Colorado’s knife laws are designed to balance personal freedom with public safety, but they can be complex-especially with local variations. Here’s what you need to know to stay on the right side of the law.
Types of Knives: What’s Legal and What’s Not
- Most knives are legal to own and openly carry in Colorado, including folding knives, fixed-blade knives, daggers, dirks, stilettos, and even switchblades and gravity knives since 2017.
- The main exception is ballistic knives, which are illegal to possess or carry and classified as a felony offense.
Open Carry vs. Concealed Carry
- Open Carry: You can openly carry almost any legal knife, regardless of blade length, unless local ordinances say otherwise.
- Concealed Carry: The law is stricter. You cannot carry a concealed knife with a blade longer than 3.5 inches unless you fall under certain exceptions (like being at home, your place of business, or engaged in hunting/fishing).
- Concealed carry of knives with blades 3.5 inches or shorter is generally permitted statewide.
Blade Length Restrictions
- The 3.5-inch rule is crucial: Concealed carry of knives with blades over 3.5 inches is illegal unless you’re on your own property or have a valid defense (e.g., hunting/fishing).
- For open carry, there’s no statewide blade length limit, but some cities restrict open carry of knives with blades longer than 3.5 inches.
Local Ordinances: City-Specific Rules
- Colorado allows municipalities to set their own knife laws, which can override state rules in some areas.
- Denver, Aurora, Boulder, and Lakewood have stricter rules, often banning open carry of knives with blades over 3.5 inches or prohibiting certain types like switchblades and gravity knives.
- Always check local laws before carrying a knife, especially in urban areas.
Knife-Free Zones
- All knives are banned on school property (K-12 and university), regardless of blade length or type. Violating this can result in felony charges.
- Certain federal properties, courthouses, and some parks may also prohibit knives.
Penalties for Violations
| Offense | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Concealed carry of blade >3.5 inches | Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 364 days jail, $1,000 fine) |
| Possession of a ballistic knife | Class 5 felony (1-3 years prison, $1,000-$100,000 fine) |
| Knife on school property | Class 6 felony (1-18 years prison, $1,000-$100,000 fine) |
Defenses and Exceptions
- Carrying a knife for hunting or fishing is a valid defense if the knife is used for those activities.
- Law enforcement and military personnel are generally exempt when acting in the line of duty.
- Self-defense may be a defense, but only if the knife itself is legal and carried in accordance with the law.
Best Practices
- Always measure your blade: If you plan to conceal carry, keep it at or under 3.5 inches.
- Check local city or county ordinances before carrying, especially in Denver, Aurora, Boulder, and Lakewood.
- Never bring a knife onto school grounds or other restricted properties.
- If you’re carrying for hunting or fishing, be prepared to demonstrate that purpose if questioned by law enforcement.
Staying informed and cautious is the best way to exercise your knife rights in Colorado without risking legal trouble. Have more questions about specific situations or cities? Let me know!
Sources:
- https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/colorado/
- https://www.couteaux-morta.com/en/colorado-knife-laws/
- https://edc.ninja/colorado-knife-laws/
- https://www.shouselaw.com/co/defense/laws/knife-laws/
- https://nobliecustomknives.com/us-knife-laws/colorado-knife-laws/
