MA Knife Laws

[The Unknown User]

Does anyone know anything about the knife laws in MA? I looked it up on packing.org, but I can't understand it at all.

I'm basically trying to figure out if it's legal for me to carry a 3-4" blade folding knife in my pocket.

Can anyone help me?

Or should I ask a lawyer? Is that something I could just call a random up and ask, or would I need to pay for the answer?

 

[Mannix]

(b) 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 slung shot, 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, wire or leather, a shuriken or any
similar pointed starlike object intended to injure a person
when thrown, or any armband, made with leather which has
metallic spikes, points or studs or any similar device made
from any other substance or a cestus or similar material
weighted with metal or other substance and worn on the hand,
or a manrikigusari or similar length of chain having weighted
ends; or whoever, when arrested upon a warrant for an alleged
crime, or when arrested while committing a breach or disturbance
of the public peace, is armed with or has on his person, or has
on his person or under his control in a vehicle, a billy or
other dangerous weapon other than those herein mentioned and
those mentioned in paragraph (a), shall be punished by
imprisonment for not less than two and one-half years nor more
than five years in the state prison, or for not less than six
months nor more than two and one-half years in a jail or house
of correction, except that, if the court finds that the defendant
has not been previously convicted of a felony, he may be punished
by a fine of not more than fifty dollars or by imprisonment for
not more than two and one-half years in a jail or house of correction.

No autos over 1 1/2", no double edged knives, no stilettos(auto or not), no knives that can be drawn in the locked position(that have locking blades, I think this may exempt fixed blades), and no dirk knives(daggers). I read the "having a blade of over one and one-half inches" to be adding onto the part about switch blades(might want to get a second opinion). A normal assisted opening knife, like the SOG twitch, flash, etc. should be legal, as you have to start it by pushing on the blade or a stud on the blade, not a button or lever elsewhere(though Tanto version might qualify as "any knife having a double-edged blade").

I AM NOT A LAWYER.

You may also find this thread useful http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=831

 

[The Unknown User]

What is an auto? Is that a knife that opens under its own power somehow?

So is a folding knife you have to manually open and close okay?

Thank you for the help. I have a really hard time interpreting things like this because I really don't know anything about knives. I don't even know what a stiletto is.

Edit: According to the other thread, there's a 2.5" blade length limit in Boston. Does that mean my Cold Steel Voyager is illegal in Boston because the blade is longer than 2.5", but it's legal everywhere else? That's so dumb.

 

[LanEvo`]

According to the other thread, there's a 2.5" blade length limit in Boston. Does that mean my Cold Steel Voyager is illegal in Boston because the blade is longer than 2.5", but it's legal everywhere else?

Correct. It's the same with firearms law in MA: you can get a CCW just about anywhere else in the state, but it's practically impossible in Boston. Ironic that the birthplace of the American Revolution has forgotten what "liberty" and "freedom from tyranny" mean

That's so dumb.

I couldn't agree more. In Boston, a knife over 2.5" in length is considered a weapon.

The bottom line in MA (as in most places) is that a 1-hand-opening folder up to 4.0" in length with a single-edged blade is OK to carry pretty much everywhere. When you enter federal buildings and some cities, that blade length drops to 2.5" max. Most folding knives on the market comply with these rules. Stay away from automatic openers ("switchblades"), double-edged blades ("daggers"), butterfly knives, etc. Stick with conventional locking folders and you'll be OK.

 

[ABTOMAT]

Keep in mind that around here (MA) lots of towns have their own rules. Some of my surrounding towns ban knives with blades longer than 1.5" to 2.5".

 

[The Unknown User]

What would happen if I were caught with a blade on me that was longer than what the law allows?

Great, now I can't even carry a good knife with me if I need it.