United States · checked 2026-10-26 · Medium confidence

Knife carry law in Massachusetts

Section 269 §10(b) still lists banned knives for carrying: daggers, stilettos, dirks, ballistic knives and any double-edged blade. Commonwealth v. Canjura (SJC, Aug 2024) struck the switchblade/automatic clause, so carrying those is not enforceable. Ordinary single-edged folders and fixed blades are not listed, but the locking-blade 'device or case' wording is unclear. Local rules (e.g. Boston) may add limits.

This summary rests on mostly official, partly secondary sources. Open questions are listed at the end. Treat anything marked unclear as a reason to leave the item at home.

How we apply the law

Rules are checked from the top. The first one that fits decides. Every verdict on this site comes from this list, not from hand typed cells.

1ProhibitedAny knife or tool, double edged
§10(b) lists 'any knife having a double-edged blade' with no length threshold. Carrying on the person or in a vehicle is an offence. Not yet tested after Canjura; the SJC left other clauses undecided.
Source
2UnclearA fixed blade
Fixed blades are not listed as such, but stilettos, daggers and dirks are, defined by design for stabbing. Courts decide case by case, so a single-edged utility fixed blade is likely fine but not certain.
Source
3No restriction foundAny knife or tool, automatic or spring assisted
Canjura invalidated the carry ban for switchblades; the defendant's spring-assisted knife was treated as a switchblade. Double-edged and fixed-dagger rules still apply. Local rules not checked.
Source
4UnclearA folding knife, with any locking blade
§10(b) bans a 'device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position'. Ordinary locking folders are not named, but no appellate reading found; treat as uncertain.
Source
5No restriction foundAnything else
Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
Source

34 popular knives and tools, checked here

Specifications come from the makers. Where a maker does not publish the cutting edge length, a length rule can only be answered if even the full blade length falls on one side of the line. Otherwise the result is unclear, on purpose.

Product	Specs	Result
Leatherman Arc	blade 70.1 mm (2.76 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
Victorinox Cadet (Alox)	blade 64 mm (2.52 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
Victorinox Classic SD	blade 40 mm (1.57 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
Victorinox Climber	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
Gerber Dime	blade 38.1 mm (1.50 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
Nagao Kanekoma Higonokami SK (Niwaki-sold Kanekoma)	blade 71 mm (2.80 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
Victorinox Huntsman	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
Kershaw Leek	blade 76.2 mm (3.00 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Canjura invalidated the carry ban for switchblades; the defendant's spring-assisted knife was treated as a switchblade. Double-edged and fixed-dagger rules still apply. Local rules not checked.
Leatherman Micra	blade 40.6 mm (1.60 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
W.R. Case & Sons Mini Trapper	blade 69.9 mm (2.75 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
Spyderco Roadie	44 mm cutting edge (1.73 in)	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
Leatherman Skeletool CX	blade 66 mm (2.60 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
Victorinox Spartan	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
Spyderco Squeak	44 mm cutting edge (1.73 in)	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
CRKT Squid Assisted	blade 60.2 mm (2.37 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Canjura invalidated the carry ban for switchblades; the defendant's spring-assisted knife was treated as a switchblade. Double-edged and fixed-dagger rules still apply. Local rules not checked.
Leatherman Squirt PS4	blade 40.6 mm (1.60 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
Victorinox Swiss Card Classic	blade length not published	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X	blade length not published	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
W.R. Case & Sons Trapper	76.2 mm cutting edge (3.00 in)	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
Leatherman Wave Plus	blade 74.2 mm (2.92 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why Catch-all: single-edged non-locking folders, balisongs, multitools and scissors are not listed in §10(b); no specific restriction found. School and government-building bans apply.
Buck 110 Folding Hunter	blade 95.3 mm (3.75 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why §10(b) bans a 'device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position'. Ordinary locking folders are not named, but no appellate reading found; treat as uncertain.
Benchmade Bugout	blade 82.3 mm (3.24 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why §10(b) bans a 'device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position'. Ordinary locking folders are not named, but no appellate reading found; treat as uncertain.
Morakniv Companion (stainless, Hi-Vis Orange shown)	blade 104 mm (4.09 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why Fixed blades are not listed as such, but stilettos, daggers and dirks are, defined by design for stabbing. Courts decide case by case, so a single-edged utility fixed blade is likely fine but not certain.
Spyderco Delica 4 (Lightweight)	65 mm cutting edge (2.56 in)	Unclear Why §10(b) bans a 'device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position'. Ordinary locking folders are not named, but no appellate reading found; treat as uncertain.
CIVIVI Elementum	blade 75.2 mm (2.96 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why §10(b) bans a 'device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position'. Ordinary locking folders are not named, but no appellate reading found; treat as uncertain.
ESEE Izula-II	blade 66.8 mm (2.63 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why Fixed blades are not listed as such, but stilettos, daggers and dirks are, defined by design for stabbing. Courts decide case by case, so a single-edged utility fixed blade is likely fine but not certain.
Spyderco Ladybug 3	43 mm cutting edge (1.69 in)	Unclear Why §10(b) bans a 'device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position'. Ordinary locking folders are not named, but no appellate reading found; treat as uncertain.
Benchmade Mini Bugout	blade 71.6 mm (2.82 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why §10(b) bans a 'device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position'. Ordinary locking folders are not named, but no appellate reading found; treat as uncertain.
Opinel No.07 Stainless Steel	blade 80 mm (3.15 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why §10(b) bans a 'device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position'. Ordinary locking folders are not named, but no appellate reading found; treat as uncertain.
Opinel No.08 Stainless Steel	blade 85 mm (3.35 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why §10(b) bans a 'device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position'. Ordinary locking folders are not named, but no appellate reading found; treat as uncertain.
Spyderco Para 3	67 mm cutting edge (2.64 in)	Unclear Why §10(b) bans a 'device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position'. Ordinary locking folders are not named, but no appellate reading found; treat as uncertain.
Gerber Paraframe I (stainless, plain edge)	blade 76.5 mm (3.01 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why §10(b) bans a 'device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position'. Ordinary locking folders are not named, but no appellate reading found; treat as uncertain.
Ontario Knife Company RAT Model 1 (RAT I)	blade 88.9 mm (3.50 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why §10(b) bans a 'device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position'. Ordinary locking folders are not named, but no appellate reading found; treat as uncertain.
CRKT Squid (Thumbstud)	blade 54.76 mm (2.16 in); cutting edge not published	Unclear Why §10(b) bans a 'device or case which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn at a locked position'. Ordinary locking folders are not named, but no appellate reading found; treat as uncertain.

What the verdict does not cover

Public transport and restricted zones: No state transport rule found for knives; local ordinances (Boston and others) not verified.
Schools, workplaces and events: §10(j): carrying a firearm or 'other dangerous weapon' in any building or on grounds of a school or college without written authorisation: fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 2 years. Courthouse bans cover firearms in §10(k), not clearly knives.
In a vehicle: §10(b) applies to listed knives carried on the person or 'under his control in a vehicle'.
Age limits: No age limit for carrying found in §10(b). Sale to minors rules (c.140 and c.269) not verified.
Buying and importing: Not verified. Federal Switchblade Knife Act still limits interstate shipping of automatics; Massachusetts sale or import rules after Canjura not confirmed.
Penalties: §10(b): state prison 2.5 to 5 years, or 6 months to 2.5 years in jail or house of correction. §10(j) school carrying: up to 2 years and $1,000.
Recent changes: Canjura decided 27 Aug 2024, striking the switchblade clause. 2025 Acts ch. 14 (eff. 5 Aug 2025) amended parts of §10(j)-(k); knife clause (b) text unchanged on malegislature.gov.
Pending changes: None found. The legislature has not rewritten the other §10(b) clauses.

Sources

M.G.L. c.269 §10(b)
“any stiletto, dagger ... dirk knife, any knife having a double-edged blade, or a switch knife”
Commonwealth v. Canjura, 494 Mass. 508 (2024) summary
“§ 10(b) is invalidated only with respect to the prohibitions regarding switchblade knives.”
Mass. Model Jury Instruction 7.680 (rev. Feb 2026)
“The Court declined to opine on the constitutionality of the prohibitions on any of the other weapons contained in § 10(b).”

What we could not confirm

Whether the 1.5-inch limit applies only to the spring-release clause: the jury instruction lists it that way, but the statute's grammar is arguably ambiguous.
Meaning and enforcement of the 'locking blade device or case' clause is unclear to me; no case found.
Whether double-edged, dirk and dagger bans survive Bruen: untested.
Boston and other local knife ordinances not opened.

Keep going

General information, not legal advice. Know something we got wrong? Tell us and include a source.