The Massachusetts knife laws are defined very broadly, and you’ve to remember certain important things if you want to know about the laws. There’s nothing about the legality of owning, carrying, manufacturing, or selling a knife, one can own almost all knives and blades, but you cannot carry them openly or conceal them.
However, there are some knives that are ban in some particular situations. Also, it is against the law to manufacture or sell such types of knives in Massachusetts.
We will provide you with the best explanations of the knife laws to clear all your doubts. You will get more in-depth information on everyday Massachusetts knife laws in this article.
Table of Contents
Legal Knives in Massachusetts
The possession and ownership of a knife are not regulated. However, transferring, giving, or selling a knife is illegal. There is no illegal knife to own in Massachusetts except restricted knives. Some knives that are legal to own are:
- Machetes and all types of Pocket knives are legal to own.
- Draggers, stilettos, push knives, and dirks are legal to own.
- Almost all types of undetectable knives are legal to own.
- Throwing stars or other material arts weapons are legal to own.
- Balisong Knives or Butterfly Knives are legal to own.
- Swords, Bowie Knives, and other Large Knives are legal to own.
- Ballistic knives are legal to own.
- Disguised Knives such as Lipstick knives, penknives, and Cane knives are legal to own.
- Switchblades, gravity, or other automatic knives are legal to own.
- Knives with brass knuckles are also legal to own.
- And many others.
Moreover, some of these knives are illegal to carry openly or concealed. Continue reading for detailed information on knives that are illegal to carry openly or concealed.
Blade size length
There’s no fixed blade size for the knives except switchblades in Massachusetts. Only the size of switchblades is fixed, which is one and a half inches; however, there’re no fixed blade sizes for other knives.
Switchblades having a blade size of more than one and a half inches are illegal to carry both openly and concealed. As it is against the law to carry switchblades size of more than one and a half inch, so they are classified as illegal weapons.
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Knives that are illegal to carry in Massachusetts
There are some knives that are illegal to carry openly or concealed in Massachusetts. In this section, you will get to know some of the knives that are illegal to carry.
Code 269, section 10 (b) describes the illegal carrying of knives:
“Whoever, except as provided by law, carries on his person, or carries on his person or under his control in a vehicle, any stiletto, dagger or a device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position, any ballistic knife, or any knife with a detachable blade capable of being propelled by any mechanism, dirk knife, any knife having a double-edged blade, or a switch knife, or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which the blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches, or a slingshot, blowgun, blackjack, metallic knuckles or knuckles of any substance which could be put to the same use with the same or similar effect as metallic knuckles, nunchaku, zoobow, also known as klackers or kung fu sticks, or any similar weapon consisting of two sticks of wood, plastic or metal connected at one end by a length of rope, chain,…”
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The Knives mentioned below are illegal to carry both openly or concealed:
- Slingshot
- Stilettos Knives
- Blackjack Knives
- Dagger Shuriken Knives
- Ballistic Knives
- Dirks Knives
- Knives with built-in metallic knuckles
- Switchblades, gravity, or other automatic knives over 1.5 inches of blade size are illegal to carry.
- Knives having double-edged blades are illegal to carry both openly or concealed.
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Limits on knife carrying.
There are some limits on the carrying of knives. If you overcome that limits, you are breaking the laws, and you may be fined or go to jail for breaking such limits. Some limits are:
- It is illegal to carry or concealed dirks, stilettos, switchblades, daggers, double edge knives, ballistic knives, and knuckle knives.
- Anything that is perceived as dangerous is illegal to carry.
- Although, Kitchen knives, Folding knives, and Swiss army knives are legal to carry as long as you don’t act in a manner that makes them dangerous.
Penalties for breaking the law
When you violate the laws by carrying these illegal knives openly or concealed, you have to go through the following penalties:
- Incarceration for not less than 2.5 years and not more than 5 years in jail
- Or, incarceration for not less than 6 months and not more than 1.5 years in jail.
Exception: Those who have not been convicted of any crime previously, he/she will be punished by:
- A fine of up to $50
- Or, up to 2.5 years in a country jail
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Knives that are illegal to manufacture or sell in Massachusetts
There are some knives that are illegal to manufacture or sell in Massachusetts. In this section, you will get to know some of the knives that are illegal to manufacture or sell.
Code 269, section 12 describes the knives that are illegal to manufacture or sell:
“Whoever manufactures or causes to be manufactured, or sells or exposes for sale, an instrument or weapon of the kind usually known as a dirk knife, a switch knife or any knife having an automatic spring release device by which the blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches or a device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position, any ballistic knife, or any knife with a detachable blade capable of being propelled by any mechanism, slingshot, bean blower, sword cane, pistol cane, bludgeon, blackjack, nunchaku, zoobow, also known as klackers or kung fu sticks, or any similar weapon consisting of two sticks of wood, plastic or metal connected at one end by a length of rope, chain,…”
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The Knives mentioned below are illegal to manufacture, display or sell:
- Ballistic Knives
- Dirk Knives
- Switchblades or automatic knives over 1.5-inch of blade size are illegal to manufacture.
- Knives with metallic knuckles
Penalties for breaking the law
When you violate the laws by manufacturing, displaying, or selling these illegal knives, you have to go through the following penalties:
- A fine up to $1000 or,
- Or up to six months in a country jail
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Restricted places in which you can’t carry a knife
There are some places in which you cannot carry a knife. Some places include government buildings, courthouses, prisons, school grounds, and some others. It is illegal to carry knives in such places, and you may be fined or punished.
Concealed carry of knives
Kitchen knives, Folding Knives (pocket knives having a single edge), and Swiss army knives can be carried concealed. However, you have to be careful in carrying knives concealed because if the knives are used in a way that renders them dangerous, they’re going to become illegal.
Conclusion
The knife laws in Massachusetts are not that tricky. Almost all types of knives are legal to own in Massachusetts. Only the laws for carrying some dangerous knives are a bit strict. Some dangerous knives that we mentioned earlier are also restricted to carry openly or concealed in other states.
Switchblades having a blade size of one and a half inch is legal, which is a bit shorter than the other states. Switchblades having more than one and a half-inch blade sizes is illegal to carry openly or concealed.
In Massachusetts, some dangerous knives are also illegal to manufacture, display or sell and when you violate the knife laws, you may be fined or punished.
