Are Brass Knuckles Legal? Laws in All 50 States (2026)

Quick Answer

Brass Knuckles is illegal in 40 states as of 2026. It's legal in 2 states and restricted in 8. The legal landscape is shifting, so always verify current law before acting.

2 Legal

8 Restricted

40 Illegal

Last verified: April 2026 · About our research

Brass Knuckles Legality Map

Legal

Restrictions

Illegal

Unverified

All 50 States

State	Status	Summary
Alabama	ILLEGAL	In Alabama, brass knuckles are classified as a prohibited weapon under Alabama Code § 13A-11-50. Possession, sale, or ma...	Details →
Alaska	RESTRICTED	Alaska law prohibits the possession and sale of brass knuckles under AS 11.61.200, which classifies them as a dangerous ...	Details →
Arizona	ILLEGAL	Arizona law (A.R.S. § 13-3102) classifies brass knuckles as prohibited weapons. Possession, sale, or manufacture is ille...	Details →
Arkansas	ILLEGAL	Arkansas law (Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-120) prohibits possession, manufacture, or sale of brass knuckles. They are consider...	Details →
California	ILLEGAL	California Penal Code § 21810 prohibits the possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles. They are classified as a...	Details →
Colorado	RESTRICTED	Colorado law (C.R.S. § 18-12-105) prohibits possession of brass knuckles with intent to use unlawfully. Possession alone...	Details →
Connecticut	ILLEGAL	Connecticut General Statutes § 53-206 prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles. They are classified ...	Details →
Delaware	ILLEGAL	Delaware Code Title 11, § 1442 prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles. They are considered deadly ...	Details →
Florida	ILLEGAL	Florida Statutes § 790.01 defines brass knuckles as a prohibited weapon. Possession, sale, or manufacture is illegal exc...	Details →
Georgia	ILLEGAL	Georgia Code § 16-11-121 prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles. They are classified as a weapon a...	Details →
Hawaii	ILLEGAL	In Hawaii, brass knuckles are classified as prohibited weapons under Hawaii Revised Statutes §134-1. Possession, sale, o...	Details →
Idaho	RESTRICTED	Idaho law prohibits the possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles under Idaho Code §18-3302 as a dangerous weap...	Details →
Illinois	ILLEGAL	Illinois classifies brass knuckles as prohibited weapons under 720 ILCS 5/24-1. Possession, sale, or manufacture is ille...	Details →
Indiana	ILLEGAL	Indiana law prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles under Indiana Code §35-47-5-2. Brass knuckles a...	Details →
Iowa	RESTRICTED	Iowa law restricts brass knuckles under Iowa Code §724.4, which prohibits carrying dangerous weapons including brass knu...	Details →
Kansas	RESTRICTED	Kansas law prohibits possession of brass knuckles under K.S.A. 21-6301 as a dangerous weapon. However, possession in the...	Details →
Kentucky	ILLEGAL	Kentucky classifies brass knuckles as deadly weapons under KRS 527.020. Possession, sale, or manufacture is illegal exce...	Details →
Louisiana	ILLEGAL	Louisiana law prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles under La. R.S. 14:2(3) and 14:95.1. Brass knu...	Details →
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 co...	Details →
Maryland	ILLEGAL	Maryland prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles under Md. Code, Criminal Law §4-101. Brass knuckle...	Details →
Massachusetts	ILLEGAL	In Massachusetts, brass knuckles are classified as a dangerous weapon and are illegal to possess, carry, or sell. Under ...	Details →
Michigan	ILLEGAL	Michigan law prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of brass knuckles under MCL 750.224. Brass knuckles are con...	Details →
Minnesota	RESTRICTED	Minnesota classifies brass knuckles as a dangerous weapon under Minn. Stat. § 609.66. Possession is generally prohibited...	Details →
Mississippi	ILLEGAL	Mississippi law prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of brass knuckles under Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-1. They ...	Details →
Missouri	RESTRICTED	Missouri law classifies brass knuckles as a dangerous weapon under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 571.010. Possession is generally ill...	Details →
Montana	ILLEGAL	Montana prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of brass knuckles under Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-331. They are con...	Details →
Nebraska	ILLEGAL	Nebraska law prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of brass knuckles under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-1210. They are...	Details →
Nevada	ILLEGAL	Nevada law prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of brass knuckles under Nev. Rev. Stat. § 202.350. They are c...	Details →
New Hampshire	ILLEGAL	New Hampshire prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of brass knuckles under RSA 159:3. They are classified as ...	Details →
New Jersey	ILLEGAL	New Jersey law prohibits the possession, sale, and manufacture of brass knuckles under N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:39-3. They a...	Details →
New Mexico	ILLEGAL	In New Mexico, brass knuckles are classified as prohibited weapons under the New Mexico Statutes Annotated § 30-7-2. Pos...	Details →
New York	ILLEGAL	New York Penal Law § 265.01(1) prohibits possession of any 'dangerous knife, dagger, dirk, stiletto, switchblade knife, ...	Details →
North Carolina	ILLEGAL	Under North Carolina General Statutes § 14-269, brass knuckles are considered a prohibited weapon. Possession is illegal...	Details →
North Dakota	ILLEGAL	North Dakota Century Code § 62.1-01-01 defines prohibited weapons to include brass knuckles. Possession, sale, or manufa...	Details →
Ohio	ILLEGAL	Ohio Revised Code § 2923.11 prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of dangerous ordnance including brass knuckles. B...	Details →
Oklahoma	ILLEGAL	Oklahoma Statutes Title 21 § 1289.1 prohibits possession of brass knuckles unless used for lawful purposes such as by la...	Details →
Oregon	ILLEGAL	Oregon Revised Statutes § 166.210 prohibits possession, manufacture, or sale of brass knuckles. They are classified as a...	Details →
Pennsylvania	ILLEGAL	Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 18 § 908 prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles. They are...	Details →
Rhode Island	ILLEGAL	Rhode Island General Laws § 11-47-42 prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles. They are classified a...	Details →
South Carolina	ILLEGAL	South Carolina Code of Laws § 16-23-460 prohibits possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles. They are considere...	Details →
South Dakota	ILLEGAL	In South Dakota, brass knuckles are classified as a dangerous weapon and are illegal to possess or carry. Under SDCL § 2...	Details →
Tennessee	ILLEGAL	Tennessee law prohibits the possession, sale, or carrying of brass knuckles. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1307, brass k...	Details →
Texas	RESTRICTED	Texas law classifies brass knuckles as prohibited weapons under Penal Code § 46.05. Possession, manufacture, or sale is ...	Details →
Utah	ILLEGAL	Utah law prohibits the possession, manufacture, or sale of brass knuckles under Utah Code § 76-10-503. Brass knuckles ar...	Details →
Vermont	LEGAL	Vermont does not have specific statutes prohibiting the possession, sale, or carrying of brass knuckles. Therefore, bras...	Details →
Virginia	ILLEGAL	Virginia law prohibits the possession, sale, or carrying of brass knuckles under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.1. Brass knuck...	Details →
Washington	ILLEGAL	Washington state law prohibits the manufacture, sale, or possession of brass knuckles under RCW 9.41.250. Possession is ...	Details →
West Virginia	ILLEGAL	West Virginia prohibits the possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles under W. Va. Code § 61-7-11. Brass knuckl...	Details →
Wisconsin	ILLEGAL	Wisconsin law prohibits the possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles under Wis. Stat. § 941.24. Brass knuckles...	Details →
Wyoming	ILLEGAL	Wyoming law prohibits the possession, sale, or manufacture of brass knuckles under Wyo. Stat. § 6-1-104. Brass knuckles ...	Details →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brass Knuckles legal in the United States?

Brass Knuckles is illegal in 40 states as of 2026. It's legal in 2 states and restricted in 8. The legal landscape is shifting, so always verify current law before acting.

How many states allow brass knuckles?

As of 2026, brass knuckles is legal in 2 states, restricted with conditions in 8 states, and illegal in 40 states. Use the map and table on this page to check your specific state.

What happens if you get caught with brass knuckles in a state where it's illegal?

Penalties range from civil fines to felony charges depending on the state. Some states treat first offenses as misdemeanors with small fines, while others classify possession as a felony carrying prison time. Check the specific state page for exact penalties, charge levels, and enforcement likelihood.

Can you travel across state lines with brass knuckles?

Crossing state lines changes which laws apply. If brass knuckles is legal in your home state but illegal in the state you're entering, you can face criminal charges the moment you cross the border. This applies to driving, flying, and shipping.