You generally possess and use knives if you indulge in sports or recreation (hunting knife) or even if you work in a tool-oriented labor (contractor, plumber, electrician, miner). Nevertheless, carrying a knife may easily lead to illegal activity. Most persons who break Michigan knife laws are unaware of their actions.
This law was proposed by the 26th state in the United States, “Michigan.”
It is well-known for its car industry, scenic Great Lakes coastlines, and lively campus-town vibe. This state has a statute prohibiting the carrying of blades. Michigan knife laws were changed in October 2017.
As of the modification date, spring-assisted knives (switchblades, automatic, and so on) are now authorized. But double-edged non-folding knives, on the other hand, are still illegal.
This article will go into further detail on the law!
Michigan and its knife laws
Here represent a few of the legal knives that are permitted to carry in Michigan:
- An automatic non-folding knife
- Butterfly knives
- Balisong knives
- Swords with varying blade lengths (fixed-blade knives)
- Mechanical push-button knives
- Switchblades – an automatic knife
- Axes or hatchets
- Ninja stars
- Throwing knives
- Bayonets
- Gravity Knives
- Fixed blade knives
- Lipstick knives
- Undetectable knives
Ownership of a switchblade, mechanical push-button knife, or automatic/spring-assisted knife was previously illegal in Michigan until Michigan knife laws altered and legalized these blades in 2017.
A hunting knife concealed or not despite its length is allowed according to the knife laws but a double-edged non-folding stabbing knife or a dagger, dirk, stiletto or etc. is illegal to carry.
Michigan’s legalized knife length
- Beginning of January 2019, Michigan knife laws do not regulate the blade length of knives. The sole time that state statutes reference blade length is in a part of the criminal code that prohibits knives longer than three inches, provided the possessor intends to injure another person.
- The Michigan knife length laws complicate the knife measure limitation by claiming that most hazardous arsenals, no matter the blade length, are unlawful.
Michigan legal knife age:
- There hasn’t been a specific age range that has been prohibited under Michigan penal legislation 750.224. Dealing with or purchasing from an underage person is still banned.
- It is forbidden to have knives featuring double-edged or to carry stabbing knives. Michigan’s legal knife age is above eighteen years.
Law for hunting knives
750.227 states:
An individual shall not be concealed carry, on or about his or her person a double-edged non-folding stabbing tool or a dagger, dirk, stiletto, regardless of length, or any other type of dangerous weapon, except a hunting knife adapted and carried as such, or if concealed or otherwise in any car operated or used by the individual, except in his or her dwelling house, place of business, or on other land possessed by the person. […]
The law allows, a hunting knife adapted and possessed, concealed or not.
Law for pocket knives
Several knife users tote a folding, single-edged pocket knife on a regular basis. As a result, it appears to fall beyond the parameters of Section 750.227(1).
As an outcome, notwithstanding its impracticality, anyone can possess and covertly carry any foldable pocket knife, regardless of whether it’s got two cutting edges.
Law for switchblades
Since 1958, automatic knives are currently prohibited for public ownership and daily use under federal legislation, resulting in a $300 fine or a maximum of twelve months in jail in the state of Michigan.
The disparagement of automatic knives started at the beginning of the 1950s, with media outlets fueling a widespread fear about switchblade-wielding street gangs seeking to kill people using their frightfully swift blades.
An automatic knife (switchblades) has become lawful to be kept and used in the state of Michigan as of October 10, 2017.
Law for butterfly knives
Although butterfly knives aren’t officially mentioned in Michigan knife legislation, they are allowed to have, carry, and utilize in the state.
Balisong knives are dual-handled foldable knives having a blade hidden beneath two counter-rotating grips.
More frequently used as a switching and tricking device, yet they may also be applied for other reasons.
It is lawful to own and carry a balisong knife in Michigan as long as it fits the state’s size standards. It is vital to know that carrying any other dangerous weapon (even a knife) covertly is forbidden without a license.
Knife laws about open carry and conceal carry
According to Michigan’s knife carry laws, you are permitted to carry any sort of knife openly (open carry) in so far provided there’s a valid reason. When carrying a knife in public (open carry) it indicates that the blade has been poorly disguised, which normally implies regular individuals could recognize a knife if they saw the individual wearing it freely.
Therefore, when an open-carry knife is secured to a waistband with your shirt rolled in so that even casual spectators may see, the weapon is lawful. Wandering about with a knife attached to a belt, shirt untucked, and covering the weapon so that casual spectators cannot see it is obscure-carried and, based on the knife, may be unlawful.
750.227 expressly prohibits the concealed carry of knives:
A dagger is a blade with a sharpened tip, often two edges, but occasionally only one; it is used for stabbing and thrusting. Dirk is known to be an extended dagger that thrusts.
A blade or dagger that has a long, thin, frequently edgeless blade that tapers to a needle-like tip is referred to as a stiletto.
Anyone that infringes this law is convicted of a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison or a fine of up to $2,500.00.
Knives in your vehicle
The concealed carry legislation 750.227 makes the following knives illegal to possess:
Whether hidden or unconcealed, in any kind of car operated or occupied by the person, save at his or her residential abode, place of business, or on any land held by the person.
The phrase “concealed carry or otherwise” imposes an absolute ban.
Convenience for immediate utilization or the lack thereof is not a problem. A person may have a double-edged knife in his house, place of business, or on land he owns that is far from his place of residence.
There’s no exemption in Michigan law for transporting double-edged knives via car. In simple terms, a person may lawfully carry a dagger at home and a dagger at a company situated distances away, as long as he or she moves among the two sites with the knife publicly handled.
A knife may be lawfully purchased at a retail store, yet it can’t be transported to a residence by vehicle.
No malicious intent
MCL 750.226 governs the unlawful possession of guns as well as other dangerous weapon for criminal purposes. The unlawfulness and consequence of employing an offensive weapon upon another individual are defined under Michigan law. Knives exceeding three inches are consequently considered hazardous, even if they are not intended to cause injury.
750.226. FIREARM/DANGEROUS WEAPON; CARRYING WITH UNLAWFUL INTENT.
Nonetheless, the section identifying hazardous weapons concludes, “or any additional lethal or dangerous weapon or tool.” What exactly does this mean? The meaning of the whole dangerous or deadly weapon rule is revealed through case law, which creates legal precedents.
The Iverson decision from 1971 established that possessing a hunting knife does not constitute an offense unless the intent is to hurt another human being.
The prosecution has to demonstrate intent, which is usually done through personal testimony rather than concrete proof such as abusive messages and personal letters.
Closed-off areas
- Academies or school premises
- Either public or private child-care organizations
- Athletics complex or stadium
- A bar where the selling of alcoholic beverages by the glass for consumption on the premises is the main source of income
- Any building or area that is owned or run by a house of worship, such as a cathedral, mosque, sanctuary, or similar institution, unless the representative(s) in charge permit hidden firearms
- A medical facility
- A college dorm or classroom
Bearing more fatal, dangerous weapons
The phrase “other dangerous weapon”, is known to be any object chosen to use against another human for assault to cause bodily harm.
Sec 226, mentions: (1)
“Any individual who intends to use a handgun or similar firearm, a pneumatic gun, a dagger, a dirk, a razor, a stiletto, a knife with a blade longer than three inches, or a different potentially lethal weapon or device, is prohibited from carrying it with them”.
Possessing a dangerous weapon with the intention to use it illegally is a severe crime that may land you behind bars or in jail if you are convicted.
The prosecution must first establish the fact that you had the object, then that it was a weapon of great danger, and finally prove that you carried the dangerous weapon with the intention to damage or endanger another individual.
The greatest defense lawyer will fight against the prosecutor on either one or all of these components, based on the situation at hand. A hazardous weapon can be anything, not only a handgun, knife, or rifle. A dangerous weapon is anything that is capable of being used to assault another person.
FAQ
Can I carry a 6-inch knife in Michigan?
In the law in Michigan, it’s illegal to carry blades longer than 3 inches. As stated in code 750.227, this covers any knife “exhibiting a cutting edge exceeding three inches overall length.” When someone carries a firearm with the intention of using it upon another person illegally, it is an offense.
Can you carry a pocket knife in Michigan?
Ideally, if a pocket blade just contains a single blade & is being carried merely as a tool rather than a potentially lethal stabbing weapon, then is authorized to do so. You may carry whatever pocketknife that folds.
What is the legal size pocket knife to carry?
This provision applies to blades limited under 750.227 and covers any knife “with a blade length of more than 3 inches.”
Is it legal to own a switchblade in Michigan?
It was illegal to carry any automated knives back in the day but automatic knives (switchblades) are now lawful to own and carry in the state of Michigan as of October 10, 2017.
Quick recap!
Finally, the Michigan law clearly states that nearly all knives are legally allowed, subject to length restrictions, age requirements to own or carry, and restrictions on certain public places such as school grounds.
They also impose prohibitions on open and concealed carry. In particular, even in conceal carry or within a vehicle, a double-edged fixed-blade knife is prohibited. It is only legal for a hunting knife to be transported via car or concealed carry.
Michigan’s knife laws were amended in 2017 to allow for the legal possession and transportation of the majority of blades. No matter how long they are or whether they are intended for concealed carry or not, carrying double-edged non-folding knives or non-folding stabbing knives is prohibited.
That being said, as this page goes into further detail, it is strongly encouraged to follow Michigan procedure when possessing any dangerous weapon in public, avoid any other dangerous weapon that is illegal to carry, and only hunting knives are permitted for open carry.