🌶️ New Mexico Knife Laws
Overview
New Mexico 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, balisongs / butterfly knives, and ballistic knives are prohibited; disguised knives have restrictions.
Quick Legal Facts
Carry Laws & Blade Length
Open carry of knives is legal. The New Mexico Constitution Art. II, § 6 protects the right to bear non-concealed arms, and NMSA 30-7-2 only restricts concealed carry of deadly weapons. No statute limits open carry of any knife type or blade length.
Concealed carry of a deadly weapon is prohibited under NMSA 30-7-2, a petty misdemeanor. Exceptions allow concealed carry: (1) on one’s own residence or property, (2) in a private vehicle for lawful protection, (3) by certified peace officers, and (5) by concealed handgun license holders. NMSA 30-1-12 defines ‘deadly weapon’ broadly to include daggers, switchblade knives, bowie knives, poniards, butcher knives, dirk knives, swordcanes, and all weapons capable of producing dangerous cuts or thrusts. An ordinary pocketknife is not per se a deadly weapon (State v. Nick R., 2009-NMSC-050); whether it qualifies depends on intent and manner of use.
No general statewide blade length limit. New Mexico statutes do not specify a maximum blade length for possession or carry. The ‘deadly weapon’ determination under NMSA 30-1-12 depends on the weapon’s type and capability, not blade length. Some local ordinances may impose blade length limits (e.g., Bernalillo County and Eunice).
Statute: 30-1-12
Knife Type Legality
| Knife Type | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Switchblades | Illegal | Switchblades are prohibited under NMSA 30-7-8. The statute bans manufacturing, possessing, displaying, selling, lending, giving, or purchasing any knife with a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring, or other device in the handle, or any knife with a blade that opens or falls or is ejected into position by gravity or by any outward or centrifugal thrust or movement. Violation is a petty misdemeanor (up to 6 months and/or $500 fine). The statute was upheld against a Second Amendment challenge in State v. Murillo (2015-NMCA-046). Statute: 30-7-8. |
| Balisongs / Butterfly Knives | Illegal | Balisong (butterfly) knives are illegal. In State v. Riddall (1991-NMCA-033), the New Mexico Court of Appeals held that a butterfly knife is a switchblade under NMSA 30-7-8 because it opens by a combination of gravity and centrifugal force, which falls within the statute’s prohibition on blades that open ‘by the force of gravity or by any outward or centrifugal thrust or movement.’ Statute: 30-7-8. |
| Disguised Knives | Restricted | Disguised knives are not categorically banned, but swordcanes and sharp-pointed canes are explicitly listed as deadly weapons under NMSA 30-1-12 and thus subject to the concealed carry prohibition in NMSA 30-7-2. Disguised knives with automatic-opening mechanisms (e.g., pen knives with spring-loaded blades) would also fall under the switchblade ban in NMSA 30-7-8. Open carry of disguised knives that do not have automatic mechanisms is not specifically prohibited. |
| Assisted-Opening | Unclear | New Mexico law does not specifically address assisted-opening knives. NMSA 30-7-8 prohibits knives with blades that open ‘automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle.’ Neither the legislature nor courts have adopted the federal ‘bias toward closure’ distinction (added to 15 U.S.C. 1241 in 2009) that exempts assisted-opening knives from switchblade definitions. Because assisted-opening knives use a spring mechanism activated by hand pressure, they risk being classified as prohibited switchblades under NMSA 30-7-8. Statute: 30-7-8. |
| Ballistic Knives | Illegal | Although not explicitly named, ballistic knives are effectively prohibited under NMSA 30-7-8, which bans any knife with a blade that is ‘ejected into position’ by a ‘spring or other device.’ A ballistic knife, which propels its blade forward via a spring or compressed gas mechanism, falls within this statutory language. Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1716, 15 U.S.C. § 1245) also independently prohibits ballistic knives. Statute: 30-7-8. |
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.
