Do I Need a Permit to Have a Bowie Knife?

Do you have to have a permit or a license for bowie knives? You should certainly know the answer for this important question. Actually, you will find that you do not have to have a permit or licensing of any type to own bowie knives. That said, this applies only to your own home. Taking your knife outside of your home might change the rules just a little bit. How do you know what laws apply to your area? How do you know if you can safely take your knife out of your home without worrying about facing criminal charges?

First, you do not need a permit to own a bowie knife. You can own such a knife and keep it in your home wherever you might wish. This is your legal right under the law. However, should you choose to take your knife outside of your home, you will find that things become a bit different. Before you strap that bowie knife to your hip and venture out to the hardware store, it's best that you do a little bit of online research. Different states have very different laws governing what knives can be taken into public and whether or not you need to have a license.

In Your Vehicle - Most states in the US allow you to carry a weapon such as bowie knives in your vehicle, so long as they are in plain sight. This means they need to be out in the open, resting on the seat of the vehicle. If it is hidden, obscured, or stored in the glove box or under the seat, the situation becomes very different. This is considered a concealed weapon and most states have very specific laws regarding concealed weapons.

Take Arizona for example. Arizona state law allows you to carry bowie knives on your person in public, so long as the knife is not concealed (concealed carry requires a permit). However, the laws of many Arizona counties and cities prohibit the carrying of these knives, as well as many other weapons. Therefore, you should check the laws of your local area (a quick call to the sheriff's office will suffice in most cases).

By informing yourself ahead of time regarding your rights involving bowie knives, you can stay on the good side of the law and enjoy the use of these tools. You should also ensure that you follow any laws governing the carrying of bowie knives in your vehicle, as well.