Brass Knuckles Legal

The Legality of Brass Knuckles: A Complex and Nuanced Issue

Brass knuckles—also called knuckle dusters or knucks—are weapons worn on the fingers used to enhance the damage from a punch. But are they legal to own and carry? Well, it’s complicated.
Laws regarding brass knuckles vary widely across the U.S. and even within states. In some areas they are completely prohibited, while in others there are no restrictions. And regulations can differ for buying/selling versus possession/carrying. It’s kinda tricky to keep track of.
So let’s break it down and try to make sense of this whole brass knuckles legality thing.

Federal Brass Knuckles Laws

On the federal level, there are no laws specifically banning brass knuckles. However, they could potentially fall under federal regulations regarding “any other weapon” (AOW).
An AOW is basically anything used as weapon that doesn’t clearly fit another category like handgun, rifle, shotgun, etc. And knucks might qualify depending how they’re designed and intended to be used.
But in practice, the feds don’t really enforce brass knuckle regulations unless someone is selling/distributing them across state lines or using them in commission of another federal crime.
So for individual possession, federal law isn’t really the issue. What matters more is the specific state and local regulations where you live.

Brass Knuckles Laws By State

Across the 50 states, brass knuckles legality falls into a few main categories:

Totally Legal

Some states have no rules at all prohibiting brass knuckles. You can freely buy, sell, carry, and possess knuckle dusters with no restrictions.
For example, Vermont has no regulations specifically forbidding brass knuckles or any other weapons. Live free and all that!
Similarly, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Arkansas and several other states have no brass knuckles prohibitions. Party on!

Totally Illegal

On the flip side, some states completely ban both owning and carrying brass knuckles.
For instance, California, Illinois, and New York prohibit all brass knuckles, regardless of your criminal history or intended use. No exceptions.
Like, in Cali it’s a felony just for having knucks on you. Not kidding.
Other states with total brass knuckle bans include Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware, Hawaii, and more. Rough luck if you live there and wanna get your punch on with some knucks.

Legal to Own But Not Carry

Then there are a bunch of states that allow you to legally buy and own brass knuckles, but not carry them on your person in public.
For example, Pennsylvania has no regulations about buying, selling or possessing knuckle dusters at home. But it’s illegal to “conceal” them on your body or even in a vehicle.
Michigan and Wisconsin also allow ownership but not concealed carry of brass knucks.
The logic seems to be it’s fine to collect weird weapons as a hobby or whatever, but walking around in public with stealth knucks on you crosses the line. Fair enough I guess.

Legal Depending on Design/Purpose

Some states like Texas and Florida have more nuanced brass knuckle laws based around specific definitions and intended uses.
In Texas for example, simple brass knuckles are okay to own/carry. But if they have blades or are designed to enhance lethal force, then they become prohibited “knuckles” under state law.
And Florida allows common brass knucks, but bans more dangerous exotic variants like the infamous Apache revolver which combines a gun and brass knuckles. Make sense?
The takeaway is that traditional plain brass knuckles are generally allowed, but tricked-out tactical variants may not be.

City and County Laws

Finally, don’t forget about local city and county regulations. Even if brass knucks are legal in your state, some municipalities ban them outright.
For instance San Diego specifically prohibits “any instrument or weapon of the kind commonly known as…metal knuckles” despite California state law being silent on plain brass knucks.
So make sure to check your local ordinances too, not just state law. When in doubt, contact your sheriff or police department to ask about restrictions in your jurisdiction.

Ordering Brass Knuckles Online

Okay so now we know brass knuckle laws are super variable place to place. But what about buying them online and having them shipped to you?
Well, legal ecommerce sites will typically only sell to states where brass knucks are fully legal. So if you’re in Cali or NYC, forget about it.
Some sketchy sites might ship prohibited weapons anyway, but that can get the seller (and buyer) in legal trouble. Like maybe-go-to-jail trouble. So play at your own risk.
Your best bet is to check your local laws first, and only order knucks online if they’re clearly legal where you live.

Bottom Line on Brass Knuckles Legality

So in summary, brass knuckles legality depends completely on where you live and intend to carry them. There’s no universal federal ban, but some states and cities prohibit them outright. Others restrict public carrying but allow private ownership. And some places have no regulations at all.