Yes. Ordinary manual folding knives and fixed blades are mailable through USPS. The restriction in Publication 52 applies to automatic-opening knives, which are nonmailable except to a narrow list of addressees. Pack the blade so it cannot cut through the box or injure a handler.
USPS Publication 52 covers knives and sharp instruments in Section 44. The specific restriction is on knives whose blade opens automatically by hand pressure on a button or device in the handle, or by inertia or gravity, or both. Those are nonmailable to the general public and restricted to a defined set of recipients under Section 444.
An ordinary manual folder that you open with a thumb stud, a nail nick or a flipper does not meet that definition, and neither does a fixed blade. Those are mailable subject to the ordinary packaging rules.
The Postal Service requires sharp instruments to be packed so the point and edge cannot cut through the packaging or injure anyone handling it. In practice: sheath or blade guard on, wrap in stiff card, tape the wrap, then box it with enough padding that nothing shifts.
A knife that arrives having cut its way partly out of a padded envelope is the classic failure. Use a box, not a mailer, for anything with a fixed point.
Every Knives Now order goes out by USPS from our warehouse in Woodlawn, Virginia, and we ship to all 50 states. We do not stock automatic-opening knives at all, so the Section 444 restriction never applies to anything you buy from us.
See our shipping policy for current handling and delivery times.
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.