Knives
A.R.S. 13-3102 — concealment, age and circumstance, with a pocket knife excepted
In Arizona, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, which can include a knife, is an offense only in the situations the weapons misconduct section lists, and a pocket knife is excepted from those carrying rules.
Under twenty-one, a felony, or a question from an officer. Carrying a deadly weapon other than a pocket knife concealed on the person, or within immediate control in a vehicle, is misconduct involving weapons if the person is under twenty-one, if it is in furtherance of a serious offense, a violent crime or any other felony, or if, when contacted by a law enforcement officer who asks whether the person is carrying a concealed deadly weapon, the person fails to answer accurately.
Cities cannot write their own knife rules. A county, city or town may not enact any ordinance, rule or tax relating to the transportation, possession, carrying, sale or use of a knife, and a local rule that is inconsistent with or more restrictive than state law is null and void.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionA blade over some length is illegal | What the law actually doesThe carrying rules turn on concealment and circumstance, with a pocket knife excepted |
| The assumptionA city can ban knives downtown | What the law actually doesLocal knife rules more restrictive than state law are null and void |
| The assumptionNothing turns on the answer to an officer's question | What the law actually doesFor someone carrying a concealed deadly weapon other than a pocket knife, failing to answer accurately when asked is an offense |
Federal buildings, courthouses, airports, schools and private property with its own rules are separate questions, and so are court decisions on whether a listed knife is protected by the Second Amendment. Whether a particular knife, or a particular way of carrying it, falls inside the section is a question for a licensed Arizona attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- A.R.S. 13-3102 — Misconduct involving weapons; defenses; classification
- A.R.S. 13-3120 — Knives regulated by state; state preemption; definitions
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Arizona attorney.