Many potential knife owners often ask the question: Is it legal to carry a knife on your belt? The short answer is “yes.” Many people own a knife, for a variety of reasons. Some do it just for functional purposes: they like the feel of having a blade hanging there, others just for show.
Other people will get one for “the job” they need to do, such as cutting firewood. Still others will get one just because they love knives and want to have one handy at all times.
Obviously, some people can’t help but want a pocket knife. If you work in a profession where you might need something like a machete or paring knife, then it is perfectly legal to carry these around.
In fact, some law enforcement officers actually carry these to their police car! It’s just always best to be aware of the laws where you live, and always put the blade out of sight or out of reach of children.
Some States Prohibit Carrying a Knife on Your Belt
Some people carry their knives in a different manner. For example, some women might put their knife in their waistband while they’re running. This is legal in many states.
Another way to carry a knife on your belt is to tuck it under your clothing. While this isn’t legal in all states (Massachusetts is an example), it is usually perfectly acceptable.
Of course, not everyone is legally allowed to carry a knife on your belt. If you have a concealed weapon, you won’t be able to put it anywhere it can be reached. However, if you’re only interested in using your knife to defend your life or the life of someone else, then this is acceptable.
The same goes if you don’t want to end up in jail for carrying a weapon without a license. All you have to do is remember that it is legal to carry a knife on your belt if you follow all of the rules.
Knife Laws by State
Before you decide to go ahead and get a holster, sheath or clip, you should make sure that you understand all of the requirements for legally carrying a weapon in your state.
You’ll likely find that some of the rules will be very similar to what you already know, but it’s always good to have a refresher. One thing that you must be sure of is that you aren’t violating any laws by carrying a weapon in public.
For example, you must always be prepared to stop and assist a police officer if they ask for help. In some states, you must give them identification, but other states don’t have this requirement. So make sure that you know which ones your state requires before you carry your weapon.
What Size Knife Can You Carry Legally?
Any size and it isn’t a bad idea to get some knife training for if you are attacked, how to use it. It’s simply safer not to take the chance. You might end up defending yourself against an attacker, but it is likely that you will only cause yourself to become seriously injured instead of killing the person who attacked you.
It is also important to remember that just because it is legal to carry a knife on your belt in one state does not mean that it is legal in all states. Each state has its own laws regarding what type of weapons are allowed in that particular state.
List of Illegal Knives in Some States
Some states may not allow carrying a knife at all, therefore it is best to know which and while others may allow it with a permit, there is a list of illegal knives. Search the internet for it.
When you are considering whether or not it is legal to carry a knife on your side in a given state, it is important to remember that just because a law permits it does not mean that it is right for you to carry.
Therefore, you need to understand the laws in each specific state that you intend to legally carry a knife.