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Iowa Switchblade & Automatic Knife Laws (2026)

Permitted: Automatic/switchblade knives are legal for adults to own and carry; Iowa Code 702.7 lists them as 'dangerous weapons' but no law bans possession and 724.5 permits unlicensed carry.

PermittedVerified Jul 7, 2026

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Official source: legis.iowa.gov →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Switchblade & Automatic Knife Laws in states bordering Iowa

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

IllinoisConditional
Switchblade/automatic knives are legal to own and carry for a person with a valid Illinois FOID card (720 ILCS 5/24-1(e)(2)); ballistic knives stay banned for everyone.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: ilga.gov · Full Illinois rule →
MinnesotaRestricted
Manufacturing, transferring or possessing a switchblade opening automatically is a crime under Minn. Stat. 609.66 subd. 1(a)(4); a 2024 federal challenge is pending, so the ban stands.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: revisor.mn.gov · Full Minnesota rule →
MissouriPermitted
Missouri repealed its switchblade ban in 2012; owning or carrying an automatic knife is legal unless done in violation of federal law (RSMo 571.020.1(6)(d)).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: revisor.mo.gov · Full Missouri rule →
NebraskaPermitted
No Nebraska statute bans switchblade/automatic knives; only minors and prohibited persons are barred from carrying concealed weapons, so an adult may own and carry an automatic (Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1202).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: nebraskalegislature.gov · Full Nebraska rule →
South DakotaPermitted
South Dakota repealed its automatic-knife ban (1976) and ballistic-knife ban (2006); current SDCL ch. 22-14 has no knife-type or blade-length prohibition.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: sdlegislature.gov · Full South Dakota rule →
WisconsinPermitted
Wisconsin repealed its switchblade ban via 2015 Act 149; no statute restricts automatic, OTF, gravity or other knives by type, and any adult may own and carry them (Wis. Stat. 941.23).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov · Full Wisconsin rule →

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