Whether you’re carrying them for aesthetics, protection, or like collecting them as a hobby, you need to follow specific laws and rules while carrying knives. These laws protect you and others and govern the use of knives in various situations.
Compared to other states, Michigan is fairly permissible for knife owners. Still, there are some laws that every person should be aware of when they decide to buy or carry a knife. Keep on reading to learn more about Michigan knife laws.
Michigan Knife Laws: The Basics
The law in Michigan controls the way people buy, carry, and use knives for protection and safety. Not complying with these rules can cost someone their lives and get you in legal trouble.
As a knife lover or someone who’s carrying a knife for protection, there are several types of knives that you can legally carry in Michigan without issues. The law also lists the specifications regarding the length and the way the knife is carried.
Which Types are Legal?
The knife-carrying law in Michigan was amended in 2017, allowing more knife models to be owned or carried with no legal issues. The following types of knives are legal to own in Michigan.
- Pocket or folding knives.
- Fixed blade knives.
- Butterfly or balisong knives.
- Switchblades.
- Gravity knives.
- Bowie knives.
- Machetes.
- Swords.
- Dirks or long thrusting daggers.
- Daggers or any knives that feature sharp points that are used for stabbing. A dagger can have a single or double edge.
- Stilettos and similar stabbing knives with sharp needle-like blades.
- Ballistic knives.
- Throwing knives and stars.
- Belt knives.
But owning a knife doesn’t mean that you’re allowed to carry it all the time. There are several rules that govern the carrying of knives and similar tools that you need to follow so you don’t get into trouble.
- It’s legal to carry all knives, as long as there’s no intent of harm.
- A hunting knife might be carried, even if it’s concealed.
- Dirks, daggers, and other stabbing objects are illegal to carry when concealed.
- Automatic non-folding knives are illegal to carry.
- A spring-assisted knife can be legally carried unless the blade deploys out the front of the handle.
The law is clear concerning the intent of carrying the knife. Double-edged OTF knives are illegal, while knives that aren’t double-edged are legal to carry. However, in most cases, people are advised not to carry these knives, as the judge might see yours as a dagger.
Automatic Knives
Michigan State Law doesn’t prohibit the ownership or carrying of automatic knives.
Daggers and Double-Edged Non-Folding Stabbing Instruments
These weapons aren’t allowed to be carried but can be owned. This means that you can keep it at home or in your office, but you can’t carry the knife around. Hunting knives are excluded from this law.
The Intent of Harm
Concealed knives are considered legal as long as there’s no intent of harm. Even folding knives as conventional switchblades can be carried. The new 2017 law allows the carrying of assisted-opening knives, which were previously banned, as long the person carrying the knife doesn’t intend to harm anyone.
According to MCL Section 750.226, carrying a firearm or dangerous weapon with the intent of harm is a felony. This includes carrying a firearm, dagger, razor, dirk, or knife with a blade that doesn’t measure longer than 3 inches. The person committing this felony will be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or will pay a fine that doesn’t exceed $2500.
However, the rest of the law states that any other weapon can also be dangerous. This leaves room for interpretation because any weapon can be considered hazardous if it’s in the wrong hands. Even a 1-inch folding knife will be dangerous if it’s not carried by a responsible person or used with caution.
Since hunting is a popular sport in the State of Michigan, carrying hunting knives is allowed according to the law, as long as there’s no intention of harming someone else. For this reason, it’s legal to carry a 3-inch knife if you’re not planning to violate the law. As long as you’re carrying the knife for a legal purpose, you won’t break any laws.
However, interpreting the intent of harm is up to the judge. You might be wrongfully accused of the intention of harming someone, even though you haven’t tried anything. If you act suspicious, are present at the wrong time, or had a fight with someone while carrying a knife, you might get into trouble.
Concealed Weapons
According to MCL Section 750.227, only a hunting knife can be carried while concealed. Daggers, dirks, stilettos, and double-edged non-folding knives shouldn’t be carried when they’re concealed unless you’re keeping the knife in your dwelling house, place of business, or a piece of land that you own.
The same applies to carrying pistols. If a person violates this law, they will be subject to up to 5 years of imprisonment in the state prison or a fine of not more than $2500.
The interpretation of the law can be a little confusing, so it’s best to avoid carrying all types of concealed weapons.
Other Dangerous Weapons
Other weapons that don’t fit under a clear category are difficult to interpret by the law. In Michigan courts, judges have previously ruled that not all knives or sharp objects are considered dangerous. This means that you might be able to carry a knife as long as you don’t plan to hurt anyone.
At the same time, if you’re arrested by an officer while carrying a knife, you might get into trouble if the officer views it as a dangerous weapon.
Wrap Up
There are several types of knives that you can safely own in Michigan, and you won’t be breaking any laws while doing so. As long as you don’t have the intention to harm anyone, you can carry the knife and won’t get into trouble.
Concealing knives is another story, as it can easily get you into legal issues. Dangerous weapons like daggers can only be kept in your home, place of business, or land, but not in your vehicle.