Knives
Penal Code 46.01 — a blade over five and one-half inches is location-restricted
In Texas, a knife with a blade over five and one-half inches is a location-restricted knife, and the restrictions attach to that kind of knife rather than to knives generally.
Under 18. A person younger than 18 commits an offense by carrying a location-restricted knife, unless on their own premises, inside or directly en route to a vehicle or watercraft they own or control, or under the direct supervision of a parent or legal guardian.
Places. Possessing or going with a location-restricted knife is an offense on the premises of a school or postsecondary institution unless authorized in writing, at a polling place on election day or during early voting, in a court or its offices unless authorized, at a racetrack, in a secured area of an airport, and in the other places the section lists.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionA big knife is illegal to own | What the law actually doesOver five and one-half inches is location-restricted: limited by place and by age |
| The assumptionAn adult cannot carry a big knife anywhere | What the law actually doesThe restrictions are the places the section lists |
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 Texas attorney.
Sources for this section (3)
- Penal Code 46.01 — Definitions
- Penal Code 46.02 — Unlawful carrying weapons
- Penal Code 46.03 — Places weapons prohibited
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Texas attorney.