States Where Brass Knuckles Are Legal (2026)
Brass knuckles are among the most heavily restricted self-defense tools in the United States. Unlike pepper spray or stun guns, which are legal in all 50 states with varying restrictions, metallic knuckles are outright banned in a significant portion of the country — and the "paperweight" loophole that vendors advertise provides zero legal protection.
2 fully legal
8 restricted
40 banned
The "Paperweight" Trap
Many online retailers and flea market vendors sell brass knuckles labeled as "paperweights," "belt buckles," or "novelty items." This labeling provides zero legal protection for the buyer. If you are caught with a "paperweight" in your pocket in a ban state, the police and the courts will look at the design and function of the item, not the packaging. If it is designed to fit over the knuckles and is made of a hard substance, it is a weapon under the law.
All 50 States: Brass Knuckles Legal Status (2026)
| State | Status | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Banned | In Alabama, brass knuckles are classified as a prohibited weapon under Alabama Code § 13A-11-50. Possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles is... |
| Alaska | Restricted | Alaska law prohibits the possession and sale of brass knuckles under AS 11.61.200, which classifies them as a dangerous weapon. However, possession is... |
| Arizona | Banned | Arizona law (A.R.S. § 13-3102) classifies brass knuckles as prohibited weapons. Possession, sale, or manufacture is illegal except for law enforcement... |
| Arkansas | Banned | Arkansas law (Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-120) prohibits possession, manufacture, or sale of brass knuckles. They are considered a deadly weapon and illegal... |
| California | Banned | California Penal Code § 21810 prohibits the possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles. They are classified as a prohibited weapon and possess... |
| Colorado | Restricted | Colorado law (C.R.S. § 18-12-105) prohibits possession of brass knuckles with intent to use unlawfully. Possession alone is not illegal, but carrying ... |
| Connecticut | Banned | Connecticut General Statutes § 53-206 prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles. They are classified as dangerous weapons and posse... |
| Delaware | Banned | Delaware Code Title 11, § 1442 prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles. They are considered deadly weapons and illegal for civili... |
| Florida | Banned | Florida Statutes § 790.01 defines brass knuckles as a prohibited weapon. Possession, sale, or manufacture is illegal except for law enforcement or mil... |
| Georgia | Banned | Georgia Code § 16-11-121 prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles. They are classified as a weapon and illegal for civilians to po... |
| Hawaii | Banned | In Hawaii, brass knuckles are classified as prohibited weapons under Hawaii Revised Statutes §134-1. Possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckle... |
| Idaho | Restricted | Idaho law prohibits the possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles under Idaho Code §18-3302 as a dangerous weapon. However, possession may be... |
| Illinois | Banned | Illinois classifies brass knuckles as prohibited weapons under 720 ILCS 5/24-1. Possession, sale, or manufacture is illegal except for law enforcement... |
| Indiana | Banned | Indiana law prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles under Indiana Code §35-47-5-2. Brass knuckles are classified as deadly weapon... |
| Iowa | Restricted | Iowa law restricts brass knuckles under Iowa Code §724.4, which prohibits carrying dangerous weapons including brass knuckles concealed on the person ... |
| Kansas | Restricted | Kansas law prohibits possession of brass knuckles under K.S.A. 21-6301 as a dangerous weapon. However, possession in the home or on private property m... |
| Kentucky | Banned | Kentucky classifies brass knuckles as deadly weapons under KRS 527.020. Possession, sale, or manufacture is illegal except for law enforcement or mili... |
| Louisiana | Banned | Louisiana law prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles under La. R.S. 14:2(3) and 14:95.1. Brass knuckles are considered prohibite... |
| Maine | Legal | Maine law restricts brass knuckles under 17-A M.R.S. §2(9)(D) as a dangerous weapon. Possession is legal but carrying concealed without a permit is pe... |
| Maryland | Banned | Maryland prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles under Md. Code, Criminal Law §4-101. Brass knuckles are classified as dangerous ... |
| Massachusetts | Banned | In Massachusetts, brass knuckles are classified as a dangerous weapon and are illegal to possess, carry, or sell. Under Massachusetts General Laws Cha... |
| Michigan | Banned | Michigan law prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of brass knuckles under MCL 750.224. Brass knuckles are considered a dangerous weapon and... |
| Minnesota | Restricted | Minnesota classifies brass knuckles as a dangerous weapon under Minn. Stat. § 609.66. Possession is generally prohibited except for law enforcement or... |
| Mississippi | Banned | Mississippi law prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of brass knuckles under Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-1. They are considered a prohibited we... |
| Missouri | Restricted | Missouri law classifies brass knuckles as a dangerous weapon under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 571.010. Possession is generally illegal unless carried openly or ... |
| Montana | Banned | Montana prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of brass knuckles under Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-331. They are considered prohibited weapons exc... |
| Nebraska | Banned | Nebraska law prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of brass knuckles under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-1210. They are classified as prohibited weap... |
| Nevada | Banned | Nevada law prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of brass knuckles under Nev. Rev. Stat. § 202.350. They are considered deadly weapons and p... |
| New Hampshire | Banned | New Hampshire prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of brass knuckles under RSA 159:3. They are classified as prohibited weapons except for ... |
| New Jersey | Banned | New Jersey law prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of brass knuckles under N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:39-3. They are classified as dangerous wea... |
| New Mexico | Banned | In New Mexico, brass knuckles are classified as prohibited weapons under the New Mexico Statutes Annotated § 30-7-2. Possession, sale, or manufacture ... |
| New York | Banned | New York Penal Law § 265.01(1) prohibits possession of any 'dangerous knife, dagger, dirk, stiletto, switchblade knife, gravity knife, brass knuckles ... |
| North Carolina | Banned | Under North Carolina General Statutes § 14-269, brass knuckles are considered a prohibited weapon. Possession is illegal except for law enforcement or... |
| North Dakota | Banned | North Dakota Century Code § 62.1-01-01 defines prohibited weapons to include brass knuckles. Possession, sale, or manufacture is illegal except for la... |
| Ohio | Banned | Ohio Revised Code § 2923.11 prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of dangerous ordnance including brass knuckles. Brass knuckles are illegal to p... |
| Oklahoma | Banned | Oklahoma Statutes Title 21 § 1289.1 prohibits possession of brass knuckles unless used for lawful purposes such as by law enforcement. Sale and manufa... |
| Oregon | Banned | Oregon Revised Statutes § 166.210 prohibits possession, manufacture, or sale of brass knuckles. They are classified as a prohibited weapon. |
| Pennsylvania | Banned | Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 18 § 908 prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles. They are considered a prohibited offen... |
| Rhode Island | Banned | Rhode Island General Laws § 11-47-42 prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles. They are classified as a dangerous weapon. |
| South Carolina | Banned | South Carolina Code of Laws § 16-23-460 prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles. They are considered a deadly weapon and illegal ... |
| South Dakota | Banned | In South Dakota, brass knuckles are classified as a dangerous weapon and are illegal to possess or carry. Under SDCL § 22-14-9, possession or sale of ... |
| Tennessee | Banned | Tennessee law prohibits the possession, sale, or carrying of brass knuckles. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1307, brass knuckles are considered a deadl... |
| Texas | Restricted | Texas law classifies brass knuckles as prohibited weapons under Penal Code § 46.05. Possession, manufacture, or sale is illegal except by licensed dea... |
| Utah | Banned | Utah law prohibits the possession, manufacture, or sale of brass knuckles under Utah Code § 76-10-503. Brass knuckles are classified as a dangerous we... |
| Vermont | Legal | Vermont does not have specific statutes prohibiting the possession, sale, or carrying of brass knuckles. Therefore, brass knuckles are generally legal... |
| Virginia | Banned | Virginia law prohibits the possession, sale, or carrying of brass knuckles under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.1. Brass knuckles are classified as a prohib... |
| Washington | Banned | Washington state law prohibits the manufacture, sale, or possession of brass knuckles under RCW 9.41.250. Possession is illegal except for law enforce... |
| West Virginia | Banned | West Virginia prohibits the possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles under W. Va. Code § 61-7-11. Brass knuckles are considered a deadly wea... |
| Wisconsin | Banned | Wisconsin law prohibits the possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles under Wis. Stat. § 941.24. Brass knuckles are classified as a dangerous... |
| Wyoming | Banned | Wyoming law prohibits the possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles under Wyo. Stat. § 6-1-104. Brass knuckles are considered a deadly weapon... |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many states allow brass knuckles?
As of 2026, brass knuckles are fully legal in 2 states, restricted (usually banning concealed carry) in 8 states, and completely banned in 40 states.
Are brass knuckles legal in Texas?
Yes. Texas legalized brass knuckles in 2019 when the legislature amended Texas Penal Code § 46.01 to remove "knuckles" from the list of prohibited weapons. They are now legal to own and carry in Texas.
Are brass knuckles legal in California?
No. Brass knuckles are illegal in California under Cal. Penal Code § 21810. Possession is a "wobbler" offense, meaning it can be charged as either a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in county jail) or a felony (up to 3 years in state prison), depending on the circumstances.
Does the "paperweight" label protect me legally?
No. Many vendors sell brass knuckles labeled as "paperweights" or "novelty items." This provides zero legal protection. If you are caught with them in a ban state, courts will look at the design and function of the item, not the packaging. If it is designed to fit over the knuckles and is made of a hard substance, it is a weapon under the law.
Are plastic or carbon fiber knuckles also banned?
In many states, yes. Many states ban "metallic knuckles" or "knuckles made of any hard substance." This means plastic, carbon fiber, or wooden knuckles can still trigger a weapons charge if they are designed for offensive or defensive use. Popular "self-defense keychains" shaped like a cat's head with pointed ears are legally identical to brass knuckles in many jurisdictions.
What Happens If You Get Caught?
Penalties range from a misdemeanor in Massachusetts to a felony "wobbler" in California. See the full breakdown of penalties, charge levels, and first-offense consequences.
Brass Knuckles Penalties by State →