Tennessee Knife Laws (2026)

You can legally own virtually any type of knife in Tennessee—including automatic knives, folders, fixed blades, Bowie knives, daggers, stilettos, penknives, disguise knives, and even butterfly (balisong) knives.

No. Tennessee has no category of knives that are outright prohibited for possession. The state removed its switchblade ban in July 2014, making all types of knives legal to own.

Legally speaking, Tennessee law is relaxed regarding carry, yet there's a grey area. The legality of open vs. concealed carry often depends on intent rather than the method of carry—i.e., whether you're carrying to commit a crime, in which case it becomes illegal.

Yes—carrying any weapon, including knives, with intent to go armed is illegal in schools (buildings, grounds, buses, athletic fields) and is classified as a Class E felony.

Yes. Tennessee has statewide preemption of knife laws, meaning local jurisdictions cannot create stricter regulations on knife possession, ownership, or carry—making the laws uniform across the entire state.

Yes. Some states permit ownership but restrict concealed carry or impose blade-length limits (e.g., Georgia’s 12-inch rule, Florida’s 4-inch concealed threshold).

States like Texas, Arizona, and Georgia allow full ownership and carry of OTF knives.

No. Legality varies by state: some fully allow OTF knives, others restrict possession or carry, and a few ban them outright.