MA. Knife laws

T.K.C.

T.K.C.

Joined
May 7, 2005
Messages
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I was wondering if anyone knew where I could read up on MA. knife laws, in laymans terms. Or if someone could explain MA. knife laws. I know things are a little different in Boston than the rest of MA. It is my understanding, that you can ONLY carry a 3 inch or less knife in Boston. But what about the rest of MA. I personally live on The Cape. Can anyone help? TIA, I appreciate it!
 
Mass laws aren't in strange legalese, the only problem is that certain parts are vague and there doesn't seem to be much case law.

I don't know what they refer to here:

"...or a device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position"

Anyway you can find the full law right here. Scroll down to (b).

I'll sum up Mass state laws as best as I can:

You cannot carry on your person or under your control in a vehicle:

Stilettos
Daggers
Ballistic knives
Dirks (ie push daggers or basically other daggers)
Double-edged knives
Automatics with blades more than 1.5" long

Various other things like brass knuckles are prohibited in that paragraph as well.


I don't have a link directly to the Boston law on a Mass. web site, but you can see a copy at Bernard Levine's site. Scroll down.

Essentially, no knives over 2.5" unless you have a reason for it. There's also a blurb that prohibits any object or tool designed or intended to be used to harm people. So if you have an encounter with the police, you'd better make sure that they know your knife (or anything else) isn't a weapon.
 
Rule of thumb in MA in general is, if it looks "weapon-ish" (pointy, double edge, any kind of martial arts gear like nunchucks, flips or springs open) its probably banned.
Boston has all the above restrictions as well as the 2.5" rule. I'm not going to say that the Boston police don't enforce that rule. But the police don't just stop and search random citizens going about their legitimate, non-suspect behavior either.
 
Ryan8 said:
I don't know what they refer to here:

"...or a device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position"
Click to expand...


I always wondered if that would apply to an Emerson wave feature (or any knife of similar design) that could be opened into a locked position as it's taken out of your pocket. Would that be considered a device, or is it different if it's part of the knife's design?

Also, from reading the linked text am I correct in thinking the state law does not impose a specific blade length limit for non-automatics?
 
What I'm really curious about is if AOs like Kershaws fall under the switchblade law. I haven't checked to see if they're sold in the local stores.
 
Kershaw speed safe models are sold in stores. Last time I was in a knife store they had them, Stoddard's at Chestnut Hill Mall maybe 4-5 months ago.
 
Yes Kershaw assisted openers are sold in stores in Boston and suburbs. So are butterfly knives, large fixed blades, and swords. This in NO WAY is an indicator that all, any, or none of the above can be legally carried. I'm going to guess you'd have a lower probability of getting totally busted if they caught you with an assisted opener than a sword or balisong, but to my knowledge the assisted opener thing has never been tested in a MA court...
 
But IIRC it's illegal to offer >1.5" switchblades for sale in MA at all, period. Same for crap like nunchucks and throwing stars. Not so with balisongs or swords. It seems to me that if an AO can be legally sold it's not (or not yet) considered an auto. Therefore would be legal for carry since in all other respects it's a normal folding knife.
 
On the Kershaw knife assisted openers, available at every Wal-Mart in New Hampshire, and very resonable on prices. I found them in California for 50 bucks and Wal-Mart sells the same for 34.95.
 
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