Tennessee Knife Laws: A Guide for Knife Carriers! (2024)

FAQs

Tennessee Knife Laws: A Guide for Knife Carriers!? ›

Since the 2014 change in Tennessee knife laws, there are now no restrictions on knife length or knife-blade length. Before 2014, the law prohibited open or concealed carry of knives with blades longer than four inches, but that has since been superseded, making knife length generally unrestricted.

It is legal to own any type of knife in Tennessee including automatic, ballistic, switchblade, butterfly and “assisted opening” knives. There are no restrictions on the blade length of any knife being carried. Further, Tennessee makes no distinction between open and concealed carry of knives.

Tennessee law does not restrict the types of knives that may be possessed or how they may be carried. State law does provide a location-based restriction for school buildings and grounds. The possession and carry of knives of any type is unlawful on school grounds including public or private, K through university.

In the State of California, there is no maximum length for knives in general. However, the maximum legal length for a switchblade knife is 2 inches. Additionally, it is illegal to carry daggers or dirks concealed, and also illegal to carry many types of knives which are designed for concealment.

Automatic (Switchblade) Knives & Carry Over 4-inches Now Legal in Tennessee. Tennessee is the 7th state in which Knife Rights has repealed a ban on switchblades and other knives.

The felon in possession of a weapon charge means that anyone convicted of a felony cannot own or possess a switch-blade, a butterfly knife, a clubbing instrument, a Taser or a stun gun.

Knife Blade Length

The 2014 bill also removed the law that prohibited weapons with blades longer than four inches. There is now no specification of what knife length is permitted. As such, any size of blade can be legally carried openly or concealed.

Although the words “stand your ground” do not appear in the Tennessee Code, the laws relating to self-defense and the justifiable use of force are commonly known as “Stand Your Ground” laws.

As some of you know, in TN, it is illegal to carry a “baton”, straight or expandable, unless you have taken a class and been “Certified” by a state certified baton instructor. There is no state permit, or license required, but you must take the class and carry your certification card on you. Cost is $50.

Are brass knuckles legal in Tennessee? ›

Brass knuckles are strictly prohibited in Tennessee. This includes selling, brandishing, exhibiting, repairing, manufacturing, and possessing brass knuckles. Charges can either be a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the scenario in which the law was broken and how severe the consequences were.

§ 39-17-1302(a)(6), anyone who “intentionally or knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs or sells … knuckles….” commits a Class A misdemeanor. A. There is an exception for those possessing such weapons “incident to the performance of official duty and pursuant to military regulations” Tenn.

Tennessee's anti-weapons policies

Possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, with the intent to go armed, any firearm, explosive, explosive weapon, bowie knife, hawk bill knife, ice pick, dagger, slingshot, leaded cane, switchblade knife, blackjack, knuckles or any other weapon of like kind, and.

“a knife that is made an integral part of a belt buckle and consists of a blade with a length of at least two and one-half inches.” Please note that BBKs are also prohibited under California Penal Code 16590, or California's statute on generally prohibited weapons.

As used in this part, “dirk” or “dagger” means a knife or other instrument with or without a handguard that is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death.

In most states, all pocket knives, leathermans, and multi-tools are allowed. The blade of these knifes must be under 2.5 or 3 inches. Note that carrying one of these knives is usually not allowed in courts, planes, schools, and certain buildings restricting the possession of weapons.

A convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing handguns pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1307(c) may possess any antique or black powder long gun without restriction but may not possess a black powder handgun except at his place of residence.

You can buy a stun gun or Taser in Tennessee without a permit, and the state doesn't prohibit carrying or using electric weapons for self-defense. At the same time, however, state and local laws on deadly or dangerous weapons might apply to stun guns and Tasers, depending on how they're used.

Commercially-produced ballistic knives briefly gained notoriety in the United States in the mid-1980s after they were marketed and sold in the United States and other Western countries. Since then, the marketing and sale of ballistic knives to civilians has been restricted or prohibited by law in several nations.

Does Tennessee state law define brandishing? No definition of brandishing was found in Tennessee law. However, a person commits an offense who, in a public place and with intent to cause public annoyance or alarm, engages in fighting or in violent or threatening behavior.

Can you defend your property in Tennessee? ›

(a) A person in lawful possession of real or personal property is justified in threatening or using force against another, when and to the degree it is reasonably believed the force is immediately necessary to prevent or terminate the other's trespass on the land or unlawful interference with the property.

Handguns in Tennessee State Parks

Therefore, no one may carry a handgun in a Tennessee State park unless they have a concealed handgun permit or enhanced handgun permit or meet another exception to Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-1311(a).

Yes, you can legally carry a collapsible batons in most states. California is the only state where expandable batons are illegal to both own and carry. In Massachusetts, New York, and Washington D.C. batons are legal to own at home but illegal to carry outside, open or concealed.

Under Penal Code 21810 PC, it is illegal in California to make, import, sell, give, or possess metal knuckles, or brass knuckles (“BKs”).

A blackjack weapon or sap refers to a group of weapons that are short, concealable, and weighted (usually filled with lead powder, molded lead clay, or lead shot) to constitute an effective bludgeoning device. The terminology used to refer to these weapons can be very imprecise depending on the period.

A great advantage of brass knuckles as self defense weapons is that they are wearable. You can wear them around your knuckles and hence they become very easy to carry. You don't have to additionally carry them. Rather, you can just wear them and always stay equipped and ready to battle the attackers.

U.S. Code Title 15, Sect. 1241 defines switchblade knives as any knives which open "1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or any knife having a blade which opens automatically; (2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both".

Tennessee passed a law last year allowing most adults to carry a handgun, openly or concealed, without a permit. Many people referred to the law as constitutional carry.

There is no federal restriction on ownership, possession or carrying of a switchblade knife. There are some states that have enacted laws regarding switchblades (see State Laws Regarding Auto-Open Knives). The majority of states allow auto-open knives.

1A knife worn on or tucked into a belt, typically for use as a weapon or hunting knife. 2US A cutting or splitting machine with a continuous serrated metal blade which runs at speed over rollers, used for splitting skins or for cutting leather, textiles, etc., into different thicknesses.

What is a belt buckle knife? ›

A belt buckle knife is a type of edged instrument that is placed inside of or concealed as part of a belt. Belt buckle knives are popular with outdoorsmen, self-defense enthusiasts, and members of groups that have a knife culture.

Penal Code 21310 PC makes it a crime in California to carry a concealed dirk or dagger. The offense can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, and is punishable by up to 3 years in jail or prison.

The Viking seax is a very large fighting knife which most warriors would have carried. Seax is a short sword that was used primarily during the early part of the Viking era. It's a one handed single edged weapon. Hilts were made of wood, bone, or horn.

The WASP Injection Knife is designed to inject high-pressure gas into a wound cavity through a hole in the blade, rather than using gas to propel the blade forward. This is said to expand and freeze the wound, inflicting more damage to the target.

Originally, a sgian dubh was used for preparing and cutting fruits, meat, bread and cheese; as well as an essential tool for more general day-to-day uses such as cutting materials, hunting and protection. This accessory was crucial for survival, and is now a symbolic element of Scottish traditional dress.

The most typical knife sheath carry position for a right-handed user would be the 3:00 position; a lefty would usually carry at 9. The same side as your dominant hand. If you normally use the knife with your right hand, this would mean carrying your blade on your right side (anywhere between 12 and 6).

The Act states that any person in India will not be allowed to carry a knife which more the 9” long metal blade and 2” wide in size and such knife should be fancy in the way to be threatened by the public at large.

Carrying a knife or gun is illegal. Carrying a knife or gun increases your risk of being injured. It also increases the risk of the people around you being injured, and can cause great distress and upset to your family. Police are allowed to stop and search someone if they believe a weapon is being carried.