🎵 Mississippi Knife Laws
Overview
Mississippi has statewide preemption — local governments cannot create additional knife restrictions beyond state law. Open carry is legal, but concealed carry of certain knives is restricted. There is no general blade length restriction. Switchblades have restrictions.
Quick Legal Facts
Carry Laws & Blade Length
Open carry of all knives is legal in Mississippi. Article 3, Section 12 of the Mississippi Constitution protects the right to keep and bear arms and reserves the power to regulate only concealed weapons to the Legislature. § 97-37-1 restricts only concealed carry; no statute prohibits open carry of any knife type or blade length.
Statute: 97-37-1.
Concealed carry of bowie knives, dirk knives, butcher knives, and switchblade knives is prohibited under § 97-37-1(1). However, broad exceptions apply: persons 18+ may carry concealed in their home, place of business, or any motor vehicle (§ 97-37-1(2)); persons engaged in hunting, fishing, target shooting, or other legitimate weapon-related sports activities are exempt (§ 97-37-1(3)); and a weapon carried in a sheath, scabbard, or case that is wholly or partially visible is not considered 'concealed' (§ 97-37-1(4)). Mississippi's permitless carry law (§ 45-9-101) applies to firearms only, not knives. Ordinary pocket knives may be carried concealed without restriction.
No statewide blade length restriction. Mississippi law does not impose any maximum blade length for carry, purchase, sale, or possession. The concealed carry restrictions in § 97-37-1 are based on knife type (bowie, dirk, butcher, switchblade), not blade length. Some local ordinances impose limits (e.g., Tupelo 3.5 inches, Vicksburg 4 inches for concealed carry), though constitutional preemption arguments exist.
Statute: 97-37-1.
Knife Type Legality
| Knife Type | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Switchblades | Restricted | Legal to own and carry openly. Switchblades are explicitly listed in § 97-37-1(1) as weapons that may not be carried concealed, subject to the home/business/vehicle and sports activity exceptions. A switchblade carried in a sheath or scabbard that is wholly or partially visible is not considered concealed (§ 97-37-1(4)). Convicted felons may not possess switchblades (§ 97-37-5). Minors may not carry or possess them (§ 97-37-17). Prohibited on educational property (§ 97-37-17). |
| Balisongs / Butterfly Knives | Legal | Not mentioned in any Mississippi statute. Balisongs are not classified as switchblades because they require manual manipulation to open rather than operating by a spring or similar mechanism. In Summerall v. State (2010), the Court of Appeals defined a 'dirk' as a weapon with a blade that tapers to a point and is 'designed primarily for use as a stabbing weapon' — a standard that generally does not encompass folding balisongs. Legal to own, carry openly, and carry concealed. Statute: 97-37-1. |
| Disguised Knives | Legal | Mississippi does not prohibit disguised knives (cane swords, belt buckle knives, lipstick knives) as a category. No statute addresses disguised blades. However, a disguised knife that qualifies as a bowie knife, dirk, or butcher knife would be subject to the concealed carry restrictions in § 97-37-1(1). Since disguised knives are inherently concealed by design, carrying them in public could trigger the prohibition if the blade type matches one of the enumerated categories. The catch-all 'deadly weapon' language in § 97-37-1(1) may also apply. Statute: 97-37-1. |
| Assisted-Opening | Unclear | Mississippi statutes do not specifically address assisted-opening knives. The key question is whether they fall within the 'switchblade knife' classification in § 97-37-1(1). Mississippi does not statutorily define 'switchblade,' but it has been described as a knife with a blade that opens automatically by the release of a spring or similar mechanism. Assisted-opening knives require manual initiation before a torsion bar engages, but whether a torsion bar constitutes a 'similar contrivance' to a spring is untested in Mississippi courts. No appellate case law addresses the distinction. Statute: 97-37-1. |
| Ballistic Knives | Unclear | No Mississippi statute specifically mentions or prohibits ballistic knives by name. They are not among the enumerated knife types in § 97-37-1(1) (bowie, dirk, butcher, switchblade). However, the catch-all 'deadly weapon' language at the end of § 97-37-1(1) could encompass ballistic knives for concealed carry purposes. Open carry would be legal. Federal law (15 U.S.C. § 1245) separately restricts the possession, manufacture, sale, and import of ballistic knives. Statute: 97-37-1. |
Relevant Statutes(8)
- 97-37-1.—Weapons Definitions and Prohibitions
- 97-37-5.—Concealed Weapons Restriction
- 97-37-7.—Weapons on Educational Property
- 97-37-9.—Weapons in Churches
- 97-37-13.—Weapons Exemptions for Officials
- 97-37-15.—Weapons in Places of Nuisance
- 97-37-17.—Furnishing Weapons to Minors
- 97-37-19—State Preemption of Weapons Regulation
Legal Disclaimer
This information is provided for general educational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. Laws change frequently and local ordinances may impose additional restrictions beyond state law. Always verify with official state sources before making decisions about knife carry or ownership. KnifeInformer is not a law firm — consult a qualified attorney for specific legal questions.
