Knife Laws

Effective date: October 27, 2026

This policy is part of the Terms of Service of Knives Mystery Box LLC, doing business as Mystery Knives ("Mystery Knives," "we," "us," or "our"), and is incorporated into them by reference. It applies to every order placed on mysteryknivesbox.com. By placing an order, you agree to it. Please read it in full before you check out.

Terms of Service: https://mysteryknivesbox.com/policies/terms-of-service
Shipping Policy: https://mysteryknivesbox.com/policies/shipping-policy
Refund and Return Policy: https://mysteryknivesbox.com/policies/refund-policy

1. 18 and Older Only

Our products are sold only to adults. By placing an order, you certify that you are at least 18 years old. We do not sell to anyone under 18. If you are under 18, do not place an order, and do not ask anyone to buy for you.

If the law where you live, or where the order will be delivered, sets a higher minimum age to buy, receive, possess, or use any item (for example, 21), you certify that you meet that higher age. You also agree that every person who receives, opens, or uses the order meets the legal age and is legally allowed to have the item.

We may ask for proof of age or identity at any time, and we may cancel any order if you do not provide it or if we have reason to believe the buyer or recipient is under age.

2. You Are Responsible for Knowing and Following Your Laws

Knife laws differ by country, state, county, and city, and they change. It is your responsibility, not ours, to know and obey every federal, state, and local law that applies to buying, receiving, owning, possessing, carrying, transporting, displaying, transferring, and using any product you order. Some cities and counties have stricter rules than their state. If you are unsure, check with your local officials or law enforcement before you order.

We do not represent or guarantee that you may legally buy, own, possess, or carry any product where you live. Nothing on our Site is legal advice. When your order arrives, it is your responsibility to understand what is legal to own, possess, carry, display, transfer, and use.

3. Restricted Knife Types

"Restricted knives" means out-the-front (OTF) knives, switchblades and other automatic knives, and balisong (butterfly) knives, and any other item whose sale or possession is restricted where you live. Mystery boxes and loadouts may include restricted knife types, as stated on the product page.

4. State Shipping Rules

We apply the following rules to restricted knives:

• New York: We do not ship OTF, switchblade (automatic), or balisong knives to New York.
• California: You must certify before checkout to receive OTF knives and switchblades. (Balisongs are allowed.)
• District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey: You must certify before checkout to receive OTF knives, switchblades, and balisongs.

If you order a mystery box or loadout that may include restricted knife types for delivery to one of these states and the required certification is not given, we will, at our option, either fill the box only with knife types allowed there or cancel the order and refund it in full.

Carrier rule: restricted knives, including all OTF and other automatic (switchblade) knives, ship only by UPS or another private carrier. We never ship restricted knives through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

These state rules are in addition to the every-state certification and use terms in Section 6, which apply to every order that includes, or may include, an OTF or other automatic (switchblade) knife.

These rules are the minimum we apply. They are not legal advice, and they are not a statement that any item is legal where you live. We may add states, cities, or item types at any time without notice.

5. Federal Switchblade Act

The Federal Switchblade Act (15 U.S.C. 1241-1245) restricts the introduction, manufacture for introduction, transportation, and distribution of switchblade (automatic) knives in interstate commerce. Under 15 U.S.C. 1244, those restrictions do not apply to:

1. any common carrier or contract carrier, with respect to any switchblade knife shipped, transported, or delivered for shipment in interstate commerce in the ordinary course of business;
2. the manufacture, sale, transportation, distribution, possession, or introduction into interstate commerce of switchblade knives pursuant to contract with the Armed Forces;
3. the Armed Forces or any member or employee thereof acting in the performance of his duty;
4. the possession, and transportation upon his person, of any switchblade knife with a blade three inches or less in length by any individual who has only one arm; or
5. a knife that contains a spring, detent, or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward closure of the blade and that requires exertion applied to the blade by hand, wrist, or arm to overcome the bias toward closure to assist in opening the knife.

Other federal laws may also apply. For example, 18 U.S.C. 1716 limits mailing switchblade knives through the U.S. Postal Service, which is why we never ship restricted knives by USPS. State and local laws are separate from federal law and may be stricter. This summary is for information only. It is not legal advice, and we do not decide whether you qualify for any exemption. That decision, and the responsibility for it, are yours.

6. Buyer Certification

All states. If your order includes, or may include, an OTF or other automatic (switchblade) knife, then no matter which state it ships to, by placing the order you certify that your purchase, receipt, and possession of that knife meet one or more of the exemptions in 15 U.S.C. 1244 listed in Section 5, and that the knife is legal for you to receive and possess where you live. We will not knowingly sell or ship an automatic knife except in compliance with one of those exemptions. If you do not meet an exemption, do not place the order.

"I certify that I meet an exemption under the Federal Switchblade Act and that this item is legal to receive where I live."

By selecting a shipping rate that states "Buyer certifies order complies with all federal, state and local laws," or by placing any order, you certify that your order complies with all federal, state, and local laws. You also certify that you hold any license or permit your state or locality requires to buy or possess the items before you order. We may ask you to tell us which exemption or license applies, or to provide proof of age, identity, or eligibility, and we may cancel the order if you do not.

Use. You agree to possess, carry, and use any automatic knife only as permitted by the exemption you rely on (for example, only in connection with the official duties or activities that exemption describes) and by all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Making a false certification is a breach of our Terms of Service. You are solely responsible for any false certification and for all consequences of it.

7. Our Right to Cancel or Refuse

We may refuse, cancel, or hold any order, in whole or in part, at any time before shipment if we believe it cannot be lawfully shipped to or received at the delivery address, if a required certification is missing, or if we have reason to believe the order would break any law or our Terms of Service. If we cancel an order for this reason, we will refund in full the amount you paid for the canceled items, including any shipping charges paid for them. We are not liable for any order you place fraudulently or illegally.

You are solely responsible for any item that is seized, held, or destroyed by any carrier or government authority for legal reasons. Seized items are not refunded.

We sell only to U.S. addresses. You may not export or re-export any product outside the United States, including through a freight forwarder or package-forwarding service. You may not buy any product for, or give, sell, or transfer any product to, a minor or any person who may not lawfully possess it.

We may report to the proper authorities anyone we believe has made a false certification, bought for a minor, or used or intends to use a product unlawfully, and we may cooperate with lawful requests from law enforcement.

8. Product Safety and Warning

ALL BOXES CONTAIN SHARP OBJECTS. KNIVES CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

• Open your package slowly and carefully. Do not use a blade to cut into the package where it could contact the contents.
• When you receive your order, inspect and test each item carefully before use. Make sure you understand how it opens, closes, and locks. Automatic, OTF, and balisong knives can open quickly and unexpectedly.
• Never point a blade at yourself or anyone else. Keep fingers clear of the blade path. Close or sheath knives when not in use.
• Do not use a damaged or malfunctioning item. Stop using it and contact us.
• Keep all products away from children and from anyone who is not legally allowed or not able to handle them safely. Store products securely.
• Use products only for lawful purposes. Products must not be used as a weapon against any person except where the law allows. Do not modify products.
• You are responsible for every other person who uses products you buy from us, and for making sure that person meets the required age, has the necessary experience, and is legally allowed to handle the product.

We are not responsible for injuries or damage caused by unsafe, risky, improper, or unlawful use, modification, or storage, or by lack of adult supervision.

9. California Proposition 65 Warning

WARNING: Products sold on this site contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm (California Health & Safety Code Section 25249.6). For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

10. Assumption of Risk, Release, and Indemnity

Knives and bladed products are inherently dangerous. YOU KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY ASSUME ALL RISKS of injury, death, property damage, and legal consequences that arise from unboxing, inspecting, handling, using, carrying, storing, transporting, transferring, or possessing any product you buy from us, whether by you or anyone else.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you release Knives Mystery Box LLC and its owners, members, managers, employees, agents, suppliers, and partners from all claims and liability for any such injury, death, damage, or legal consequence, including claims based on improper, illegal, or unintended use or modification of any product and any legal proceedings arising from your purchase or use. You also agree to defend, indemnify, and hold them harmless from all claims, losses, and costs (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from your purchase, ownership, possession, transfer, or use of any product, whether in compliance with or in violation of any law, from any false certification, and from your breach of this policy. If you are a California resident, you waive California Civil Code Section 1542 as described in our Terms of Service, to the extent permitted.

EXCEPT FOR THE LIFETIME GUARANTEE, SHIPPING-DAMAGE GUARANTEE, AND MISSING-ITEM TERMS IN OUR REFUND AND RETURN POLICY AND THE FAST INSURED RESHIP PROMISE IN OUR SHIPPING POLICY, PRODUCTS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS," AND WE DISCLAIM ALL OTHER WARRANTIES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT ANY PRODUCT IS SAFE OR SUITABLE FOR ANY PARTICULAR USE.

The full release, indemnity, disclaimer of warranties, limitation of liability, and dispute resolution terms are in our Terms of Service (Sections 11 and 20 through 25). This section does not apply to liability that cannot be released or limited under applicable law.

Automatic Knives Agreement:

11. No Legal, Safety, or Self-Defense Advice

Nothing on our Site, in this policy, in our emails, or from our team is legal, medical, safety-training, or self-defense advice. Knife laws change often, and we cannot tell you whether a knife is legal for you. Contact your local officials or an attorney if you have questions. We do not recommend any product for self-defense, combat, or rescue use.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may change this policy at any time by posting the updated version on this page and updating the effective date. The version in effect when you place an order applies to that order.

13. Questions

If you have questions about whether we can ship an item to you, you must email us before you order: team@mysteryknivesbox.com