Balisongs in Massachusetts

T

theron

Joined
Apr 20, 2009
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Does anyone know what the Massachusetts law states about balisong/butterfly knives? I've searched using the bladeforums google search, and haven't come up with anything relevant, so far. I used these keywords: balisong butterfly knife Massachusetts and law. I've used them in combination with each other too. When I asked around elsewhere, I've had mixed responses. Yes, no, only if it is double edged, and legal to own but not carry. I have looked at this page: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090603112101AAkVC81, which leads to this page: http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/ma.txt Is this up to date? Anyone know what the actual statute is? Should I ask a LEO? Also, I'm sorry if this has been asked here before. That's why I was using bladeforums Google in case it had been.

Thanks,

T
 
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Here are the statutes from the source:

http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/269-10.htm
http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/269-12.htm

In my best estimation on reading these, they are legal per se according to statute in the absence of a local county or city law. Nothing in the statute describes the mechanism of a balisong, as the switchblade definition uses the words "automatic spring release." There is a general ban on double-edged knives though.

I could not locate any case law regarding balisongs/butterfly knives. This tends to speak in favor of them being legal, but is not conclusive. Also, I did find on a forum for police officers where a user claiming to be a Mass LEO stated there was no law against them at the state level. Granted, that post was a bit old, and I can no longer find it.
 
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Thanks glistam, I appreciate you taking the time to look into this for me. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to just ask a police officer. I know one personally who I trust and will probably ask him, he's in another town but he probably knows my town/county laws too. All in all though it sounds like it's pretty much ok as long as it's not a double edged knife, and don't carry it in public. I'll just flip at home and have fun!

T
 
A military surplus store that I recently visited in Boston's "Downtown Crossing" section had them. Foreign made, cheap construction, about $15 or so. Legal to buy but illegal to carry in Boston proper (and some surrounding cities) because of the local ordinances against carrying blades longer than 2.5". Other than that, perfectly legal to purchase and carry in MA. Some Internet and mail-order dealers will not ship balis to MA because some of these companies were sued a few years ago for selling martial arts weapons (felony in MA to even possess) to MA residents. They had to pay huge fines to the AG's office to settle the cases.
 
TOM1960 said:
Some Internet and mail-order dealers will not ship balis to MA because some of these companies were sued a few years ago for selling martial arts weapons (felony in MA to even possess) to MA residents. They had to pay huge fines to the AG's office to settle the cases.
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Ah, so that's why so many mail-order companies says "Will not ship to MA." Always been curious, because MA's actual laws aren't too bad all things considered.
 
It only takes a few mall ninjas to ruin a perfectly good situation.
 
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