Understanding Your Knife Rights in Montana: A Legal Guide

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Montana boasts some of the most permissive knife laws in the country, giving both locals and tourists a great deal of latitude when it comes to carrying and owning knives. A thorough guide on Montana’s knife rights can be found here:

Knife Ownership

The possession of knives is unrestricted in Montana. Any kind of knife is permissible to possess, including:

• Pocket knives
• Fixed blade knives
• Switchblades (automatic knives)
• Balisongs (butterfly knives)
• Daggers
• Swords

Knife Carry Laws

Open Carry

Montana allows the unrestricted open carry of any authorized knife.

Any knife you lawfully own is acceptable to carry in public.

Concealed Carry

Knives are no longer considered concealed weapons in Montana as of October 1, 2017.

This implies:

• You can conceal carry any knife, regardless of blade length
• There are no specific restrictions on concealed carry of knives
• Concealment is no longer an issue for knife carriers in Montana

Location Restrictions

Despite Montana’s largely lenient knife regulations, there are a few location-specific limitations to be mindful of:

Schools: Having a knife with a blade longer than four inches is prohibited in school premises.

This pertains to:

• All buildings owned or leased by local school districts
• Buildings used for instruction or student activities

Knife possession may be prohibited on local government-owned or leased property.

Recent Legal Changes

In recent years, Montana’s knife regulations have undergone substantial changes:

• 
  2017:
  
  Removed knives from the definition of concealed weapons
• 
  2019:
  
  Enacted statewide preemption, preventing local governments from creating stricter knife laws than the state
• 
  2019:
  
  Removed restrictions on automatic knives (switchblades)

Penalties

Montana’s knife regulations, especially the one pertaining to school possession, can lead to:

• Fines up to $500
• Jail time up to 6 months
• Or both

Conclusion

Montana has some of the most lenient knife restrictions in the nation. You have a lot of freedom to own and carry knives in the state, provided that you don’t bring big blades to school and that you abide by any local government regulations on their land. However, when carrying knives in public, it’s always a good idea to exercise discretion and common sense.

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