GA knife laws?

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guncrazy72

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Jul 20, 2009
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I have read over all of the laws I can find about firearms but I can not seem to find anything about knives. I have asked local LEOs and the only thing they know of is a 3 inch law. I cant find that law. I am interested in carrying a fixed blade knife. Either a RAT cutlery Izula or the RC-3.
 
Georgia has three laws that apply.

One is Carrying Concealed Weapons, which is unfortunately extremely broad and covers knives designed for offense or defensive purposes. Further, there is no real case law that is helpful to define what the statute means by offense and defense. LEOs opinions will vary and you may get a challenge on anything other than a small slip-joint knife. Here is the statute:

16-11-126.
(a) A person commits the offense of carrying a concealed weapon when such person knowingly has or carries about his or her person, unless in an open manner and fully exposed to view, any bludgeon, metal knuckles, firearm, knife designed for the purpose of offense and defense, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument of like character outside of his or her home or place of business, except as permitted under this Code section.

Another statute prohibits various types of weapons, including knives designed for offense or defense and any knife with a blade more than 2 inches, in public. Here is the statute will the definitions below.

16-11-127.
(a) Except as provided in Code Section 16-11-127.1, a person is guilty of a misdemeanor when he or she carries to or while at a public gathering any explosive compound, firearm, or knife designed for the purpose of offense and defense.
(b) For the purpose of this Code section, 'public gathering' shall include, but shall not be limited to, athletic or sporting events, churches or church functions, political rallies or functions, publicly owned or operated buildings, or establishments at which alcoholic beverages are sold for consumption on the premises. Nothing in this Code section shall otherwise prohibit the carrying of a firearm in any other public place by a person licensed or permitted to carry such firearm by this part.

A third statute prohibits carrying weapons (defined in the statute) in a school safety zone. Here it is:

16-11-127.1.
Weapons on school safety zones, school buildings or grounds or at school functions

(a) As used in this Code section, the term:

(1) “School safety zone” means in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any real property owned by or leased to any public or private elementary school, secondary school, or school board and used for elementary or secondary education and in, on, or within 1,000 feet of the campus of any public or private technical school, vocational school, college, university, or institution of postsecondary education.

(2) “Weapon” means and includes any pistol, revolver, or any weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind, or any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, any other knife having a blade of two or more inches, straight-edge razor, razor blade, spring stick, knuckles, whether made from metal, thermoplastic, wood, or other similar material, blackjack, any bat, club, or other bludgeon-type weapon, or any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a nun chahka, nun chuck, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain, or any disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart, or any weapon of like kind, and any stun gun or taser as defined in subsection (a) of Code Section 16-11-106. This paragraph excludes any of these instruments used for classroom work authorized by the teacher.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, it shall be unlawful for any person to carry to or to possess or have under such person's control while within a school safety zone or at a school building, school function, or school property or on a bus or other transportation furnished by the school any weapon or explosive compound, other than fireworks the possession of which is regulated by Chapter 10 of Title 25. Any person who violates this subsection shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $ 10,000.00, by imprisonment for not less than two nor more than ten years, or both; provided, however, that upon conviction of a violation of this subsection involving a firearm as defined in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 16-11-131, or a dangerous weapon or machine gun as defined in Code Section 16-11-121, such person shall be punished by a fine of not more than $ 10,000.00 or by imprisonment for a period of not less than five nor more than ten years, or both. A child who violates this subsection shall be subject to the provisions of Code Section 15-11-63.
 
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Even a small slip-joint knife would be illegal to carry in public, since most SAKs and the German Army equivalent (by Vic or Aitor) have 2 1/2" blades which are above the 2" limit prescribed by law. Whether or not a person gets charged would likely depend on the individual LEO and the circumstances under which the knife was discovered. The GA law also says that the knife or other item must be fully exposed to view. This would seem to ban the use of pocket clips, since they only expose part of the knife.
 
I carried a peanut while in GA on business a month and a half ago...it's funny that what I was carrying was technically illegal haha. Maybe I should pare down my EDC to my Wenger PTC and a Ladybug.
 
I edited my original post to set out the three different statutes. The two inch limit only comes into play in a "school safety zone."

The CCW law and public weapons statute have the broad "offense and defense" language that relates to a knife. So, one would need to be able to articulate why his/her knife is not designed for offensive or defensive use. Slipjoints, rescue knifes, and others seem to fit this description.
 
I guess that it will really depend on what type of LEO i would get if I where to be stopped by one. I really wish they made the laws clearer.
 
Is my reading of GA Code correct that as long as you stay away from schools and public gatherings, and you carry in open view, you can carry any type or length knife you want? guncrazy72's local LEOs didn't know GA knife law so how do we figure it out.
 
In GA there is no length limit on your blade except for the school zone thing. Cops that say there is a 4" or 3" limit don't know what they're talking about. Any knife that can considered for offense or defense in a court of law is illegal to conceal on your person in Georgia. It's the south and most guys have a pocket knife so it get's over looked a lot. But if you have a knife in your pocket a cop can arrest you for concealed weapon. And then you'll have to prove it's not for defense or offense in a court of law. A good prosecutor will be able to prove any knife is designed for offense or defense since it has a cutting edge. So it's a gamble to carry a pocket knife in Georgia. 99% of the time you'll be ok as long as it's not some scary looking death dealing folder. But if you catch that one crappy cop in a bad mood he could arrest you.

Now open carry is pretty much sky's the limit. You can carry a katan on your back as long as it isn't concealed. You might get looks, you might even get harrassed by a cop. But it's not illegal. I think there is a brandishing weapon law... so if you take it and stary swinging it around you could get smacked. but having is not illegal.

I've been told lots of rumors by cops that think they know they law. Like "if it's clipped to your pocket that's not concealed" or " Anything under 4" non serrated is fine but if it's got serrations it's got to be under 3 inches". But the bottom line is that just about any knife in your pocket in Georgia can be considered a concealed deadly weapon and you'll have to hash it out in court. But MOST LEOs are not gonna run you in for having a pocket knife unless you're doing something else to get charges stacked.

Open carry in GA is pretty much fine. But the term "Public Gathering" is also a gray area and can be pretty much at a cops choosing. Wal-Mart is generally not a public gathering. But if there is a radio station doing a public spot, or some big promotion it can be considered as such. Sports events, government (Public) buildings, and bars are a no no. Used to be any place that served alcohol was considered a bar but they've recently changed that law to be a 51% Vs 49% rule. If more than half of the establishments sales are food over alcohol, you can carry there with a GFL.

GFLs do not apply to knives or any other weapons other than guns.
 
jurisprudence said:
I edited my original post to set out the three different statutes. The two inch limit only comes into play in a "school safety zone."

The CCW law and public weapons statute have the broad "offense and defense" language that relates to a knife. So, one would need to be able to articulate why his/her knife is not designed for offensive or defensive use. Slipjoints, rescue knifes, and others seem to fit this description.
Click to expand...


Right, I think the two inch thing is mainly referring to exacto knives and box cutters. It's to allow construction guys or maintenance guys to have their razor knife with them in a school zone without being in a major jam.

Pretty much stupid law. In a school zone you can have the two inch, but the second you step out if it can be considered for offense or defense your concealing a deadly weapon rgardless of the length.
 
I live in GA. Last year, I had a minor traffic accident. I had been on a camping trip and had a Busse Natural Outlaw strapped to my leg and a Kershaw clipped to my pocket. The responding officers didn't even mention it.
 
Note also that GA issues a CONCEALED FIREARMS LICENSE - not a concealed weapons license. So it's possible to legally carry a gun and illegally carry a knife at the same time. Go figure.

Also, some municipalities have knife ordnances too. ATL has one that prohibits blades > 3".
 
Never been to the state but doesn't Blade Magazine hold the Blade show in ATL and have all those switchbldes and other large knives sold and carried for that long weekend???
 
My wife carries a small benchmade auto for EDC. She went to get a gun permit the other day at the court house and forgot she had it in her pocket. When she emptied her pockets before going through the metal detector she had an oh Sh$$ moment. But nothing was said at that point. When she came out the deputy manning the check point chewed her out. She explained that her husband was a federal law enforcement officer and he really chewed her then because I should know better. She explained that she grabbed my knife by mistake when leaving in a hurry that morning. He gave her the whole tell your husband a deputy let you off with a warning speech. Since then I have been looking for a clear cut definition on what can be carried and it is very vague. I think it falls to officer discretion and what circumstances he discovers you have an auto knife. If anybody has any other guidance please share.
 
Hm. Interesting.

I'll be moving from the New England area to Georgia next June.

I was kind of hoping that the laws (entirely presumptive) would be similar to that of say, Texas.
 
Autos are legal to own in GA. But any knife concealed on your person can be considered concealing a deadly weapon. Any officer at any time can use that as an excuse to take your knife from you. Just about every man in Georgia carries a knife of some type. But it is illegal to conceal one on your person a knife designed for offense or defense (Which is arguably every knife). And it will come down to how little or how much the cop knows about the laws and what their mood or morality level is. I know a guy that had his knife taken from him by a nasty cop that pretty much just wanted his knife. He gave him the choice of taking the knife or jail. Think he said he was in Columbus Ga. He was in a strange town and didn't know anyone who could get him out so he gave the officer his knife. It was a nice benchmade too.
 
Farmer Brown said:
Hm. Interesting.

I'll be moving from the New England area to Georgia next June.

I was kind of hoping that the laws (entirely presumptive) would be similar to that of say, Texas.
Click to expand...

What part your moving to? The attitude is a little different depending on what part you live in.
 
i'm actually working in a LARGE jail now doing some contracted electrical work. pulled out my schrade 340t in front of officers AND inmates. nobody even gave it a notice. or so that i could tell. :rolleyes:
 
Georgia has some rather strict laws but the authorities sort of turn a blind eye if you don't look like a potential "black hat" guy?
 
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