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Minnesota Switchblade & Automatic Knife Laws (2026)

Restricted: 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.

RestrictedVerified Jul 7, 2026

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Official source: revisor.mn.gov →

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

Switchblade & Automatic Knife Laws in states bordering Minnesota

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

IowaPermitted
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.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: legis.iowa.gov · Full Iowa rule →
North DakotaConditional
Switchblades/gravity knives are 'dangerous weapons' but not banned to own or open-carry; only concealing one (or any knife 6+ inches) requires a class 2 license (NDCC 62.1-01-01).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: ndlegis.gov · Full North Dakota 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South Dakota repealed its automatic-knife ban (1976) and ballistic-knife ban (2006); current SDCL ch. 22-14 has no knife-type or blade-length prohibition.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Wisconsin repealed its switchblade ban via 2015 Act 149; no statute restricts automatic, OTF, gravity or other knives by type, and any adult may own and carry them (Wis.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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