New Jersey Knife Laws

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New Jersey knife laws are broad but less tricky. Also, this state is not that knife-user friendly like the previous ones.

There are a lot of restrictions which you need to remember before owning a knife.

We are here to give you the possible explanations of the laws for your knowledge. Hope this article helps!

Prohibited Knives in New Jersey

It is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree according to the knife laws in New Jersey whoever knowingly and unlawfully possesses a gravity knife, switchblade, dirk, dagger, stiletto, ballistic knife, metal knuckle, billy, blackjack, sand club, slingshot and any other razor blades that are embedded in the woods.

So, these mentioned knives or these dangerous deadly knives are prohibited here strictly.

The code 2C-39-3 mentions these prohibited weapons as well as the knives. (Source: https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2009/title-2c/2c-39/2c-39-3)

“2C:39-3 – Prohibited weapons and devices”

“e) Certain weapons. Any person who knowingly has in his possession any gravity knife, switchblade knife, dagger, dirk, stiletto, billy, blackjack, metal knuckle, sand club, slingshot, cestus or similar leather band studded with metal filings or razor blades embedded in wood, ballistic knife, without any explainable lawful purpose, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.”

Again, manufacturing, transporting, shipping, selling/purchasing any weapons such as gravity knives, switchblades, ballistic knives, dirks, daggers, stilettos, blackjack, metal knuckles etc. is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

The code 2C-39-9 explains these all. (Source: https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2009/title-2c/2c-39/2c-39-9)

“d. Weapons. Any person who manufactures, causes to be manufactured, transports, ships, sells or disposes of any weapon, including gravity knives, switchblade knives, ballistic knives, daggers, dirks, stilettos, billies, blackjacks, metal knuckles, sand clubs, slingshots, cesti or similar leather bands studded with metal filings, or, except as otherwise provided in subsection i. of this section, in the case of firearms if he is not licensed or registered to do so as provided in chapter 58, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.”

The Definition of “Weapon”

According to the statute of New Jersey, weapons are usually capable of causing serious bodily injuries or even death. Gravity knives, switchblades, dirks, daggers, stilettos, metal knuckles etc. and other dangerous knives are included in “weapon”.

Also, any razor blades that are embedded in the woods are classified as the “weapon”.

The code 2c-39-1 defines the weapon perfectly. (Source: https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2009/title-2c/2c-39/2c-39-1)

“r) “Weapon” means anything readily capable of lethal use or of inflicting serious bodily injury. The term includes, but is not limited to, (3) gravity knives, switchblade knives, daggers, dirks, stilettos, or other dangerous knives, billies, blackjacks, bludgeons, metal knuckles, sand clubs, slingshots, cesti or similar leather bands studded with metal filings or razor blades embedded in wood.”

So, whenever there is mentioned “weapons” in the sections of the statutes, the mentioned knives should be referred to it.

Possession of Knives for Unlawful Purposes

If anyone possesses any weapon which means gravity knives, switchblades, dirks, daggers, stilettos, metal knuckles etc. and his/her intention is to use it unlawfully against someone, this will be guilty of a crime of the third degree.

The section “2C-39-4: Possession of Weapons for Unlawful Purposes” tells about this. (Source: https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2009/title-2c/2c-39/2c-39-4)

“d. Other weapons. Any person who has in his possession any weapon, except a firearm, with a purpose to use it unlawfully against the person or property of another is guilty of a crime of the third degree.”

Exceptions to the Knife Possessions in NJ

There are exceptions for some individuals in different situations when it is legal to carry weapons. For some instances,

Any members of the Armed Forces of the US on his/her duties and on the way of his/her duties.
If anyone is an officer of the Federal law enforcement and he/she is on the official duties.
State Police’s members are also including the exceptions.
Sheriffs, prosecutors, and other personnel who are authorized to carry weapons.
Any employee from the Department of Corrections on his or her duties.
A civilian employee of the US Government also gets the permit to possess such weapons for the purpose of his/her official duties.
A detective of the Police Department is authorized for having a weapon with him/her for the official purposes of his/her duties.

“2C:39-6 Exemptions.” gives the thorough discussion on this section. See for yourself. (Source: https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2009/title-2c/2c-39/2c-39-6)

“(1)Members of the Armed Forces of the United States or of the National Guard while actually on duty, or while traveling between places of duty and carrying authorized weapons in the manner prescribed by the appropriate military authorities;

(2)Federal law enforcement officers, and any other federal officers and employees required to carry firearms in the performance of their official duties;

(3)Members of the State Police and, under conditions prescribed by the superintendent, members of the Marine Law Enforcement Bureau of the Division of State Police;

(4)A sheriff, undersheriff, sheriff’s officer, county prosecutor, assistant prosecutor, prosecutor’s detective or investigator, …. authorized to carry such weapons by the Superintendent of State Police, State park police officer, or State conservation officer;

(5)Except as hereinafter provided, a prison or jail warden of any penal institution in this State or his deputies, or an employee of the Department of Corrections … while in the performance of his duties, … or a corrections officer or keeper ….

(6)A civilian employee of the United States Government … who is required, in the performance of his official duties …

(7) (a) A regularly employed member, including a detective, of the police department of any county or municipality, or of any State, interstate, municipal or county park police force or boulevard police force, at all times while in the State of New Jersey;”

People who can Never Possess Weapons

There are some people who have or had some issues and that is why they are not safe to possess weapons in the State. Those individuals are,

Any convicted felon who has attempted any crimes such as kidnapping, homicide, escaping, robbery, aggravated sexual assault etc.
The person who has ever been admitted to any hospital for a mental disorder.

If anyone including these people owns, possesses, purchases any of the weapons, it will be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.

“2C:39-7: Certain persons not to have weapons,” tells in details about this matter. Check this out. (Source: https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2009/title-2c/2c-39/2c-39-7)

“a. Except as provided in subsection b. of this section, any person, having been convicted in this State or elsewhere of the crime of aggravated assault, arson, burglary, escape, extortion, homicide, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, any person who has ever been committed for a mental disorder to any hospital, mental institution or sanitarium unless he possesses a certificate of a medical doctor or psychiatrist licensed to practice in New Jersey or other satisfactory proof that he is no longer suffering from a mental disorder which interferes with or who purchases, owns, possesses or controls any of the said weapons is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.”

Knife Carrying Laws in New Jersey

According to the knife laws in New Jersey, there are no restrictions or laws for carrying knives both openly or concealed.

So, this is legal to carry knives anywhere except in the schools, others educational institutions, courthouses, government buildings and other restricted places.

Carrying knives on the vehicle might be problematic sometimes. You should be careful of carrying knives in your vehicle.

If a weapon is found in a vehicle and there is only one occupant in there, the weapon shall be presumed to be in the possession of that occupant.

But if there is more than one occupant, the presumption of the possession of that weapon shall be on all of them.

See in the section 2C-39-2 with the exceptions. (Source: https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/2009/title-2c/2c-39/2c-39-2)

“a. Possession of firearms, weapons, destructive devices, silencers, or explosives in a vehicle. When a firearm, weapon, destructive device, silencer, or explosive described in this chapter is found in a vehicle, it is presumed to be in the possession of the occupant if there is but one. If there is more than one occupant in the vehicle, it shall be presumed to be in the possession of all.”

Blade Sizes of the Knives

There is no fixed blade size for the knives to carry or possess.

Laws for the Minors

There is no specific law for the minors either.

Laws for the Schools

New Jersey is also a knife & weapon free state like the others.

Knives that are Legal in New Jersey

The prohibited knives have been discussed from the very beginning of this article. Now, there are some knives left without any restrictions. These are,

All kinds of pocket knives are legal.
Balisong knives and butterfly knives are legal.
Knives that are disguised under pen, cane, lipstick or belt buckles etc. are legal.
Bowie knives and other large single-edged knives are legal.
All sorts of undetectable knives are legal.
Throwing knives and throwing stars and other martial arts’ weapons are legal.

Conclusion On New Jersey Knife Law

Knife Laws in New Jersey are all about knife possession laws. It is a friendly state for knife carrying but tough for knife possessing.

In fact, all sorts of dangerous knives are banned here. So, you need to be more cautious while possessing such weapons in New Jersey.