Are Automatic Knives Legal in Louisiana?
The Short Answer
Yes — fully legal. As of August 1, 2022, Louisiana removed its prohibition on concealed carry of automatic and switchblade knives. Then in 2024, the state enacted statewide knife preemption, ensuring no parish or municipality can pass stricter knife laws than the state. Today, automatic knives, OTF knives, and switchblades are legal to own, carry (open or concealed), buy, and sell throughout Louisiana with no blade length limits and no permit required.
Louisiana went from one of the more restrictive Southern states for auto knives to one of the most permissive — in just two legislative sessions.
What Louisiana Law Actually Says
The Core Statute (La. R.S. 14:95 — Illegal Carrying of Weapons)
Prior to 2022, La. R.S. 14:95 prohibited "the intentional concealment on one's person of any" switchblade knife, among other weapons. The statute defined illegal carrying to include:
"...the intentional concealment on one's person of any switchblade knife, spring knife, or other knife or similar instrument having a blade which may be automatically unfolded or extended from a handle by the manipulation of a button, switch, latch, or similar contrivance located on the handle."
That language was removed effective August 1, 2022. Automatic knives were struck from the prohibited concealed weapons list entirely.
The Preemption Law (Act No. 813, SB 194 — Effective August 1, 2024)
Louisiana enacted statewide knife preemption in 2024. The law prevents any local government — parish, municipality, or political subdivision — from enacting or enforcing ordinances that are more restrictive than state law regarding the possession, carrying, sale, or transfer of knives.
The AKTI Definition (La. R.S. 14:95 — 2012 Amendment)
In 2012, Louisiana amended its weapons statute to incorporate the American Knife and Tool Institute's (AKTI) bias-toward-closure standard. This explicitly excluded assisted-opening knives from the switchblade definition — a knife that requires manual force to initiate opening and has a bias toward closure is not an automatic knife under Louisiana law.
What That Means in Plain English
Louisiana's knife law evolution happened in three clear steps:
1. 2012: Assisted openers explicitly excluded from switchblade definition (AKTI language adopted) 2. 2022: Concealed carry ban on automatic/switchblade knives repealed 3. 2024: Statewide preemption enacted — no local government can restrict knives beyond state law
Today: no restricted knife types, no concealed carry restrictions, no blade length limits, and local ordinances can't override state law.
OTF Knives in Louisiana
Completely legal. OTF knives were previously caught by the "automatically unfolded or extended from a handle" language in R.S. 14:95. That prohibition was repealed in 2022. Today, OTF knives can be owned, carried openly or concealed, bought, and sold without restriction anywhere in Louisiana.
Switchblades vs. Automatic Knives: What Louisiana Considers Them
Before 2022, Louisiana's statute specifically described automatic knives as those with "a blade which may be automatically unfolded or extended from a handle by the manipulation of a button, switch, latch, or similar contrivance." That covered both side-opening automatics and OTF knives.
That entire category has been removed from the prohibited weapons list. Today, Louisiana treats all knife types equally:
- Switchblades: legal
- OTF knives: legal
- Side-opening automatics: legal
- Gravity knives: legal
- Assisted openers: explicitly legal (2012 AKTI language)
- Balisongs: legal
- Fixed blades: legal
- Daggers, dirks, stilettos: legal
No type bans exist under current Louisiana law.
Carrying an Automatic Knife in Louisiana
Open Carry
Legal. No restrictions on open carry of any knife type, any blade length.
Concealed Carry
Legal since August 1, 2022. No permit required for concealed carry of knives, including automatic knives, OTF knives, and switchblades. The concealed carry prohibition applied only to the categories listed in R.S. 14:95, and automatic knives were removed from that list.
Where You Can't Carry (Restricted Locations)
- Schools: Under La. R.S. 14:95.2, knives may not be carried on property of elementary, secondary, high schools, or vocational-technical schools. This restriction also covers school buses and school-sponsored functions and activities.
- Courthouses and courtrooms: Weapons generally prohibited
- Jails and correctional facilities: Prohibited
- Federal buildings: Subject to federal law
Convicted Felons
Under La. R.S. 14:95.1, persons convicted of certain felonies are prohibited from possessing or carrying concealed weapons for a period of ten years after completion of sentence. This can include knives classified as weapons.
Blade Length Restrictions
None. Louisiana imposes no blade length limits on any knife type for any purpose.
Statewide Preemption
Yes — enacted in 2024 (SB 194, effective August 1, 2024). This is significant because Louisiana's major cities — Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Shreveport — all previously had their own knife ordinances that were stricter than state law. Those local ordinances are now superseded.
What's legal under Louisiana state law is legal in every parish, city, and town in the state. Local governments cannot impose additional restrictions on the possession, carry, sale, or transfer of knives.
What About Assisted Openers?
Explicitly legal — and they have been since 2012. Louisiana specifically addressed assisted-opening knives by incorporating AKTI's bias-toward-closure standard into the weapons statute. An assisted opener that requires manual initiation to begin opening and has a bias toward the closed position is not a switchblade or automatic knife under Louisiana law. This was clarified years before the full automatic knife legalization in 2022.
Buying Automatic Knives in Louisiana
Legal without restriction. No limitations on the sale, purchase, or transfer of any knife type. No purchase permits, waiting periods, or registration requirements. Louisiana residents can buy automatic knives in person, online, at gun shows, or knife shows.
Age Restrictions
Louisiana statute does not specify an age restriction for possessing or purchasing knives. General laws regarding weapons and minors may apply in certain contexts (school property, for example), but there is no bright-line age cutoff for knife ownership or carry.
Recent Changes
- 2012: AKTI bias-toward-closure language adopted — assisted openers explicitly excluded from switchblade definition
- 2022: Concealed carry ban on automatic/switchblade knives repealed (effective August 1)
- 2024: Statewide knife preemption enacted (SB 194, effective August 1) — local knife ordinances superseded
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I carry an OTF knife in Louisiana?
Yes. OTF knives are fully legal to own and carry — open or concealed — anywhere in Louisiana that isn't a restricted location like a school.
Are switchblades illegal in Louisiana?
No. Louisiana removed its switchblade concealed carry ban in 2022. Switchblades are fully legal to own, carry, buy, and sell.
Is there a blade length limit for automatic knives in Louisiana?
No. Louisiana has no blade length restrictions for any knife type.
Does Louisiana preempt local knife laws?
Yes, since August 1, 2024. No parish, city, or municipality can impose knife restrictions stricter than state law. Previous local ordinances in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport are superseded.
Can I carry an automatic knife in New Orleans?
Yes. Statewide preemption (2024) means New Orleans cannot enforce knife restrictions that exceed state law. Automatic knives are legal to own and carry — open or concealed — under Louisiana state law.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Knife laws change — sometimes faster than websites update. Federal, state, and local laws may all apply to your situation, and local ordinances can be more restrictive than state law.
Before purchasing, carrying, or traveling with any automatic knife, OTF knife, or switchblade, verify current laws with official state and local sources. We are not attorneys, and we are not responsible for actions taken based on this information.
When in doubt, consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.