Our age requirement is a store policy set out in our terms of service, adopted because state laws on selling knives to minors differ across the country. It is not us applying a federal age law, because no federal minimum purchase age exists for ordinary knives.
It matters that this is framed accurately. There is no United States statute setting a minimum age to buy an ordinary pocket knife. What exists is a patchwork of state rules, several of which restrict sale to minors and commonly use 18 as the line.
A national retailer shipping to all 50 states cannot apply fifty different rules at a single checkout, so it adopts one policy that keeps it on the right side of the strictest states. That is what ours is.
The current wording is on our terms of service page, which is the controlling version. If anything on this page and that page differ, the terms of service govern.
If you have a question about an order, our contact page has our phone number and email, and we answer from the same Woodlawn, Virginia building the knives ship from.
Plenty of our orders are first knives bought by a parent or grandparent. That is a normal and long-standing tradition and we are glad to be part of it.
Some states regulate transferring a knife to a minor as well as selling to one, so check your own state's rules. Then see our answers on choosing a first knife and on teaching safe handling.
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.