By Tort Law Team 
Texas knife collectors and everyday carry fans often ask the same question after spotting a sleek balisong online or at a gun show. Are butterfly knives legal in Texas? The short answer is yes for adults. You can buy them, own them, and carry them openly or concealed in most places. The longer answer involves a few important rules about blade length and restricted locations that every responsible owner should know.
This guide walks through the current Texas statutes so you can flip, carry, and collect with confidence. We will cover ownership versus carry, the 5.5-inch threshold, age limits, common myths from the old switchblade ban days, and practical tips for staying legal.
What Exactly Is a Butterfly Knife Under Texas Law?
A butterfly knife, also called a balisong, is a folding knife with two handles that rotate around the blade. When closed, the blade sits safely between the handles. When opened with a practiced flip or two-handed motion, it becomes a fixed blade ready for use.
Texas Penal Code Chapter 46 does not single out butterfly knives by name or design. The law treats them the same as any other knife. A “knife” is simply any bladed hand instrument capable of inflicting serious bodily injury or death by cutting or stabbing. The only special category is the location-restricted knife: any knife with a blade longer than 5.5 inches.
That definition comes straight from Section 46.01. Style, opening method, or double edges no longer create separate criminal categories for adults.
The Big Change: House Bill 1935 and Texas Knife Deregulation
Before 2017, Texas had an “illegal knife” list that made certain designs risky to carry. Balisongs sometimes got swept into the same net as switchblades or gravity knives depending on how officers interpreted the old language.
House Bill 1935 changed everything. Effective September 1, 2017, the legislature repealed the illegal-knife category. It replaced design-based bans with a simple blade-length rule focused on where you carry longer knives. Switchblades had already become legal in 2013. The 2017 reform finished the job for butterfly knives, daggers, Bowie knives, and most other previously restricted types.
Today Texas ranks among the most knife-friendly states. Statewide preemption also means cities and counties generally cannot create stricter knife rules than the state code. You do not need to check a patchwork of local ordinances for ordinary carry.
Ownership: Can You Buy and Keep a Butterfly Knife in Texas?
Yes. Adults 18 and older may buy, sell, trade, manufacture, and keep butterfly knives without a permit or license. Online retailers ship them into the state. Local knife shops and gun shows sell them openly. Collectors can build large collections at home with no special storage rules beyond ordinary common sense and any private property policies.
There is no statewide registration requirement. Possession itself is not a crime.
Open Carry and Concealed Carry of Butterfly Knives
Texas draws no distinction between open and concealed carry for knives. You may clip a closed balisong in a pocket, keep it in a bag, or wear a larger one in a sheath. Both methods are legal for adults as long as the location rules are followed.
This is a major practical advantage for everyday carry enthusiasts. You do not have to worry about “printing” or whether the knife is visible the way some other states regulate firearms or certain fixed blades.
The 5.5-Inch Rule: Location-Restricted Knives Explained
Here is the one measurement that matters most. Measure the blade from the tip to the place where it meets the handle or pivot. If the blade is 5.5 inches or shorter, the knife is treated like an ordinary pocketknife for location purposes. You can generally take it almost anywhere state law allows knives.
If the blade exceeds 5.5 inches, it becomes a location-restricted knife. Ownership remains legal. Carry remains legal in most public places. But Texas Penal Code Section 46.03 lists specific spots where you may not bring one.
Common restricted locations include:
- Schools, school buses, and school-sponsored activities (public or private)
- Colleges, universities, and their related events or transportation
- Polling places on election day or during early voting
- Government courtrooms and court offices
- Bars and restaurants that earn more than 51 percent of revenue from on-premises alcohol sales
- Correctional facilities and certain civil commitment facilities
- Hospitals and nursing homes (in many cases, especially if notice is posted)
- Amusement parks
- Professional or interscholastic sporting events
- Secured areas of airports
- Racetracks
A shorter-bladed butterfly knife usually avoids these restrictions under state law. Private businesses can still post their own no-weapons policies and ask you to leave. Violating a posted private policy can lead to a trespass charge even when the knife itself is legal under the Penal Code.
Rules for Minors Under 18
Texas treats under-18 possession differently for longer blades. A minor may not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carry a location-restricted knife (blade over 5.5 inches) in most public settings. Exceptions exist when the minor is:
- On the minor’s own property or property under the minor’s control
- Inside or directly en route to a vehicle or watercraft the minor owns or controls
- Under the direct supervision of a parent or legal guardian
Shorter knives generally face fewer restrictions, but parents and guardians remain responsible for supervising safe and lawful use. Schools and many youth programs ban all knives regardless of length.
Common Misconceptions About Butterfly Knives and Switchblades
Many older articles and forum posts still claim butterfly knives are banned or that switchblade rules somehow apply. Those claims are outdated.
Switchblades became legal to possess and carry in 2013. Butterfly knives followed the broader 2017 deregulation. The federal Switchblade Act still restricts interstate commerce in certain automatic knives, but it does not ban in-state ownership or carry of balisongs that open by manual handle rotation.
Another myth is that any double-edged or “fighting” knife is illegal. Texas no longer cares about those design features for adult carry outside the listed restricted locations.
Practical Tips for Legal Everyday Carry
Choose a balisong with a blade under 5.5 inches if you want maximum flexibility for daily carry. Measure carefully; manufacturers sometimes list overall length instead of true blade length.
Keep the knife clean, maintained, and secured when not in use. Never brandish it in a way that could be seen as threatening. Even a fully legal knife can lead to disorderly conduct or deadly-conduct charges if displayed recklessly.
When traveling, leave longer knives in the vehicle rather than carrying them into restricted buildings. For air travel, pack any knife in checked luggage only. TSA bans knives in carry-on bags.
If you collect high-end or custom balisongs, store them securely at home and transport them in cases when moving between residences or shows.
Penalties for Violations
Carrying a location-restricted knife into a prohibited place is typically a Class C misdemeanor for most locations, punishable by a fine up to $500. Some settings (especially schools or certain facilities) can carry higher penalties. Using any knife in a crime escalates the charges dramatically under other Penal Code sections.
Minors face Class C misdemeanor exposure for unlawful public carry of longer blades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are butterfly knives legal in Texas to carry in public?
Yes for adults, both open and concealed, as long as you avoid the specific restricted locations if the blade exceeds 5.5 inches.
Can you carry a balisong knife in Texas if it is under 5.5 inches?
Yes. Blades at or under 5.5 inches face no special statewide location restrictions under the location-restricted knife rules.
Is it legal to buy a butterfly knife in Texas?
Yes. Adults may purchase them from retailers, online sellers, or private parties without a permit.
Are butterfly knives legal in Texas for minors?
Minors can possess shorter knives more freely, but carrying a blade over 5.5 inches in public is restricted without parental supervision or other listed exceptions.
Can you open carry a butterfly knife in Texas?
Yes. Open carry is treated the same as concealed carry for knives.
Do Texas knife laws still ban switchblades?
No. Switchblades have been legal since 2013, and the broader 2017 reforms removed remaining design-based restrictions for adults.
What happens if I take a long-bladed balisong into a school or bar?
You risk a criminal charge under Section 46.03 even if the knife is otherwise legal to own.
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