Knives
G.L. c. 269, § 10(b) — the knives that may not be carried, and the prison term
In Massachusetts, the dangerous weapons section lists knives that may not be carried on the person, or on the person or under one's control in a vehicle, except as provided by law.
The list. It names a stiletto, a dagger, a device or case that lets a knife with a locking blade be drawn at a locked position, a ballistic knife, a knife with a detachable blade capable of being propelled, a dirk knife, any knife with a double-edged blade, and a switch knife, or any knife with an automatic spring release device by which the blade is released from the handle, having a blade of over one and one-half inches.
Armed when arrested. The same paragraph reaches anyone who, when arrested on a warrant for an alleged crime or while committing a breach or disturbance of the public peace, has a billy or other dangerous weapon on the person or under their control in a vehicle.
The penalty. Imprisonment in the state prison for not less than two and one-half years nor more than five years, or in a jail or house of correction for not less than six months nor more than two and one-half years. Where the defendant has no prior felony conviction, the court may instead impose a fine of not more than fifty dollars or up to two and one-half years in a jail or house of correction.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionCarrying a knife is at most a ticket | What the law actually doesCarrying a listed knife is punishable by up to five years in the state prison |
| The assumptionOnly the knife's design matters | What the law actually doesBeing armed with a dangerous weapon when arrested is part of the same paragraph |
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 Massachusetts attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- G.L. c. 269, § 10 — Carrying dangerous weapons
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Massachusetts attorney.