Virginia Knife Laws

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Virginia Knife Laws are not that descriptive and are quite restrictive for both the knife-owners and knife-users like the New York knife laws.

Knife possession laws, as well as the knife carry laws, especially in a concealed manner are strict here.

Though most of the States do not care at all about all types of knife possession or conceal carry, this State has some effective rules and prohibitions for its citizens which are appreciable.

Knife Possession Laws

It is banned or completely illegal if anyone sells or barters, gives, possesses or anything related to these activities any kind of switchblades, ballistic knives, pointy bladed knives or throwing stars or other martial art weapon, blackjacks, metal knuckles etc.

It will be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor if anyone violates this law. Also, if anyone possesses one of these illegal knives, this will be prima facie evidence as well.

The code “§ 18.2-311: Prohibiting the selling or having in possession blackjacks, etc.” tells in details about the law.

“If any person sells or barters, or exhibits for sale or for barter, or gives or furnishes, or causes to be sold, bartered, given or furnished, or has in his possession, or under his control, with the intent of selling, bartering, giving or furnishing, any blackjack, brass or metal knucks, any disc of whatever configuration having at least two points or pointed blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart, switchblade knife, ballistic knife as defined in § 18.2-307.1, or like weapons, such person is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. The having in one’s possession of any such weapon shall be prima facie evidence.”

So, other than these illegal knives mentioning again: ballistic knives, switchblades, throwing stars, metal knuckles, blackjacks etc, all knives are legal to possess or own. They are,

Hunting, fishing or other utility knives are legal.
All sorts of pocket knives are legal.
Knives that are disguised under things like a pen, cane, lipstick or belt buckles etc. are legal.
Balisong or butterfly knives are legal.
Bowie knives and other large single-edged knives are legal.
Dirks, daggers, and stilettos are legal.
All sorts of undetectable knives are legal.

Ballistic knives and switchblades are mostly recognized as the dangerous knives in most of the States. This State like washington knife laws is not different from them as well. Also, carrying these dangerous weapons added more to the list concealed are strictly prohibited here.

To know more about that state law, check below.

Knife Carry Laws

Knife open carry law is very friendly here. You can carry any legal knife openly anywhere except for the restricted places such as schools, colleges, courthouses or govt. buildings etc.

Knife conceal carry is restricted here.

Though the code “§ 18.2-308: (Effective until July 1, 2018) Carrying concealed weapons; exceptions; penalty” says that it was effective till July 1, 2018, and the update has not come yet, so you should still know what the law was. For your safety and relaxation, you should not carry these illegal knives concealed until the new law comes.

A person cannot carry any dirk knife, bowie knife, ballistic knife, switchblade knife, razor, machete, metal knuckle, blackjack, slingshot or spring stick, nun chuck, throwing stars or other kinds of martial art weapons and anything like all these kind of knives or weapons in a concealed manner.

If anyone carries these concealed, he or she will be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor because this is completely illegal here.

“Universal Citation: VA Code § 18.2-308 (2015)”

“A. If any person carries about his person, hidden from common observation… (ii) any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, machete, razor, slingshot, spring stick, metal knucks, or blackjack; (iii) … which may be known as a nun chahka, nun chuck, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain; (iv) any disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart; or (v) any weapon of like kind as those enumerated in this subsection, he is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.”

Exceptions: this law won’t be applied to some authorized individuals who are,

If anyone is in his or her business place
Any law enforcement officer
Anyone in a lawful hunting, fishing, shooting etc.
Retired State Police Officer or related this.

The more situations are given thoroughly in this section § 18.2-308. You can check this for yourself.

Knife Laws in the Schools

Virginia is also like the Ohio State Knife Law which prohibits carrying or possessing dangerous weapons or knives on school premises. But Virginia is somewhat relaxing in this law and is allowing regular pocket knives having the blade length of fewer than three inches.

Other knives and also pocket knives with more than three inches blade length are strictly illegal to possess on the property, buildings, grounds, school bus or anything on school premises of any public or private schools both middle or high schools.

Anyone who violates this law will be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

“Universal Citation: VA Code § 18.2-308.1 (2015)” mentions and explains in details about this law.

“A. If any person knowingly possesses any (ii) knife, except a pocket knife having a folding metal blade of less than three inches; upon (a) the property of any public, private or religious elementary, middle or high school, including buildings and grounds; (b) that portion of any property open to the public and then exclusively used for school-sponsored functions or extracurricular activities while such functions or activities are taking place; or (c) any school bus owned or operated by any such school, he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.”

Sum up to the Knife Laws in Virginia

Virginia’s knife laws are not that tough or tricky as it seems like. These are just the ideal laws and restrictions for making the State a less criminal-free. These dangerous knives which are banned to possess and to carry concealed are almost all the time used to injure anybody.

You would not carry or possess them with you for no reason and as they are illegal here, it is suggested to avoid these dangerous knives.

If you are charged with one of these knives and you did not know the law before, you might not be getting out of the danger even though you did nothing and your intention was not bad! So, it is better to be safe.