New Virginia Laws 2023: Switchblades and Stilettos

Carrying certain types of weapons; concealed or otherwise, can be a crime in Virginia under certain situations. Knives, for example, are one of the types of weapons that Virginia closely monitors.

Whether for protection or collection, if you are a knife enthusiast you have to be careful when you are out in public. Different places have different restrictions for when you can carry a knife. If you are not careful, you could get in trouble for bringing a knife somewhere you aren’t supposed to. Even if it was an innocent mistake and you forgot you had the knife with you.

Overtime, knife restrictions became a big problem in Virginia. New laws were suggested by the General Assembly to relax restrictions on carrying knives in 2023. One of those proposals was House Bill 2298. That law made changes to what kind of knives were restricted for concealed carry purposes.

Governor Youngkin signed House Bill 2298 in March of 2023. The new law reduces restrictions on concealed carry of switchblades. The new law removed the blanket restriction on carrying switchblades. The law now prevents carrying “stilettos” instead of “switchblades.” As many knife enthusiasts might tell you, that is a big difference. Some stilettos are switchblades, but not all stilettos are switchblades.

It is still a very bad idea to try to take your knives into government buildings, but the law is a lot less strict on other types of switchblades after the new rules were put in place this year. The law also still restricts the carrying of dirks and daggers.

If you are a collector or someone looking for personal protection, it is important to make sure you consult with a lawyer to make sure you aren’t carrying the wrong kind of knife and you are properly transporting it to avoid getting in trouble and risking jail time.