Reviewed September 2026
Colorado Knife Laws
In Colorado, switchblades are legal and butterfly knives are legal. Concealed carry is limited to blades 3.5 inches or shorter (hunting and fishing exempted). The blade limit to know: 3.5 inches concealed.
The switchblade and gravity knife ban was repealed in 2017.
Butterfly knives are legal.
Concealed carry is limited to blades 3.5 inches or shorter (hunting and fishing exempted).
Colorado has no statewide preemption, so cities and counties can add stricter rules. Check local ordinances before carrying. Denver keeps a stricter local ordinance; no statewide preemption.
Not legal advice. Statuses reviewed September 2026 from state statutes and reputable trackers. Laws change; verify the current statute or consult a lawyer before buying or carrying. See the full 50-state comparison.
The Law in Detail
Key statutes: Colo. Rev. Stat. §§18-12-101, 18-12-105, 18-12-105.5
Colorado regulates knives with blades over three and one-half inches: concealed carry in violation of §18-12-105 is a Class 2 misdemeanor, possessing a ballistic knife is a Class 5 felony, and carrying a knife on school grounds is a Class 6 felony. People v. Pickett, 571 P.2d 1078 (1977) set the judicial rule for how blade length is measured. Preemption is limited to travel in private vehicles under §18-12-105.6, so Denver and Boulder keep their own stricter knife ordinances.
Colorado Knife Law FAQ
Are switchblades legal in Colorado?
Are butterfly knives legal in Colorado?
Is it legal to carry a knife in Colorado?
What size knife can you legally carry in Colorado?
Traveling Through?
Knife law changes at the state line. Bordering states: Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming.
Hand-Forged Knives, Shipped to Colorado
Every Louis Martin blade is hand-forged and ships free anywhere in the US, including right here in Colorado. Start with our pocket knives and everyday carry pieces, browse the full collection, and keep our national knife law guide handy when you travel.