MA Knife Laws

A

alexhayn

Joined
Mar 3, 2013
Messages
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So I will be heading up to Massachusetts here in about a month for about a week. My main concern is what I can carry. I generally carry a Benchmade 550 grip or a Spyderco manix 2. Would I be able to get away with either of those or would I have to go smaller. Keep in mind a grip is about 3 3/4" and a manix is about 3" actual bladed length? And also could I carry a 2" fixed blade neck knife? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Unless the laws changed since I lived there(almost 2 years ago) you should be fine as long as it's NOT concealed.
I always carried a folder clipped to my pocket(including a month ago when I went back home to visit) and I never had a problem.
Now, I'm no legal expert, so don't quote me, but I did live in the state for over 35 years.
 
Let me me sum up the knive laws as a life time Mass resident as easily as possible:
In Massachusetts...

No spring assisted, double edge/boot knives, automatic knives. theres others but those are really the only ones that matter. Ma has no restriction on blade size or anything of the like, and you can carry a knife anyway you want, concealed or not. :)
 
So you are fine with the Griptilian and the Manix 2, its funny...i have both those knives and love them both lol..just bought my manix 2 and its great! i got the normal 551 though. oh and you can carry the neck knife as long as its not double edged
 
only exeception is if you have a MA CC Permit and then no knive laws at all pertain to you =)
 
Correct me if I am wrong but I understand that although the state laws are pretty liberal the individual municipalities can be fairly restrictive with regard to blade length and carry options.
 
CapeCod508 said:
Let me me sum up the knive laws as a life time Mass resident as easily as possible:
In Massachusetts...

No spring assisted, double edge/boot knives, automatic knives. theres others but those are really the only ones that matter. Ma has no restriction on blade size or anything of the like, and you can carry a knife anyway you want, concealed or not. :)
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All those things are legal to own but not carry in MA except spring-assisted which are legal to carry.

CapeCod508 said:
only exeception is if you have a MA CC Permit and then no knive laws at all pertain to you =)
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Wrong. A concealed carry permit allows you to carry and conceal a firearm, not circumvent knife laws.


Check your information before posting advice.
 
Completely wrong! There is no such animal as a MA CC permit. You have a Class A License to Carry (most police chiefs restrict these to hunting/target/sporting only, no CC), a Class B License to Carry (no CC at all and only possess low-cap handguns), FID-C (low cap rifles and shotguns) or FID-D (OC/Mace only). None cover knives. If you are lucky enough to have a "may issue" License to Carry, you are putting it in great jeopardy if you get arrested on knife or other weapons charges. Many, if not most, police chiefs will revoke it very quickly if you are arrested on such charges. Firearms licenses in MA do not cover knives, period!
 
TOM1960 is completely right. You can carry just about any type of knife in most towns. But you need to watch out for Boston, Lynn, Salem and Beverly. Nothing over two and a half inches. There may be other cities.
Class A License to Carry does not cover knives.Go figure.
 
TOM1960 said:
Completely wrong! There is no such animal as a MA CC permit. You have a Class A License to Carry (most police chiefs restrict these to hunting/target/sporting only, no CC), a Class B License to Carry (no CC at all and only possess low-cap handguns), FID-C (low cap rifles and shotguns) or FID-D (OC/Mace only). None cover knives. If you are lucky enough to have a "may issue" License to Carry, you are putting it in great jeopardy if you get arrested on knife or other weapons charges. Many, if not most, police chiefs will revoke it very quickly if you are arrested on such charges. Firearms licenses in MA do not cover knives, period!
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It's been a while, forgot what they called it down there. You can't conceal at all in Massachusetts? Jeebus.
 
TOM1960 said:
Completely wrong! There is no such animal as a MA CC permit. You have a Class A License to Carry (most police chiefs restrict these to hunting/target/sporting only, no CC), a Class B License to Carry (no CC at all and only possess low-cap handguns), FID-C (low cap rifles and shotguns) or FID-D (OC/Mace only). None cover knives. If you are lucky enough to have a "may issue" License to Carry, you are putting it in great jeopardy if you get arrested on knife or other weapons charges. Many, if not most, police chiefs will revoke it very quickly if you are arrested on such charges. Firearms licenses in MA do not cover knives, period!
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It's been a while, forgot what they called it down there. You can't conceal at all in Massachusetts? Jeebus.
 
Blais said:
It's been a while, forgot what they called it down there. You can't conceal at all in Massachusetts? Jeebus.
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If you are very fortunate to have an unrestricted Class A LTC, you can carry a loaded and concealed handgun. Rifles and shotguns must be carried unloaded and in a case. Only LEOs can carry loaded rifles and shotguns while on duty. Knives are not covered. I have a "shall issue" FID-C for my rifle and shotgun. There is no discretion on the part of the chief of police: he had to issue it, whether he liked it or not and there are no restrictions allowed by law on FIDs. I routinely carry a 4" lockblade folder regardless of jurisdiction. It is well-concealed and I never had any problems. Just be discrete and you should be OK.
 
TOM1960 said:
If you are very fortunate to have an unrestricted Class A LTC, you can carry a loaded and concealed handgun. Rifles and shotguns must be carried unloaded and in a case. Only LEOs can carry loaded rifles and shotguns while on duty. Knives are not covered. I have a "shall issue" FID-C for my rifle and shotgun. There is no discretion on the part of the chief of police: he had to issue it, whether he liked it or not and there are no restrictions allowed by law on FIDs. I routinely carry a 4" lockblade folder regardless of jurisdiction. It is well-concealed and I never had any problems. Just be discrete and you should be OK.
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I was denied twice for my pistol permit, even after dotting every "i" and crossing every "t". It was honestly a big part of my moving to NH.
 
Blais said:
I was denied twice for my pistol permit, even after dotting every "i" and crossing every "t". It was honestly a big part of my moving to NH.
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Must have found something in your CORI when the PD did the B.O.P and III checks on you. Happening a lot now, as ancient paper records are getting computerized. A 70+ year old man who had a MA LTC for many years was recently denied a renewal for something that happened back in the 1950s! He took it to court and lost.
 
TOM1960 said:
Must have found something in your CORI when the PD did the B.O.P and III checks on you. Happening a lot now, as ancient paper records are getting computerized. A 70+ year old man who had a MA LTC for many years was recently denied a renewal for something that happened back in the 1950s! He took it to court and lost.
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I had a clean record except for an arrest when I was 15 for disturbing the peace, which was supposed to be expunged. I think the chief of police just didn't like the way I look.
 
Blais said:
All those things are legal to own but not carry in MA except spring-assisted which are legal to carry.




Wrong. A concealed carry permit allows you to carry and conceal a firearm, not circumvent knife laws.


Check your information before posting advice.
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I live in MA and carry spring assisted knives all the time. It's news to me that it is illegal. I think the poster meant automatics are illegal.

Also, do not carry any knife into the Boston state house or a local or municipal court room. If they don't outright confiscate it at the door you will be asked to remove it before entering.
 
agile_1 said:
I live in MA and carry spring assisted knives all the time. It's news to me that it is illegal. I think the poster meant automatics are illegal.

Also, do not carry any knife into the Boston state house or a local or municipal court room. If they don't outright confiscate it at the door you will be asked to remove it before entering.
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Assisted knives are not illegal in MA, read it again. :D
 
Blais said:
I had a clean record except for an arrest when I was 15 for disturbing the peace, which was supposed to be expunged. I think the chief of police just didn't like the way I look.
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No such thing as "expungement" in MA. Best you can do is seal the record, which a "civilian" CORI check (for a new job, etc.) will not uncover. However, even a sealed record can be seen by LEO types, such as police, prosecutors and judges. Your juvenile record came back to haunt you, but at the same time, your chief of police must have been a real dickhead to hold that against you if you cleaned up your act and spent years as a responsible adult with no more legal problems. He used the "suitability" guillotine on you and I am sure that a judge would uphold it if you took it to court. Happened to a Wakefield, MA dentist a number of years ago. His wasn't even criminal or even an arrest. It was simply a 209A restraining order, which are routinely issued during divorce proceedings. His local chief of police refused to renew his LTC after the order expired. He fought it in court and lost. You did the right thing by moving to NH. This state is a lost cause. In NH, you people can legally carry auto knives. In MA, that is a serious felony. You did the right thing and made the right move. Good luck to you.
 
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