Generally speaking, Utah knife laws don’t emphasize the specifications of knives that you can own and carry.
The length of the blade, the design of the knife, and how it’s opened aren’t factors that determine whether a knife is legal to own and carry or not.
Utah knife laws are more concerned with two things. The law clearly stipulates that only restricted people can’t carry or own dangerous weapons.
In this article, we’ll go over some of the rules that you need to consider before buying and carrying a knife in Utah.
Who Can’t Own a Knife In Utah?
According to Utah knife laws, anyone can have a dangerous knife, except restricted people.
These laws define restricted people who can’t carry or own a dangerous knife. There are two types of restricted people.
Type 1
A Type 1 restricted person is a person who is:
- Convicted of a violent felony defined in Utah Criminal Code Section 76-3-203.5 (c)
- On probation or parole for a felony
- On parole after being committed to the Division of Juvenile Justice Services for youth offenders
- Found to be delinquent by a judge, within the last 10 years, for committing an offense that would have been a violent felony if committed by an adult
- Who doesn’t have a legal and lawful right to live in the US
If a person from this category owns, uses, or arranges to purchase a dangerous weapon, they can be convicted of a third-degree felony.
Type 2
The second type includes people who:
- Have been convicted of any felony
- Have been found delinquent by a judge, within the last 7 years, for committing an offense that would have been a violent felony if committed by an adult
- Use drugs illegally
- Have been declared mentally incompetent by a judge
- Have been committed to a mental institution
- May not stand trial for a felony offense because of mental incompetence
- Were discharged from the armed forces for dishonorable reasons
- Have been found not guilty for a felony offense because of insanity
- Have given up their American citizenship
If a person from this category purchases, owns or uses a dangerous weapon, they can be convicted of a class A misdemeanor and penalized by paying up to $2,500 in fines and going to jail for up to 12 months.
If you don’t fall under either category, you may buy or carry any type of knife in the state of Utah, whether it’s dangerous or not.
Types of Knives That You Can Own and Carry in Utah
In Utah, any kind of knife is legal to own and carry, opened, or concealed, as long as it’s not considered a dangerous weapon and you’re not considered a restricted person.
All of the following knives are legal to own and carry in Utah:
- Bowie knife: a heavy knife that has a pointed straight blade
- Stiletto: small dagger that has a long, slender blade
- Dirk knife: a long Scottish dagger that can have a single- or double-edged blade
- Butterfly (Balisong) knife: a folding pocket knife that has two handles and the blade is hidden in the grooves of the handles.
- Disguised knife: such as lipstick or belt buckle knives
- Pocket knife
- Gravity or automatic knife: a gravity knife can be opened using gravity force or centripetal force.
Types Of Knives That You Can’t Own in Utah
In Utah knife law, there are no definitions for types of knives that can’t be used in Utah other than being concealed dangerous weapons.
What is a Concealed Dangerous Weapon?
The law defines a concealed dangerous weapon as a dangerous weapon that’s covered or hidden so that other people won’t know that it’s present. This weapon is also readily accessible for use.
What is a Dangerous Weapon?
A dangerous weapon is defined as an item that’s used or intentionally used to cause death or serious bodily injury, including knives and firearms.
The specifications of the dangerous knife, like length and design, aren’t clear.
However, the factors mentioned below are used to determine whether the knife is considered a dangerous weapon or not.
- The place and circumstances in which the knife was used or carried
- The purpose of manufacturing the knife
- The nature of the wound that may result from using the knife unlawfully
- The unlawful manner of using the knife
- Whether using the knife may expose the public to an imminent threat
- The lawful purposes for using the knife
- Being readily accessible for immediate use
Can You Carry a Knife in Schools?
According to Utah Code 76-10-505.5, carrying a dangerous knife in the premises of any public or private educational institution, from kindergartens to universities, is prohibited.
Only the following people can carry a knife at a school:
- Individuals who are authorized under particular laws to possess a knife
- Someone who’s permitted by the school administration to carry a gun
Otherwise, if you carry a knife at a school, you can be convicted of Class B misdemeanor, which may result in paying up to $1,000 in criminal fines and spending up to 6 months in jail.
Can a Restricted Person Own or Carry a Gun for Self-Defense?
Although the law gives non-restricted people a lot of freedom to use and carry any kind of knife they’d like, this isn’t the case with restricted people.
Restricted people don’t have the same right to own and carry a knife even if they prove it’s for self-defense and will be convicted of a misdemeanor (Type 2) or felony (Type 1).
Wrap Up
Although Utah knife laws may seem a bit subjective when it comes to interpreting the definition of dangerous weapons, they generally give people the right to own and carry a knife.
A person who didn’t commit a felony or didn’t use drugs illegally doesn’t have any restriction on owning any kind of knife.