Wisconsin is one of the more permissive states in the country when it comes to owning and carrying knives. A single reform in 2015, which took effect in early 2016, rewrote the rules and swept away most of the restrictions that once caused confusion. This page explains what the law actually says: what you can own, what you can carry, and where knives are still off-limits.
This is general information, not legal advice. Knife statutes change, courts interpret them, and facts matter. Verify anything important against the current Wisconsin statutes or ask a licensed Wisconsin attorney before you act on it. Last reviewed: 2026.
The short version
Since 2016, Wisconsin has treated knives about as leniently as any state does. Adults who are not otherwise prohibited by law can own essentially any knife, including switchblades and other automatic knives that were banned for decades. They can also carry those knives openly or concealed without a special permit, and there is no blade-length limit written into state law.
The two things that still get people into trouble are who is carrying and where. Certain people, mainly those already barred from possessing firearms, cannot legally carry a concealed knife that counts as a dangerous weapon. And schools, courthouses, and other government buildings remain off-limits regardless of how permissive the general rule is.
The 2016 reform and statewide preemption
The turning point was 2015 Wisconsin Act 149, which was signed into law by Governor Scott Walker in February 2016. Before that, Wisconsin banned switchblades outright and treated some knives as dangerous weapons for concealed-carry purposes. Local governments also had their own patchwork of knife ordinances, so a knife that was fine in one town could be a problem in the next.
Act 149 did two significant things. First, it repealed the state’s switchblade ban. Second, it established statewide preemption for knife regulation. Under Wisconsin Statute 66.0409, no city, county, village, or town may enact or enforce an ordinance that regulates knives more strictly than state law does. In practical terms, that means the rules are now the same across the whole state. A local council cannot add a length limit, ban a particular style of knife, or otherwise go beyond what the legislature has set.
Preemption is one of the most useful things to understand about Wisconsin knife law, because it removes the old risk of unknowingly crossing a municipal line into a stricter jurisdiction. State law is the ceiling and the floor. Local governments can still restrict knives in their own buildings and on their own property, but they cannot pass general knife bans that apply to the public at large.
What knives are legal to own in Wisconsin
For an adult who is not a prohibited person, Wisconsin places no meaningful restriction on the type of knife you can own. That includes:
- Pocket knives and folding knives of any size.
- Fixed-blade knives, including large hunting and camping knives.
- Switchblades and automatic knives. These became legal to own and carry after Act 149 repealed the ban that had stood since the 1950s.
- Butterfly (balisong) knives.
- Gravity knives, which open by the force of gravity or a flick of the wrist.
- Machetes, daggers, dirks, and stilettos.
- Disguised or concealed-blade knives such as belt-buckle or pen knives, which state law does not single out for a ban.
The word “own” is doing real work here. Ownership and carry are close to identical in Wisconsin for most people, which is unusual. Many states let you own a knife but restrict carrying it. Wisconsin generally does not draw that line, with the important exception of prohibited persons discussed below.
Concealed carry of knives
Wisconsin allows the concealed carry of knives. This is the point that surprises people who assume knives follow the same permit system as firearms. They do not.
Because Act 149 removed knives from the list of dangerous weapons that trigger the concealed-carry weapon statute for ordinary citizens, an adult who is not a prohibited person may carry a knife concealed without a license. There is no blade-length limit and no restriction based on how the knife opens. A concealed switchblade is treated the same as a concealed pocket knife.
The CCW-license nuance
Wisconsin’s concealed-carry statute still exists and still lists a “dangerous weapon” category. For most people the knife exemption means a license is unnecessary. The nuance is that a Wisconsin concealed-carry license (CCW) explicitly covers knives as well as firearms. Some carriers choose to hold a CCW anyway, because it provides an added layer of clarity and, for those who travel, can matter under reciprocity in other states. Holding a license is not required to carry a knife in Wisconsin, but it does not hurt and can help resolve ambiguity if a knife’s status is ever questioned.
The going-armed-while-intoxicated caveat
Wisconsin has a “going armed while intoxicated” offense under Statute 941.20. As written, that provision addresses going armed with a firearm while under the influence of an intoxicant, and it is charged as a Class A misdemeanor. Wisconsin courts have upheld it as constitutional.
The conservative takeaway for knife carriers is this: while the intoxicant provision is framed around firearms, being intoxicated in public while armed is exactly the kind of situation where a prosecutor may reach for other charges, such as disorderly conduct while armed or endangering safety with a dangerous weapon. The safe practice is to not carry a knife as a weapon while intoxicated. It is a caveat worth knowing rather than a settled rule about knives specifically, which is another reason to confirm the current text of the statute if this affects you.
Restrictions that still apply
A permissive state is not a lawless one. Several real restrictions remain in force.
Prohibited persons and felons
The most important limit is on who may carry. Under Wisconsin Statute 941.231, a person who is prohibited from possessing a firearm under Statute 941.29, which includes people convicted of a felony, cannot legally carry a concealed knife that qualifies as a dangerous weapon. Doing so is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to nine months of confinement and a fine of up to 10,000 dollars. If you fall into a prohibited category, the general rule that “anyone can carry concealed” does not apply to you.
Schools and school zones
Knives are heavily restricted on school grounds. Wisconsin law makes it an offense to possess a dangerous weapon on school premises, and school districts enforce their own zero-tolerance policies on top of that. This applies to public and private schools alike and does not carve out small pocket knives in practice. Do not bring a knife onto school property.
Government buildings and secured areas
Courthouses, correctional facilities, and many other government buildings prohibit weapons, including knives, and screen for them at entry. Federal buildings, airports past the security checkpoint, and similar secured areas have their own bans under separate federal law that state preemption does not touch. Preemption stops local governments from passing broad public knife bans, but it does not stop them from keeping knives out of their own facilities.
Intent and use
Owning and carrying a legal knife is one thing; using or brandishing it to threaten or harm someone is another. Charges such as disorderly conduct while armed, battery, or endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon can follow from how a knife is used, regardless of whether the knife itself is legal to carry.
Quick summary: legal to own and legal to carry
| Knife type | Legal to own | Legal to carry (open or concealed) |
|---|---|---|
| Pocket / folding knife | Yes | Yes |
| Fixed-blade knife | Yes | Yes |
| Switchblade / automatic | Yes (since 2016) | Yes |
| Butterfly (balisong) | Yes | Yes |
| Gravity knife | Yes | Yes |
| Machete | Yes | Yes |
| Dagger / dirk / stiletto | Yes | Yes |
Every “yes” above carries the same two conditions: the carrier is an adult who is not a prohibited person, and the knife is not taken into a school, courthouse, or other restricted place. Those two conditions are the whole game in Wisconsin.
Frequently asked questions
Are switchblades legal in Wisconsin?
Yes. Switchblades and other automatic knives became legal to own and carry in Wisconsin after 2015 Act 149 took effect in 2016 and repealed the old switchblade ban. An adult who is not a prohibited person may own one and carry it openly or concealed.
Can you carry a knife concealed in Wisconsin?
Yes. Wisconsin allows the concealed carry of knives without a permit for adults who are not prohibited from possessing weapons. No license is required, although a Wisconsin CCW license also covers knives and some carriers choose to hold one for added clarity and out-of-state travel.
Are there blade-length limits in Wisconsin?
No. State law does not set a maximum blade length for owning or carrying a knife. Because of statewide preemption, local governments cannot add their own length limits either. Length can still matter as a practical fact if a knife is used in a way that leads to other charges.
What are the rules for knives at schools?
Knives are prohibited on school grounds. Wisconsin law bars possessing a dangerous weapon on school premises, and schools enforce their own zero-tolerance policies. This applies even to small pocket knives in practice, so do not bring any knife onto school property.
Is it legal to carry a machete in Wisconsin?
Yes. A machete is treated like any other knife under Wisconsin law. An adult who is not a prohibited person may own and carry one. That said, carrying a machete in public draws attention and can invite a disorderly-conduct inquiry depending on the circumstances, so context and intent matter.
Can a felon carry a knife in Wisconsin?
Not concealed, if the knife is a dangerous weapon. A person prohibited from possessing a firearm, which includes convicted felons, commits a Class A misdemeanor by carrying a concealed dangerous-weapon knife under Statute 941.231. Prohibited persons should treat their situation carefully and consult an attorney before carrying any knife.
Related reading
- Knife Laws by State: The Complete US Guide
- Best Pocket Knife for Everyday Use
- Best EDC Knife: Buyer’s Guide
- Gravity Knives Explained
A final word
Wisconsin gives adults broad freedom to own and carry knives, and statewide preemption keeps the rules consistent from one town to the next. The exceptions are narrow but firm: prohibited persons, schools, and government buildings. Stay inside those lines and you are on solid ground under current state law.
Reminder: this article is general information, not legal advice. The law can change and individual facts can shift the outcome. Confirm anything that matters against the current Wisconsin statutes or with a licensed Wisconsin attorney before relying on it. Last reviewed: 2026.