United States · checked 2026-10-26 · Medium confidence

Knife carry law in Washington State

State law bans spring-blade knives (automatics, gravity and flick knives) and furtively concealing a dagger or dirk. There is no blade-length limit. Spring-assisted knives that need hand exertion to overcome the closure bias are excluded. Cities may restrict knives: Seattle bans carrying any fixed blade and any knife over 3.5 inches.

This summary rests on mostly official, partly secondary sources. Open questions are listed at the end. Treat anything marked unclear as a reason to leave the item at home.

How we apply the law

Rules are checked from the top. The first one that fits decides. Every verdict on this site comes from this list, not from hand typed cells.

1ProhibitedAny knife or tool, automatic or gravity or flick opening
'Spring blade knife' covers blades released automatically by spring or mechanism, or opening by gravity or outward/downward/centrifugal thrust. Possession is a gross misdemeanor, with exemptions for police, military and trade (RCW 9.41.251).
Source
2No restriction foundAny knife or tool, spring assisted
A knife with a bias toward closure that needs hand, wrist or arm force to overcome it is expressly not a spring blade knife. A spring that opens the blade by itself without exertion would count as prohibited.
Source
3UnclearA fixed blade, double edged
'Dagger' and 'dirk' are not defined. Furtively carrying one with intent to conceal is a gross misdemeanor; open carry is not addressed. Local rules (Seattle) may prohibit any fixed blade.
Source
4No restriction foundA fixed blade
No state ban on carrying fixed blades, but display that alarms others is an offence (9.41.270). Cities may restrict: Seattle prohibits carrying any fixed-blade knife.
Source
5No restriction foundA folding knife, a multitool, a keychain tool or scissors only
No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Source
6UnclearAnything else
Catch-all: no other state restriction found; check local city ordinances.
Source

34 popular knives and tools, checked here

Specifications come from the makers. Where a maker does not publish the cutting edge length, a length rule can only be answered if even the full blade length falls on one side of the line. Otherwise the result is unclear, on purpose.

Product	Specs	Result
Buck 110 Folding Hunter	blade 95.3 mm (3.75 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Leatherman Arc	blade 70.1 mm (2.76 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Benchmade Bugout	blade 82.3 mm (3.24 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Victorinox Cadet (Alox)	blade 64 mm (2.52 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Victorinox Classic SD	blade 40 mm (1.57 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Victorinox Climber	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Morakniv Companion (stainless, Hi-Vis Orange shown)	blade 104 mm (4.09 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state ban on carrying fixed blades, but display that alarms others is an offence (9.41.270). Cities may restrict: Seattle prohibits carrying any fixed-blade knife.
Spyderco Delica 4 (Lightweight)	65 mm cutting edge (2.56 in)	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Gerber Dime	blade 38.1 mm (1.50 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
CIVIVI Elementum	blade 75.2 mm (2.96 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Nagao Kanekoma Higonokami SK (Niwaki-sold Kanekoma)	blade 71 mm (2.80 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Victorinox Huntsman	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
ESEE Izula-II	blade 66.8 mm (2.63 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state ban on carrying fixed blades, but display that alarms others is an offence (9.41.270). Cities may restrict: Seattle prohibits carrying any fixed-blade knife.
Spyderco Ladybug 3	43 mm cutting edge (1.69 in)	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Kershaw Leek	blade 76.2 mm (3.00 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A knife with a bias toward closure that needs hand, wrist or arm force to overcome it is expressly not a spring blade knife. A spring that opens the blade by itself without exertion would count as prohibited.
Leatherman Micra	blade 40.6 mm (1.60 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Benchmade Mini Bugout	blade 71.6 mm (2.82 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
W.R. Case & Sons Mini Trapper	blade 69.9 mm (2.75 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Opinel No.07 Stainless Steel	blade 80 mm (3.15 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Opinel No.08 Stainless Steel	blade 85 mm (3.35 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Spyderco Para 3	67 mm cutting edge (2.64 in)	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Gerber Paraframe I (stainless, plain edge)	blade 76.5 mm (3.01 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Ontario Knife Company RAT Model 1 (RAT I)	blade 88.9 mm (3.50 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Spyderco Roadie	44 mm cutting edge (1.73 in)	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Leatherman Skeletool CX	blade 66 mm (2.60 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Victorinox Spartan	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Spyderco Squeak	44 mm cutting edge (1.73 in)	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
CRKT Squid (Thumbstud)	blade 54.76 mm (2.16 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
CRKT Squid Assisted	blade 60.2 mm (2.37 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A knife with a bias toward closure that needs hand, wrist or arm force to overcome it is expressly not a spring blade knife. A spring that opens the blade by itself without exertion would count as prohibited.
Leatherman Squirt PS4	blade 40.6 mm (1.60 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Victorinox Swiss Card Classic	blade length not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X	blade length not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
W.R. Case & Sons Trapper	76.2 mm cutting edge (3.00 in)	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.
Leatherman Wave Plus	blade 74.2 mm (2.92 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No state blade-length or lock rule. Manual folders (including one-hand opening by thumb stud or flipper) are fine; brandishing is an offence. Seattle bans carrying a folder over 3.5 inches blade.

What the verdict does not cover

Public transport and restricted zones: RCW 9.41.300: 'weapons' (any knife/dagger/dirk commonly used to cause injury) banned in jail restricted areas, court areas, mental-health facilities, and other listed places. Seattle: SMC 12A.14.080 bans any fixed blade or knife over 3.5 in blade, open or concealed. Tacoma: not verified.
Schools, workplaces and events: RCW 9.41.280: dangerous weapons per 9.41.250 (spring blade, concealed dagger/dirk), and other listed items are banned on K-12 school premises and school transport.
In a vehicle: No knife-specific vehicle rule found at state level.
Age limits: No state knife age limit found. Seattle may restrict under-18 sales/possession (not verified for current code).
Buying and importing: Spring blade knives: manufacture, sale and possession are offences, so online orders of automatics or flick knives to WA are risky. Ordinary knives are not restricted by state law.
Penalties: RCW 9.41.250 and 9.41.270: gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days and/or fine under chapter 9A.20).
Recent changes: RCW 9.41.300 amended by 2024 c 285 (permitted demonstrations / weapons in listed places). RCW 9.41.270 has a version effective 1 May 2027; We did not diff it.
Pending changes: RCW 9.41.270 new text effective 1 May 2027.

Sources

RCW 9.41.250 Dangerous weapons
“possesses any instrument or weapon of the kind usually known as ... spring blade knife”
RCW 9.41.270 Unlawful carrying or handling
“carry, exhibit, display, or draw any ... knife ... in a manner ... that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.”
Seattle SMC 12A.14.010 / 12A.14.080
“"Dangerous knife" means any fixed-blade knife and any other knife having a blade more than 3½ inches in length.”
RCW 9.41.251 exceptions
RCW 9.41.300 restricted places

What we could not confirm

Preemption: RCW 9.41.290 preempts only firearms, so cities can regulate knives; Seattle verified, Tacoma not verified.
Meaning of 'dagger/dirk' for double-edged blades.
Seattle exceptions under SMC 12A.14.100 (work, hunting, fishing) not opened.
Content of the RCW 9.41.270 version effective 1 May 2027.

Keep going

General information, not legal advice. Know something we got wrong? Tell us and include a source.