It is illegal without a permit to conceal carry any dirk, bowie, or dagger with a blade longer than 4”. Gravity knives are considered switchblades in Maryland. Certain mentally ill people cannot own a gravity knife, switchblade, dirk, dagger, stiletto, or other dangerous knife. Disguised knives (such as those that look like pens), and knives held in containers have previously been designated as concealed carry. From kindergarten through college, students, faculty, friends, and family may not bring deadly weapons onto school property. It is legal to open carry any type of knife, but it is illegal to conceal carry any dirk, dagger, stiletto, or any other blade over 3.5” long. Only switchblades and pocket knives can be legally concealed. Broader weapons bans are in place at most schools, but some may allow shorter knives for limited purposes. Dirks, daggers, and other similarly dangerous weapons may not be concealed. Even disguised knives are legal to own. It is legal to own Bowies and other large knives. Their inventory is huge! One can carry knives for hunting, fishing, educational, or recreational purposes such as living history reenactments. Gravity blades and switchblades can be owned by people who have the appropriate hunting/fishing license. The exceptions are switchblades, butterfly knives, or blades with similar designs to these knives. The only types of knife that residents can’t legally own are switchblades or similar springblade weapons. Knives with blades longer than 4 inches are prohibited, as are swords and straight razors. Knife owners should be prepared to explain why they are carrying their blade in the manner that they are carrying it in. I have and have received my CWL. The issue of vagueness involves two elements or perspectives. We are going to discuss all these and provide possible explanations of the laws’ statements. No ballistic knife should be carried in Colorado. There are restrictions in place with regards to schools and other publicly-owned buildings. Kansas knife law is practically non-existent. Any non-pocket knife that’s 3 inches or shorter is considered a deadly weapon. martial arts). Ballistic knives are illegal. Major cities like Detroit and Lansing can also set their own laws. Balisongs are considered fighting knives with no utility uses (despite their original creation in the Philippines being a utilitarian knife), so even if it is under 5” it can still count as a dangerous weapon. It is legal to own bowies, dirks, daggers, stabbing knives, switchblades, gravity knives, or disguised knives. Subsequent violations are a fine of $250-$500 and 30 days – 3 months in jail. The state does set up laws against concealing knives it considers dangerous. (I personally find it interesting they felt the need to make conceal carrying a sword illegal. It is legal to own a dirk, dagger, stabbing knife, stiletto, sword cane, disguised knife, bowie, balisong, or switchblade. It is illegal to conceal or open carry any offensive weapon. If you have to give the blade a nudge to open, it’s not considered an automatic spring release, however. Check the local laws before traveling within Massachusetts while possessing a knife. When a gravity knife, switchblade, pilum ballistic knife, metal knuckle knife, dagger, dirk, or stiletto is found in a vehicle, it is assumed to be in the possession of all the occupants of the vehicle. It is illegal to possess a dirk, dagger, or switchblade on school or childcare facility property or in a vehicle owned by such. Those who have been convicted of a violent or drug-related felony are not allowed to own a dirk, stiletto, dagger, switchblade, or any type of knife that the state deems deadly. When closed, the blade stays hidden inside the handle groove. Restrictions are made based on legal status. Once again, “weapons which can cause dangerous wounds” could mean just about anything. EDC: Every Day Carry. This video covers the three primary categories of knives. Anyone carrying a dangerous knife in a school ground or school campus or school buildings are illegal and it is applicable from kindergarten to grade 12. The state doesn’t make a distinction between concealed and open carry; the law is based on lawful intent. Selling bowies to those under 18 is illegal. Gravity knives, machetes, sabers, stilettos, swords, daggers, and related blade types are all illegal to carry in concealment. Carrying knives into school zones is generally considered an offense. You cannot open carry a throwing star, dirk, switchblade, gravity knife, or bowie knife with the intention of hurting somebody. It is possible for exceptions to be made in certain situations under Kentucky law. The state of Kansas opened up their knife laws in 2014 and now they have some of the most permissive laws in the country. You can legally open carry any legal knife. You can legally conceal carry a switchblade. You can’t legally carry a tomahawk (Was this law enacted with Indians in mind?). A category 1 restricted person has been convicted of a violent felony, is on probation/parole for a felony, is on parole from a facility under contract with the Division of Juvenile Justice Services, that provides 24-hour supervision and confinement for youth offenders, has been adjudicated delinquent within the last 10 years for an offense that would have been a violent felony if the person had been an adult, or is illegally in the US. KRS 500.080 recently overturned making concealed carrying other knives illegal. You can own any knife you want, but there are limits on what you can carry. Knife owners looking to stay on the right side of the law should try and carry their knife in the open. Anyone over 21 can carry knives concealed. 2021 Index of Bills and Session Law Chapters; To view Session Laws … Balisongs, bowies, dirks, daggers, stilettos, assisted knives, disguised knives, switchblades, and automatic knives are legal. Any knife may be carried openly or concealed. Beyond this, adults can carry any knife they want in the open. And any knife that can be owned can be carried openly. Pocket knives and hunting knives can be carried in concealment, but all other knives should be carried openly. This is not intended to be an exhaustive study. However, students cannot carry switchblade knives or any other knife that can open outward or downward. This means knife owners are free to carry their blades as they wish as long as they make it clear that they are using the blades lawfully. All other knives can be owned and carried openly. Tags: Knife Laws; Share Share on Facebook Tweet Tweet on Twitter Pin it Pin … Only ballistic knives are illegal to own. There may be local laws in Delaware as well. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The state does not set laws based on concealment. The discussion and … It is legal to open carry any knife. The state of New Jersey is very permissive when it comes to knives that the average citizen can own. If there isn’t a clear and lawful purpose for the blade then carrying it will be considered a crime. Pocket knives, balisongs, disguises knives, bowie knives, and throwing knives can all be legally owned in New Jersey. Concealed carrying is a big issue here like the most other states. Arizona’s freedoms come with certain restrictions. I am not sure it’s possible to beat South Dakota knife law. It is illegal to open or conceal carry a dangerous/deadly weapon with the intent of using it to harm others, and it is illegal to carry any knife any way onto school or government property. The Maine laws specifically target bowie knives, dirks, stilettos, and knives similar in design to any of these. Knives designed to go through metal detectors undetected are also illegal. Most knives are legal to own in the state of Nevada. The knife laws in Iowa are defined by a distinction between what is considered a “dangerous weapon.” Daggers, razors, stilettos, switchblades, and any blade longer than 5 inches can all be considered dangerous weapons. They … Exceptions are made for switchblades and knives that have been integrated into a belt buckle to create a very particular type of hidden blade. It is illegal to bring a knife to schools. The state of Virginia allows the ownership of any type of knife. It is illegal to not inform a police officer who stops you that you are carrying a concealed knife that is not a pocketknife. Please read our complete Disclosures and Privacy Policy for more information. Balisongs/butterfly knives are legal. One such law includes a ban on anyone under than 18 concealing a knife on their person that has a two inch blade or longer. You cannot exhibit a knife in a rude, angry, or threatening manner (except in cases of self-defense). The state makes it clear that weapons should be kept off of all school grounds, from kindergarten through post-grad. Unless you do not want to end up with jail time, a hefty fine, or a ruined reputation, it pays to know the law in your home state. Butterfly knives, dirks, daggers, stilettos, throwing knives, throwing stars, bowie knives, large knives, hidden knives, undetectable knives, switchblades, automatic knives, and gravity knives are all legal. With that said, Massachusetts is fairly restrictive when it comes to carrying knives. Dirks, bowie knives, and daggers are considered deadly weapons and cannot be carried in concealment. Exceptions to these rules can be made for people who use their knives for sport and outdoor activities. This means you could get in trouble for riding in a car with somebody who has a knife that is illegal, even if you don’t know about it. Dirks, stilettos, and other stabbing knives are legal. It is illegal to carry a dagger, sword, knife, or other cutting/stabbing instrument in a manner which could be construed as causing alarm or with an intent of intimidation. Prior cases have found that open carrying a legal knife with the intent of terrorizing is illegal. Knife laws in Missouri are pretty relaxing for the knife-owners and for open carries. All knives that can be legally owned in Missouri can also be legally carried in the open. The state forbids dangerous weapons on school property. For example, if you live in Denver, Colorado, you must abide by the knife laws of Colorado as well as the knife laws of Denver. Any knife that can be legally owned can be legally carried in concealment or in the open. The application for the permit must have a description of the weapon that is to be carried concealed. New Jersey law also makes it clear that knives can legally be owned if the owner has a clear and lawful reason for possessing the knife. However, the definition of “deadly weapon” is a bit fuzzy and application of the law is uneven. There are also age-based restrictions. States where Knife Rights has enacted Knife Law Preemption are in Bold with Date. You cannot conceal carry any knife with a blade longer than 3.5” in your vehicle either. I have noticed that what is defined as a switchblade or dagger can have an incredibly wide scope of meaning, so that is something to be aware of. If the knife can be legally owned then it can be carried openly or in concealment. The state of Hawaii allows citizens to own and carry any sort of single-edged blade, no matter the size or variety. In the state of Illinois, most knives are legal to own. California law divides all knives into three categories, knives that are legal for open and concealed carry, knives that are only legal when carried in the open, and knives that are never legal. Disturbing the peace or being arrested with a dangerous weapon in your car can land you in serious hot water legally speaking as well. Nothing is illegal to own knife-wise. THEY SHOULD BE BANNED FROM ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH FREEDOM AS THEY ARE A DANGER TO IT! You can own any knife type. Dirks, stilettos, sword canes, bowie knives, and any other knife with blades longer than 3 inches are illegal to carry in concealment. What follows is not legal advice. You need parental consent if under 18 to own a bowie or dirk. Of course, rules and regulations vary between schools and school districts. It is illegal to conceal carry a dirk, bowie, switchblade, machete, ballistic knife, throwing stars, oriental darts, or any knife of a like kind to these. You cannot conceal carry a knife while intoxicated even if you do have a permit. You can legally carry knives with utility purposes. Similarly like Alabama, I’ve created a separate post for all knife laws in the state of Alaska since it’s a very popular query that I get from my readers. Accept Read More, Knife Laws and Regulations of All 50 States 2021, Knife Laws in 50 States Summary and Updates, Top 7 Bushcraft Tools Every Prepper Needs. Things get trickier when it comes to concealed blades. Pocket knives that are two inches long or shorter are legal in just about every situation. Hunting and fishing knives larger than 3.5” can be carried concealed. It is illegal to own switchblades, and knives which are an integral part of a belt buckle. When a butterfly knife is closed, the blades are fully concealed. Schools are considered weapons-free zones. Because they do not seem to have any. Nevada law makes it clear that knives should be kept away from schools and other childcare operations. One can legally carry a switchblade provided it does not go against federal prohibitions. All other types are legal to own. You can conceal carry a hunting knife. Some restrictions apply when it comes to concealment. Most types of knives are legal to own, but there are a few exceptions. Specific rules vary between the different districts. The same goes for blades with knuckles.There are no size restrictions in Hawaiian knife law. Every state in the US has its own knife laws. It is illegal to conceal carry a “deadly weapon” in Wyoming (because the bad guys deserve to know that you have a weapon). It is illegal to own ballistic knives and throwing stars. In fact, it is illegal to carry any knife if you are behaving in a way that might be seen as threatening. This section contains user-friendly summaries of Kansas laws as well as citations or links to relevant sections of Kansas's official online statutes.Please select a topic from the list below to get started. Although knives are popular as collectibles, tools, and self-defense weapons, carrying a knife or owning certain types of knives may be illegal under state or federal law. Tactical knives and bowie knives are not dangerous weapons unless you use them in such a manner. You can also check a knife catalog: they will usually tell you if they can’t ship a certain knife to your state. All states have knife laws (click on the map above to find the knife law for a particular state) but some knife laws by state are more up-to-date than others and local municipals often pass their own knife laws as well. You can open carry any type of knife and conceal carry a pocketknife. Doing such is a felony with at least one year in prison penalty. Minors can only carry pocket knives and selling knives to people under 18 without explicit permission from a parent or guardian is illegal. If a cop asks to see what you are carrying, you have to show them. It is illegal to conceal carry dirks, daggers, stabbing knives, balisongs, gravity knives, or blades that swing into position by a spring or centrifugal force. It is legal to own bowies, large knives, dirks, stilettos, daggers, slim knives, throwing stars, throwing knives, disguised knives, switchblades, automatic knives, and balisongs. Selling switchblades or ballistic knives is illegal. From pocket knives to switchblades and disguised knives, they are all legal to own in Mississippi. Schools are Weapon/knife free zone. Educational property is school buildings, buses, campuses, recreational areas, or other property owned, used, or operated by any school board, school, college, university, or directors for the administration of any public or private educational institution. Balisongs, switchblades, automatic knives, ballistic knives, dirks, daggers, stilettos, push knives, knives with brass knuckles, disguised knives, bowie knives, large knives, throwing stars, and throwing knives are all legal to own. It has two handles, which counter-rotates around the tang. If you bend over to pick up a box, and your shirt goes over the hilt of a belt-worn blade, you are screwed. Copyright 2020 - All right reserved. Switchblades with a blade over 2” long are illegal. These knives are considered dangerous or deadly and may not be carried in concealment. In most cases, knives can be safely carried as long as they aren’t brandished. Any knife designed not to look like a knife is illegal under California law. Disguised knives typically refer to knives that are hidden in belt buckles, pens, lipstick cases, canes, and the like. Most types of knives can be legally purchased and carried as long as they are carried openly. Unlike Alabama, Alaska does have quite a few rules for carrying knives and it can be a little complicated to comply with all of them. One may be charged with possession of a dangerous weapon if there are circumstances which may lead to the belief that the knife is possessed for an illegal purpose. It is legal to own bowies, balisongs, penknives, disguised knives, and any kind of hunting knife. Ballistic knives are illegal. Instead, it is intended to be a general reference. Code Publishing Municode Quality Code Publishing AKTI American Knife … You can legally own any type of knife provided you have not been convicted of a felony against the person or property of another or convicted of a felony drug related offense. Non-locking folding knives, and any other non-switchblade folding knife can be carried in concealment as long as it is closed. Butterfly knives have been considered “like” a dirk, and thus illegal to conceal carry. While any legal knife can be carried openly, there are restrictions about which blades can be carried in concealment. You cannot talk to somebody who has a restraining order against you while you carry a non-pocketknife. It should be noted that Baltimore has additional knife ordinances regarding switchblades. It is legal to own ballistic knives, balisongs, switchblades, automatic knives, dirks, daggers, stilettos, stabbing knives, disguised knives, undetectable knives, large knives, and bowie knives. This means you could land in prison for being in a vehicle with an illegal knife, even if you do so without any knowledge of the knife. Knives should be kept off of school property. There are county laws that come into play as well. In 2012 the laws were re-written to give knife owners more freedom. You should therefore be able to legally own anything. Any blade which can legally be owned can be legally carried. The only knives that are illegal are ballistic knives and throwing stars. Most ownership restrictions are based on issues related to the owner. You can conceal carry any knife you wish as long as it is not a dirk, dagger, or similar blade. Try these four sites. I’ve already written a detailed post on Knife laws in Alabama and you can read that post in detail here – http://choosethisknife.com/alabama-knife-laws-whats-legal-illegal-and-alabama-state-code. There, almost all kinds of knives are legal to own except for the switchblades. Any knife with a blade over 3.5” is illegal to conceal carry. Legal Pub. Balisongs, automatic knives, gravity knives, switchblades, dirks, stilettos, daggers, push knives, disguised knives, bowie knives, large knives are all legal. Dangerous weapons are those which due to the manner of their use or intended use are capable of causing death or serious bodily injury. For example, if you live in Seattle, Washington, you must follow Washington state’s knife laws as well as Seattle’s knife laws. The only restrictions left are related to the fact that knives are restricted on school property. The Oakley Youth Development Center is also considered as educational property. Blades which are brought into position by a switch, push-button, spring mechanism, or otherwise are considered restricted knives. Knife Laws Jargon in Kansas. The laws in Wyoming do not limit the types of knives you can legally own. Balisongs and switchblades are the blades specifically targeted by Hawaiian law. It is legal to own balisongs, disguised knives, bowies, throwing stars, throwing knives, and any purpose for which a person has an explainable lawful purpose for owning.