Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No. Concealed Carry: It is unlawful to conceal carry a dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, machete, razor, throwing star, oriental dart, or “any weapon of like kind”. Schools: Possession of any knife with the exception of a pocket knife having a folding metal blade of less than 3 inches is a Class 1 Misdemeanor. Critical Dimensions: Less than 3 inches is the maximum length of a folding pocket knife which may be lawfully possessed on school grounds. Restricted Knives: Virginia law does not forbid the ownership of any knife types, although “ballistic” and […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: Yes, effective May 31, 2020. Minors: Minors are prohibited from possessing deadly weapons unless the minor is married or otherwise emancipated. Schools: For purposes of the prohibition of knives on school property, any knife, including a pocket knife with a blade 3 1/2 inches or less, is prohibited. Major Cities with Knife Ordinances: Municipal Ordinances regarding knives are common in West Virginia. Critical Dimensions: 3 1/2 inches, as applied to any dagger, dirk, poniard or stiletto, or as applied to a pocketknife, are considered “dangerous weapons”. Restricted Knives: None notes. The West Virginia statutory law […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No. Concealed Carry: Concealment is not a factor. Schools: Pennsylvania law prohibits the possession of any knife on school grounds. Critical Dimensions: No. Restricted Knives: Any item in the broad “knife” category, “the blade of which is exposed in an automatic way by switch, push-button, spring mechanism, or otherwise,” is restricted. This restriction does not apply to “assisted opening” or “gravity” knives based on the doctrine of strict construction and interpretation of the statute by the Pennsylvania courts. The primary Pennsylvania statute regarding knives is 908. The knife-specific language provides that automatic knives may not be possessed, […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No. Concealed Carry: The New York Weapons Law applies equally as to concealed or unconcealed. Minors: Persons under the age of 16 may not possess a “dangerous knife”. Schools: A weapon may not be possessed on school grounds. Major Cities with Knife Ordinances: New York City and several others Critical Dimensions: New York City Ordinance – Under 4 inches maximum blade length. Restricted Knives:  Possession of switchblades, ballistic knives, metal knuckle knives, and cane swords is prohibited, although there is a hunting and fishing exemption for switchblades. New York State law regarding the possession of […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No. Concealed Carry: Certain weapons may not be carried concealed or “displayed in a threatening manner”. Schools: Knives are prohibited under various school district rules. Major Cities with Knife Ordinances: Augusta, Bangor, Lewiston Critical Dimensions: None. Restricted Knives: Knives restricted per 2001-A (1) “bowie knife, dirk, stiletto or other dangerous or deadly weapon usually employed in the attack on or defense of a person”. The sparse body of Maine knife law applies to any Bowie knife, dirk, stiletto, and other such knives “usually employed in the attack on, or defense of a person.” A knife […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: Yes, constitutional preemption. Concealed Carry: Not an issue. Schools: Possession of dangerous weapons is prohibited on school property, school buses and/or school buildings. Critical Dimensions: 3 inches – Automatic knives may not have a blade length over 3 inches. Restricted Knives: It is unlawful to possess a “switchblade”/automatic knife having a blade more than 3 inches in length. Knives, apart from an automatic knife having a blade longer than 3 inches, may be carried openly or concealed. Dangerous or deadly weapon restrictions obtain in specific locations and to persons with criminal intent as discussed below. […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: Yes. Concealed Carry: Not an issue. Minors: New Hampshire has no laws regarding the sale or transfer of knives to minors. It does, however, for instance, prohibit the sale of paint ball guns and/or BB guns to minors. Restricted Knives: There are no restricted knives except for persons previously convicted of a felony. The “Live Free or Die” state of New Hampshire is among the most tolerant states in the country regarding ownership of knives, stemming from the work of State Representative Jenn Coffey, a former EMT, who took on the cause to allow New […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No. Concealed Carry: No an issue. Schools: Knives are prohibited from all schools, from the elementary level to university campuses. 269 10J. Major Cities with Knife Ordinances: Boston, Salem Critical Dimensions: 1 1/2 inches is maximum blade length for an automatic knife. Restricted Knives: Stilettos, daggers, double-edged knives, ballistic knives, automatic knives with a blade longer than 1 1/2 inches, and any device which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position. The body of Massachusetts law concerning knives is not easily capsulized. The primary statute regarding the possession […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No. Concealed Carry: Any knife having a blade longer than 3 inches, or any “dagger, dirk, stiletto, sword in cane, bowie knife or other similar weapon” regardless of blade length may not be carried in a concealed manner. Minors: Various weapons, including daggers, dirks, stilettos, bowie knives and knives with blades longer than 3 inches may not be sold to a minor without the written authorization of the minor’s parent or legal guardian. Schools: Schools are weapon free zones. Critical Dimensions: A knife with a blade more than 3 inches cannot be carried concealed or […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No. Concealed Carry: Concealment is not an issue. Schools: There is a prohibition for the possession of firearms and dangerous weapons on school grounds. Critical Dimensions: 1 1/2 inch maximum blade length for “automatic” or “switchblade” type knives. 4 inches in length of edged portion of a blade of knife that can be legally carried. Restricted Knives: None known. Two Connecticut statutes restrict the possession or carry of knives beyond one’s home. 53-206 applies generally, while 29-38 to weapons in a vehicle. The wording of both statutes is similar with respect to what is restricted and what […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: No. Concealed Carry: Not an issue. Schools: Possession of weapon in or upon any part of the buildings or grounds of any school, college, university or other educational institution, under circumstances not manifestly appropriate for its lawful use, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.  Critical Dimensions: 5 or more blade length, 10 inches maximum overall length limits on knives that may be sold to minors. Restricted Knives: Gravity knives, automatic knives, dirks, daggers, stilettos, and ballistic knives are subject to significant restriction. New Jersey law prohibits the possession “without any explainable lawful […]

Quick Legal Facts Statewide Preemption: None. Concealed Carry: Concealment is an issue. Schools: No deadly weapon in a safe school or recreation zone. Critical Dimensions: 3 inches. Restricted Knives: “Undetectable knives”, a knuckles-combination knife, as well as any knife the blade of which is released by a spring mechanism or by gravity, are forbidden. A knife of any sort, other than an “ordinary pocket-knife” carried in a closed position, is considered a “deadly weapon” under Delaware law. An “ordinary” pocketknife is a folding knife having a blade not more than three inches in length. It is unlawful to carry a “deadly […]