Brass Knuckles

[hso]

I always thought that brass knuckles and switchblades got outlawed back in the 1930s and balisong/butterfly knives and martial arts weapons in the 1960s as an attachment to the existing law...

All that's incorrect for the US.

There is no US fed law banning possession, manufacture or sale of knuckles, saps or blackjacks.

There's no federal law in the US banning possession, manufacture or sale of switchblades either (out side of fed territories) that are imposed on the states. There are US laws restricting interstate commerce in switchblades (selling across state lines) and in shipping at 15 and 18 USC, but they are not outright bans. This causes manufacturers and dealers to jump through a couple of hoops is all.

The "switchblade law" restricting interstate sales of switchblades dates from 1957.

Individual states have laws on the books banning or restricting knuckles, saps and/or switchblades, but each state is different and one state may have no restrictions on any of them while another restricts one or more of the three while a third may ban all three.

Again, the rules on knuckles, saps and switchblade possession and carry are individual state and local laws.

 

[SeekHer]

Afterwards I did some research and found these pertinent listings:

Knife Laws of 50 States

Wiki had this on the Switchblade Act of 1958 (a federal law; individual state laws differ widely)

For knucks I found this
Defense Devices

And it was machine guns from the 1930s...mea culpa!

 

[Deltaboy1984]

When I was a young man in College I dropped a 6.4 250 guy with one left hook to the jaw with a set of WW2 US Navy issue brass dusters. At the time I was 5.8 and about 180 pounds. Was not too worried about stuff like them being illegal back then but now at 43 and with kids I like to stay on the right side of the law.

 

[crasen]

In Missouri they are illegal with this exception. "Was incident to dealing with the weapon solely as a curio, ornament, or keepsake, or to using it in a manner reasonably related to a lawful dramatic performance"
http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C500-599/5710000020.HTM

They define knuckles as- "Knuckles", any instrument that consists of finger rings or guards made of a hard substance that is designed or adapted for the purpose of inflicting serious physical injury or death by striking a person with a fist enclosed in the knuckles;
http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C500-599/5710000010.HTM

 

[DrLaw]

I gotta tell this story. It involves a real dumb prosecutor, a sneaky lawyer and a patient judge.

Defendant is on trial by jury for possession (it's Illinois) of a brass knuckle/Knife combo, like the World War 1 weapon. Myself and another prosecutor were sitting in the back of the courtroom, beyond the direct sight of the jurors.

Defense attorney was getting in evidence that these things were sold in magazines that were sold in Illinois. Also tried to claim that the thing was not to be used as a weapon, but as a scraper, for of all things, the battery terminals on this guys car battery - each and every morning - to get the corrosion off of it.

In the back row, myself and the other attorney are practically jumping up and down mouthing "OBJECT!" "OBJECT!!!!!!" "OBJECT!!!!!!"

Of course, the judge saw us, and he knew what was up. He told us later that he was waiting to see if any jurors saw us, then he would have done something, but he could not interfere otherwise.

That prosecutor went on to oblivion in law that I am aware of. So stupid as a prosecuting attorney that he did not know he was dumb. Of course, the sneaky defense attorney won a trial that any other GOOD prosecutor could have won hands down.

The Doc is out now.

 

[Gordon]

I'm a certified thug of the old school and I think knucks of any sort are BUNK!

 

[zignal_zero]

In Florida you get a concealed weapons permit.

Weapons defined as:

""Weapon" means any dirk, knife, metallic knuckles, slungshot, billie, tear gas gun, chemical weapon or device, or other deadly weapon except a firearm or a common pocketknife, plastic knife, or blunt-bladed table knife. "

yep, we live in a really cool state

 

[alwilliam]

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Oh Baby Nucks !

 

[hso]

alwilliam! I was wondering if you were going to show up in this thread.

alwilliam has one of the most amazing collection of NFW around. I'm continuously impressed by what he finds (and it takes a lot to impress me).

 

[alwilliam]

Thanks bro...............

 

[loandr.]

Looks like some of "Woodies" Work, Al has there How you healing up brother, Happy and healthy Holidays from our Pack to yours Al.


Russ/BBG

Here is a set of Dalton repo's in Copper as well, 3/8th polished. Mike Woods (IMO the dalton one of the comfy'ist Full handed designs to date) completed for I a bit back....Enjoy

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Nice Nucks

 

[Conan1]

Kentucky like Florida is one of the best states to live in. Brass Knuckles are not illegal here with your Concealed Deadly Weapons License.

500.080 Definitions for Kentucky Penal Code.
As used in the Kentucky Penal Code, unless the context otherwise requires:

(4) "Deadly weapon" means any of the following:
(a) A weapon of mass destruction;
(b) Any weapon from which a shot, readily capable of producing death or other
serious physical injury, may be discharged;
(c) Any knife other than an ordinary pocket knife or hunting knife;
(d) Billy, nightstick, or club;
(e) Blackjack or slapjack;
(f) Nunchaku karate sticks;
(g) Shuriken or death star; or
(h) Artificial knuckles made from metal, plastic, or other similar hard material;

 

[FRJ]

I was assaulted once with a handy little item called a "scatchet" it was simply a set of knucks with an ax blade on the front. They were purportedly sold for use as a survival tool the finger holes were supposed to be used to tie the "scatchet" to a tree limb and instant presto you had a survival hatchet. My 1911 trumped the scatchet and 2 very scared fellows beat feet away from me. FRJ

 

[RX-178]

(g) Shuriken or death star; or

.....I just attempted to visualize concealed-carrying a planet destroying battle station. Thanks for that.

 

[pat86323]

"Here in Arizona, Land of the Free and Home of the Brave, a CCW Permit allows you to carry ANYTHING/ANY WEAPON you legally posess.
Yup, belt fed machinegun, grenade, switchblade etc."

......not so sure about that brother check the regs. You cant carry anything you dont have a permit to own. My cousin is a cop and a ccw instructor and yes....if you have the permit to own a uzi you can legally carry it. Unless it is nunchucks then you just plain cant carry them.

 

[leadcounsel]

What is it good for? If you are going to carry a weapon, there are better ones to carry, IMHO.

+1 Exactly.

Guess what happens to you when you are in a bare knuckle fight and you pull out your brass knuckes (aka a "deadly weapon", and often times an "illegal concealed carry weapon")... YOU JUST ESCALATED THE FIGHT TO DEADLY FORCE, WHICH JUSTIFIES THE OTHER PERSON TO USE ANY DEADLY FORCE!!!!

It is just plain foolish to be in a fight, but if you are it is plain foolish to be the first in a fight to introduce a weapon unless you are in "imminent fear of death or serious bodily injury."

So if you draw knuckledusters the other guy can trump you with his concealed carry .44 magnum!

 

[coloradokevin]

Do not take legal advice from gun dealers or cops.

I'll agree with you on the first point, and respectfully disagree with you on the second. Police officers do enforce laws for a living, and can generally tell you whether or not these items are legal/illegal in the jurisdictions that they patrol. Nevertheless, if you don't want to trust the police officer's word for it, why not just ask them to direct you to the statutes that might cover such a topic?

I am always willing to direct citizens to the specific laws that will answer the questions that I might be asked. In this particular case, as far as Colorado is concerned, brass knuckles are considered an "Illegal Weapon" (Class 1 Misdemeanor).

For your reference:

CRS 18-12-102 (Colorado state statute)

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Nice Brass

 

[karlsmith]

As today brass knuckles are prohibited in almost all states in USA. but there are some other ways that you can carry a one with out getting caught. If caught the cops will not able to punish you because it is you belt

Take a look at this

 

[sheepdog]

...that's a real attention-getter, all right...

 

[james_bond]

Often those are ok because the fingerholes are blocked off (like the one above) making it unuseable as a knuckleduster.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Does that come with a pair of rollerblades, a big lollipop, and a subscription to Elle Decor?