Not in your carry-on. TSA prohibits knives in carry-on bags regardless of blade length, with the only exception being rounded-tip, non-serrated plastic or butter-knife-style cutlery. Pack the knife in checked baggage instead, sheathed or securely wrapped. There is no such thing as a TSA-approved carry-on pocket knife.
TSA's published guidance is a prohibition, not a size limit. A one-inch blade is treated the same as a six-inch blade: neither belongs in a carry-on bag. The only cutting implements allowed through the checkpoint are rounded-tip, non-serrated butter knives and plastic cutlery.
This trips people up because a length threshold did exist years ago and the internet has never let go of it. If you read a figure quoted as the TSA blade-length limit, it is out of date. Check TSA's own What Can I Bring page before you pack.
Knives are permitted in checked bags. TSA asks that sharp objects be sheathed or securely wrapped so that baggage handlers and screeners are not cut when the bag is inspected. A factory sheath, a purpose-made blade guard, or several wraps of thick card and tape all satisfy that.
Put the knife somewhere a screener can reach it easily. Checked bags do get opened, and a blade buried under packed clothing is more likely to be handled carelessly than one sitting in an obvious sheath near the top.
TSA states explicitly that the final decision rests with the officer at the checkpoint. That means the rule works in one direction only: an item on the prohibited list will not be allowed through, but no one can guarantee an item will be allowed through simply because it looks permitted.
If a knife matters to you, do not gamble on it at security. Items surrendered at a checkpoint are not returned. Post it home, put it in a checked bag, or leave it at home.
This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Knife laws vary by state, county, and city, change frequently, and are subject to interpretation by courts and law enforcement. Knives Now is a retailer, not a law firm, and this summary should not be relied upon as a substitute for consulting a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction or reviewing the current text of the applicable statute. Before purchasing, carrying, or shipping any knife, confirm current local, state, and federal law for your specific situation, including any restrictions on carry location, blade length, or knife type. Knives Now makes no warranty as to the completeness, accuracy, or current applicability of the information on this page and disclaims all liability for actions taken in reliance on it.