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Fla. Stat. § 790.225 (2025)

Ballistic self-propelled knives; unlawful to manufacture, sell, or possess; forfeiture; penalty.

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790.225 Ballistic self-propelled knives; unlawful to manufacture, sell, or possess; forfeiture; penalty.—
(1) It is unlawful for any person to manufacture, display, sell, own, possess, or use a ballistic self-propelled knife which is a device that propels a knifelike blade as a projectile and which physically separates the blade from the device by means of a coil spring, elastic material, or compressed gas. A ballistic self-propelled knife is declared to be a dangerous or deadly weapon and a contraband item. It shall be subject to seizure and shall be disposed of as provided in s. 790.08(1) and (6).
(2) This section shall not apply to:
(a) Any device from which a knifelike blade opens, where such blade remains physically integrated with the device when open.
(b) Any device which propels an arrow, a bolt, or a dart by means of any common bow, compound bow, crossbow, or underwater spear gun.
(3) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 1, ch. 85-258; s. 178, ch. 91-224; s. 1, ch. 2003-82.

Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 790.225

M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd
§790.225WEAPON OFFENSEMAKE SELL USE POSS BALLISTIC SELF PROP KNIFEM · 1st
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases, 2000–2010 · leading case: State v. Darynani, 774 So. 2d 855 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000).
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State v. Darynani, 774 So. 2d 855 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000). · cites it 14× “§ 790.225, Fla. Stat. (1997). The current version of the statute reads the same.”
Robertson v. State, 163 S.W.3d 730 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). “2000)(citing Fla. Stat. § 790.225 ); Ridley v. State, 232 Ga.”
K.H. v. State, 29 So. 3d 426 (Fla. 5th DCA 2010). · cites it 2× “asserts that switchblades are not illegal under section 790.225, Florida Statutes (2008), but the fact that a switchblade in question is not prohibited under Florida law does not speak to the issue of whether it is a weapon for purposes of section 790.”
KH v. State, 29 So. 3d 426 (Fla. 5th DCA 2010). · cites it 2× “asserts that switchblades are not illegal under section 790.225, Florida Statutes (2008), but the fact that a switchblade in question is not prohibited under Florida law does not speak to the issue of whether it is a weapon for purposes of section 790.”
Robertson, Trever (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). “2000)(citing Fla. Stat. §790.225 ); Ridley v. State , 232 Ga.”
— 790.225(1) — 1 case
State v. Darynani, 774 So. 2d 855 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000). “§ 790.225, Fla. Stat. (1997). The current version of the statute reads the same.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.

This Florida statute resource is curated by a Jacksonville criminal defense attorney, a Jacksonville, Florida criminal defense attorney (Florida Bar No. 39104). Attorney Syfert regularly handles Chapter 790 matters in the context of weapons and firearms charges and represents clients throughout Northeast Florida. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.