Breaking Down Connecticut Knife Carry Statutes: What to Know

Connecticut Knife Laws Explained

Broadly speaking, Connecticut law does not prohibit the possession or open carry of most knives. Closed and non-concealed carry is allowed for most knives, and there are restrictions only on certain types of "dirk" knives, "dagger" knives, "stiletto" knives, "stiletto-type" knives, and "switchblade" knives. The legal definitions of these weapons and their permitted exceptions, however, are very nuanced and not always apparent. The law also permits you to carry a knife for target practice and, at a later time, to "carry such knife as a side weapon." A "side weapon" is likely something like a sword cane or cane sword, but the law does not provide much more guidance.
The key prohibition on knives is contained in CGS §53-206. The definitions of "dirk," "dagger," "stiletto," "stiletto-type," and "switchblade" knives are contained in CGS §53-206a. As described below, virtually all of the prohibited knives and weapons are prohibited because they are intended for "combat or offensive or defensive purposes" or can be used as weapons in combat . There are some exceptions for common household use knives: folding knives and daggers "having the appearance of a toy" and not being more than one and one-half inches in length. The possession of a "stiletto" or "stiletto-type" knife is prohibited unless it falls within certain exceptions for personal or family use, event display or exhibition, emergency service, "historical display purposes," or "militaria." "Militaria" is defined as "weapons, accouterments, uniforms or other military items designed for the use of or wear by members of the Armed Forces of the United States or any state militia." It does not include any knives or swords "having a blade length or greater than eighteen inches in length, but it does include such items that were made for the purpose of display, gift, or sale if they do not share in the aforementioned blade length." NOTE: this section of the statute may have been superseded by Conn. Gen. Stat. §53-206e. Specifically, CGS §53-206e (2014) allows a person to possess or carry any knife banned under CGS §53-206a.

Legal Knives You Can Carry in Connecticut

In Connecticut, the law is somewhat permissive when it comes to the legal possession and carrying of knives. State statutes consider knives to be tools or weapons used for specific purposes, rather than a single object associated with concealed carrying. While public opinion may be largely against the concealed carrying of knives, state law allows individuals to carry certain types of knives without any permit required.
One of the primary knife types that can be openly carried in Connecticut without a permit is the type known as a dagger or dirk knife. This type of knife has two sharpened edges with a pointed blade that taper to a sharp point on the end. In addition to being carried openly, it is also permitted to carry this type of knife concealed. It should also be noted that bowie knives are included in the same category, and like daggers, these types of knives are permitted to be carried open or concealed as long as there is no intent to harm another individual.
Other knives and weapons that are permitted to be carried in Connecticut include:
When it comes to the carrying of knives, there are a few critical exceptions under Connecticut law. The first exception is that no knives, pistols, or other weapons can be carried on school grounds. This rule of thumb applies to all weapons and knives of any size. No knives of any size or intended purpose are permitted into police stations or legal courts in the state of Connecticut. Concealed knives are prohibited on all government properties, such as libraries, highways, parks, and military reservations.

Prohibited Knives and Prohibited Activities

Connecticut has certain laws regarding the types of knives that may be restricted or entirely prohibited for carry. Connecticut does not punish the simple act of owning a knife, but there are certain actions surrounding the sale, production and transportation of knives that may be illegal.
Some knives are considered to be restricted knives, defined as "any dagger, dirk, razor, stiletto, switchblade, ballistic knife, belt buckle knife, cane sword, shuriken or "star knife," or any disguised knife, or any knife with a blade that measures over one and one-half inches in length." Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-206. Carrying any of these knives is illegal unless an individual has a special permit issued/authorized by the state of Connecticut. To obtain such a permit, a person must be 21 years of age or older, and must not have committed a criminal act that impacted them so severely that they are prohibited from carrying a pistol or revolver, such as committing a felony. Connecticut law also prohibits the use of any knife by the following means: This means that although knives that are specifically named under the law may legally be carried in Connecticut, use of these tools for any of the purposes mentioned above may be illegal.

Permit Requirements for Knife Carry

Connecticut knife carry laws do not regulate the possession of knives, however, there are limitations on the carry of certain knives. Specifically, CGS 53-206 regulations the carry of dirks, daggers, switchblades and a number of other knives. In these cases, the knife must be carried openly and without a fighting intent or an intent to injure another.
Furthermore, if you are in one of these cases and possess a dirk, dagger, switchblade, stiletto or any other knife with blade length of four inches or more, you may apply for a permit which not only grants you permission to carry hidden on your person, but also in a private vehicle or boat. The permit application in this context can be found in CGS 29-28 and an applicant must supply the following information with the application:
No fee is charged for the issuance of this permit.
To begin the process, the applicant must go to the Commissioner of Public Safety and have his fingerprints recorded. These fingerprints are processed to check for prior criminal record. Once the fingerprints have cleared, the Commissioner will issue the permit.

Penalties when You Violated Knife Carry Laws

If convicted of violating Connecticut’s knife carry laws, a person can face a range of penalties. For example, an illegal possessor of a dangerous or deadly weapon – which includes many knives – can be charged with a Class D felony, which carries a number of penalties including: In cases where the knife was carried in circumstances additional to a violation of the statute , a prosecutor may be inclined to charge both carrying a dangerous or deadly weapon (Class D Felony) and criminal possession of a pistol or revolver (Class A misdemeanor). The penalties for Class A misdemeanors include: When an alleged violator is over 18 years old, they could therefore potentially face substantial jail time and fines for a conviction under the knife carrying and possession laws.

How to Legally Carry a Knife in Connecticut

Here are some tips for individuals seeking to carry knives in a lawful manner in Connecticut. But consult with your attorney before relying on anything you read on the internet.

• Always check the knife’s features against the knife definitions under state law (for example, switchblades, gravity knives and dirks are illegal).
• Keep knives secured in sheaths or case and in areas that can’t be easily accessed (i.e. back pocket, inside coat pocket, locked toolbox, etc.).
• Carry knives for lawful purposes only (i.e. no combat knives) – dilution of privity to originals legislative intent of the Statute that was not clarified when it was re-codified in 1993.
• Avoid locking knives that can be opened with one hand (in Connecticut courts we have lost cases with this type of knife simply because they can be opened with one hand and are locked).
• Sheathed knives should never be opened to show their edge or point (if police or prosecution witness says you did, it is game over).
• Avoid knives and blades that exceed what is typically acceptable in the outdoors industry (i.e. hunting knives, diving knives, camping knives, fishing knives, survival knives, kitchen knives and utility knives).

Updates, Amendments, and Revisions to Connecticut Knife Carry Laws

The most recent changes to Connecticut knife laws came in 2014 with the passing of Public Act 14-35 which allowed for individuals to carry a dirk, dagger or stiletto that has an overall length of four inches or more provided that the weapon is sheathed and carried "openly". This means that in order to legally carry such a knife, it must be in a sheath that covers the blade completely and carried in what one might consider a fair and "normal" way (i.e. in an open fashion as opposed to concealed). While this law did allow for dirks, daggers and stilettos to be carried openly, it also reduced the required blade length for illegal knives such as Caucasian, Balisong (aka "Butterfly"), push knives, and dirks and daggers with a blade shorter than four inches. These weapons are not permitted to be carried concealed or "openly" and as such are still considered an illegal "gravity knife" that is to be carried only in your home , place of business, etc. – basically anywhere that might be considered "home base" – as opposed to out "in the field". So while yes, the dirk, dagger or stiletto been carried openly and in a sheath, it must be 4 inches or more. Whereas the other so-called gravity knives cannot be carried openly. There is no distance requirement on blade length when it comes to the carrying or concealment of gravity knives however, and as such, on the monster, you are prohibited from carrying a blade of any size. As it stands now, the biggest thing Connecticut residents have to worry about in terms of knife carrying laws is the ambiguity in the wording of certain specific laws (i.e. how to interpret the term "in the field", etc. ) which can leave them vulnerable to cruel and unusual punishment at the hands of police officers who, like many people, simply do not know the laws governing the state.