense charges.

Always check local laws before carrying a knife.

Conceal carry of blades over 3.5in (except for lawful purposes) is unlawful.

Never bring knives to schools, transit stations, government buildings, or large public gatherings—even if your knife is technically legal elsewhere.

Open carry is generally safer and legal unless local ordinances say otherwise.

Spring blade (automatic/switchblade) knives are legal from July 1, 2025, except in restricted areas.

3.5-inch blade limit applies to concealed knives; stricter rules may apply in major cities.

No knives in schools, public transit stations, or government buildings.

Check your city’s codes for extra restrictions—Seattle, Tacoma, and Vancouver have some of the toughest local rules.