Utah Knife Laws
Knife ownership, open and concealed carry, restricted persons, knife types, state preemption, and federal restrictions.
Knife Ownership & Carry In Utah
Utah law permits lawful ownership and carrying of knives, including butterfly knives, dirks, daggers, stilettos, Bowie knives, automatic knives, gravity knives, switchblades, and disguised knives.
Restrictions still apply to persons prohibited from possessing dangerous weapons, carrying a dangerous weapon in prohibited locations, and committing an offense involving a dangerous weapon.
Restricted Persons
Utah law restricts specified persons from possessing dangerous weapons. A knife can be a dangerous weapon depending on its design, use, and the circumstances.
Federal Knife Restrictions
Federal law separately regulates certain switchblade knives and ballistic knives, including specified interstate commerce and federal-property activities. Utah's knife laws do not remove those federal restrictions.
Knife Types
The following are knife types and descriptions from the existing Utah knife-law information. Select a title to view its definition.
Bowie Knife
A Bowie knife is a large fixed-blade knife historically associated with Jim Bowie. Designs vary, but many have a broad blade with a clip point, often six inches or longer.
Historical Bowie knives developed through numerous designs rather than one exact blade pattern. Some are heavy, pointed fighting knives intended for cutting or thrusting.
Pen Knife
A penknife is a small folding pocketknife originally used for cutting quills into pen nibs. It may contain one or multiple blades and other tools.
Modern variations include multifunction pocket tools with scissors, files, awls, tweezers, screwdrivers, and other accessories. Swiss Army knives are widely recognized examples.
Gravity Knife
A gravity knife opens through gravity, inertia, or the movement of the handle rather than direct spring-powered automatic action. Different designs may use a release mechanism and lock the blade open.
Gravity knives are often confused with out-the-front automatic knives, switchblades, butterfly knives, and folding knives.
Gimlet
A gimlet, in the knife descriptions used on this page, refers to a pointed, ice-pick-like weapon that opens in a manner similar to a switchblade.
Clasp Knife
A clasp knife is a folding knife with a blade that closes into its handle. Some designs include a locking ring, catch, or other mechanism that keeps the blade open during use.
A locking folding knife is also described as a lock knife or lockback knife, depending on its locking mechanism.
Dirk
A dirk is a long dagger associated with Scotland and naval traditions. Dirks may have single-edged or double-edged blades, with varying guards and blade shapes.
Some historical designs used a curved clip point, sharpened back edge, or forward-curving guard.
Butterfly Knife / Balisong
A butterfly knife, also called a balisong, is a folding knife with two handles that rotate around the tang. When closed, the blade fits between the handles.
A balisong can be opened or closed through a series of one-handed movements. The design has historical associations with the Philippines.
Jackknife
A jackknife is a folding knife with one or more blades that fold into its handle. Some jackknives use a locking mechanism.
Stiletto
A stiletto is a dagger or knife with a narrow, pointed, tapering blade designed for piercing. The term may describe the blade shape rather than the knife's opening mechanism.
Switchblade / Automatic Knife
A switchblade is a knife whose blade opens automatically through a button, switch, or other mechanism. Two common styles are:
- Side-opening: The blade swings outward from the side of the handle.
- Out-the-front (OTF): The blade extends forward from the front of the handle.
Double-action OTF: The blade can extend and retract using the operating mechanism.
Single-action OTF: The operating mechanism deploys the blade, but the user must manually retract and reset it.
Disguised Knife
A disguised knife is incorporated into another object, such as a belt buckle, necklace, or other accessory. A disguised design does not automatically make a knife illegal in Utah, but dangerous-weapon and location restrictions still apply.
Utah Knife Restrictions
Dangerous Weapons & Prohibited Conduct
- Restricted persons: A person prohibited under Utah dangerous-weapon statutes cannot lawfully possess a knife classified as a dangerous weapon.
- Schools: Utah imposes dangerous-weapon restrictions in school-related locations, with the applicable statute controlling the circumstances and penalties.
- Alcohol or drugs: Utah restricts carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence.
- Criminal use: Threatening, assaulting, or committing other crimes with a knife can result in criminal charges or enhanced penalties.
Utah Knife Preemption
Utah statutes limit city and county authority to regulate knives. Knife restrictions must be supported by applicable state law rather than independent local knife regulations prohibited by Utah's preemption statutes.
Federal Knife Laws
Federal Switchblade Knife Act
Federal law regulates switchblade knives in interstate commerce. The federal definition includes knives that open automatically through hand pressure on a button or other device in the handle, or through inertia or gravity.
Federal law prohibits specified introduction, transportation, manufacture for introduction, and distribution of switchblade knives in interstate commerce, with statutory limitations and exceptions.
Possession Within Utah Versus Interstate Commerce
Utah's permission to possess and carry a switchblade does not mean the knife can be imported, shipped, or sold across state lines without complying with federal law.
Separate federal restrictions may apply to ballistic knives and carrying knives on certain federal property.