How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy or Carry a Knife?

Age restrictions on knives sit at an interesting intersection of law and retail policy — the two don't always match, and it's worth understanding the difference between what a store requires to sell you a knife and what the law actually says about carrying or owning one.

Buying: Retailer Policy vs. Legal Requirement

Most US states don't set a specific statutory minimum age to purchase an ordinary pocket knife, but many retailers — including most major national chains and online marketplaces — voluntarily restrict knife sales to customers 18 and older as a matter of internal policy, regardless of whether state law requires it. This means a store can decline to sell a knife to a minor even in a state with no specific legal age requirement.

States and Cities With Specific Age Requirements

A handful of states and some cities do set specific legal minimum ages for buying or possessing certain knife types, though this isn't universal and varies in both the age set and which knife types it applies to. It's worth checking your specific state and city if this question matters to you, rather than assuming a single national standard.

Carrying: A Separate Question From Buying

Even where purchase age isn't specifically regulated, some states or cities separately restrict carrying certain knife types below a certain age, which is a distinct legal question from purchase age. A minor could potentially be given a knife as a gift in a state with no purchase-age law, while still facing carry restrictions specific to their age in that same state or a different one.

Parental Gifts and Supervision

Knives given by a parent or guardian to a minor for supervised use — a first pocket knife, for example — are generally treated differently in practice from a minor independently purchasing or carrying a knife in public, though this distinction depends on the specific state's framework rather than being a universal legal carve-out.

Practical Guidance

• Check both state law and, separately, any city-specific rules for a specific minimum age if this matters for your situation.
• Understand that a retailer's 18+ policy doesn't necessarily reflect an actual legal requirement — it may simply be the store's own choice.
• Recognize that purchase age and carry age are sometimes governed by different rules within the same jurisdiction.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Age-related knife restrictions vary by state and city — verify current local law for your specific situation.