knife carrying laws in Arizona
- Thread starter azgun
- Start date
- Status
Bobson
Member
Based on everything I can find, it is legal to carry a balisong concealed in AZ.
ARS 13-3102 (Misconduct Involving Weapons):
A. A person commits misconduct involving weapons by knowingly:
1. Carrying a deadly weapon except a pocket knife concealed on his person or within his immediate control in or on a means of transportation:
[Two scenarios are listed here, both of which only apply to a deadly weapon other than a pocket knife]; or
2. Carrying a deadly weapon except a pocket knife concealed on his person or concealed within his immediate control in or on a means of transportation if the person is under twenty-one years of age [this is the part of AZ law that makes it illegal to conceal a firearm under age 21, but it does not apply to pocket knives];
ARS 13-3120 (Knives regulated by state) doesn't list a single type of knife that is to be regulated; it also defines "knife" as a "cutting instrument and includes a sharpened or pointed blade."
Because of ARS 13-3102.2, it may be legal for anyone of any age to carry a concealed balisong in AZ. I know it doesn't require age 21, but I can't find anything that would specify any age whatsoever. I guess if you want to be safe, let's say age 18 or older. I'll keep looking.
ARS 13-3102 (Misconduct Involving Weapons):
A. A person commits misconduct involving weapons by knowingly:
1. Carrying a deadly weapon except a pocket knife concealed on his person or within his immediate control in or on a means of transportation:
[Two scenarios are listed here, both of which only apply to a deadly weapon other than a pocket knife]; or
2. Carrying a deadly weapon except a pocket knife concealed on his person or concealed within his immediate control in or on a means of transportation if the person is under twenty-one years of age [this is the part of AZ law that makes it illegal to conceal a firearm under age 21, but it does not apply to pocket knives];
ARS 13-3120 (Knives regulated by state) doesn't list a single type of knife that is to be regulated; it also defines "knife" as a "cutting instrument and includes a sharpened or pointed blade."
Because of ARS 13-3102.2, it may be legal for anyone of any age to carry a concealed balisong in AZ. I know it doesn't require age 21, but I can't find anything that would specify any age whatsoever. I guess if you want to be safe, let's say age 18 or older. I'll keep looking.
Last edited:
Bobson
Member
I've looked all over Chapter 31 (laws related to weapons/explosives) of the ARS Title 13.
1) The Arizona Revised Statute Title 13 uses the term deadly weapon constantly. It defines deadly weapon as, "anything that is designed for lethal use. The term includes a firearm."
So it isn't clear on whether or not a knife, or a particular kind of knife, is considered a deadly weapon (designed for lethal use). Certain sections do exclude pocket knives from inclusion as deadly weapons, such as 13-3102, shown above. Problem is...
2) The Title 13 doesn't define pocket knife. I would think a balisong would be considered a pocket knife, but unfortunately, it's left open to interpretation by a judge.
I've heard that AZ doesn't restrict the carry of any knife, and I certainly can't find legislation disproving that claim.
The best end-all answer I can give you is that based on what I can find in the Arizona criminal code, you can conceal virtually any weapon in AZ, so long as you're over age 21, not a prohibited possessor (outlined here, in section 7 - nothing about age in the section), and the weapon itself isn't prohibited (outlined here, in section 8 - nothing about knives in the section). The exception is a pocket knife - which is undefined - but doesn't have a minimum age for concealed-carry.
1) The Arizona Revised Statute Title 13 uses the term deadly weapon constantly. It defines deadly weapon as, "anything that is designed for lethal use. The term includes a firearm."
So it isn't clear on whether or not a knife, or a particular kind of knife, is considered a deadly weapon (designed for lethal use). Certain sections do exclude pocket knives from inclusion as deadly weapons, such as 13-3102, shown above. Problem is...
2) The Title 13 doesn't define pocket knife. I would think a balisong would be considered a pocket knife, but unfortunately, it's left open to interpretation by a judge.
I've heard that AZ doesn't restrict the carry of any knife, and I certainly can't find legislation disproving that claim.
The best end-all answer I can give you is that based on what I can find in the Arizona criminal code, you can conceal virtually any weapon in AZ, so long as you're over age 21, not a prohibited possessor (outlined here, in section 7 - nothing about age in the section), and the weapon itself isn't prohibited (outlined here, in section 8 - nothing about knives in the section). The exception is a pocket knife - which is undefined - but doesn't have a minimum age for concealed-carry.
Last edited:
Yeah but that's the only strange one. The only other weapons listed as "prohibited" in such a manner are bombs/explosives, firearm silencers, machine guns, short-barreled rifles or shotguns ("sawed-off"), molotov cocktails, and chemical weapons. The fact that nunchuku are listed along side such items is probably some kind of major goof on the part of the legislature considering how extremely relaxed the laws are now that they pasted those new laws a few years ago. There was a recent cases were a guy pulled a full size katana from under his coat on a subway to defend a guy under attack, and he wasn't arrested.
Bobson
Member
I thought the same thing, but nunchakus are actually perfectly legal.
ARS 13-3101.8.v (Prohibited Weapon definition):
An instrument, including a nunchaku, that consists of two or more sticks, clubs, bars or rods to be used as handles, connected by a rope, cord, wire or chain, in the design of a weapon used in connection with the practice of a system of self-defense.
In other words, nunchakus are only illegal if you use them in conjunction with a particular martial art. They aren't illegal to own or carry.
Eh, that's debatable Bobson, given the sentence structure (which admittedly legislators suck at. Ever read Massachusetts weapon law? Sheesh).
They may have intended the part "in the design of a weapon used in connection with the practice of a system of self-defense,"meaning the law refers to a weapon that is inherently designed for martial arts use, rather than a object used in conjunction with the skills of a martial arts system. Martial arts or not, the fact that they classify a frickin' rice-threshing tool on par with Rocket Propelled Grenades, but a sword or gun is perfectly fine, boggles my mind.
They may have intended the part "in the design of a weapon used in connection with the practice of a system of self-defense,"meaning the law refers to a weapon that is inherently designed for martial arts use, rather than a object used in conjunction with the skills of a martial arts system. Martial arts or not, the fact that they classify a frickin' rice-threshing tool on par with Rocket Propelled Grenades, but a sword or gun is perfectly fine, boggles my mind.
You're reading that wrong.
Bobson
Member
Yeah, that makes more sense. My bad.
- Status