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AR15.COM
8/29/2026 3:17:32 PM EDT
So I've got a couple double edge knives, and It seems really retarded that I can carry a pistol pistol anywhere I wanna go, but not the knives.....they must be pretty dangerous.

Sounds like I just can't carry them concealed, but does anyone out there understand the law well enough to say what I can and can't actually do with them.  How visible do they need to be not to be concealed?

They'd be okay as a general "outdoor" knife for camping or hiking or something, but they're kinda on the large side and quite valuable, so I probably never would.  Likely just use em to open the mail.
8/29/2026 8:43:48 PM EDT
[#1]
In for learning something new.

I always thought a double-edge blade was illegal in Michigan.  Period.  End of story.

8/30/2026 11:21:14 AM EDT
[#2]
Originally Posted By glock24:
In for learning something new.

I always thought a double-edge blade was illegal in Michigan.  Period.  End of story.

View Quote


I thought they are legal to own but not to carry.
8/30/2026 11:43:44 AM EDT
[#3]
Quote History
Originally Posted By steve88GT:


I thought they are legal to own but not to carry.
View Quote


That was the impression I always got too, and I just kept one in the camping box for fun.  It was the ever trustworthy Google search that set apart open and concealed carry and got me wondering.

I'm gonna look more into the words of the law, and stop by the local police stations to inquire as I get time.

Pretty sure the next one in my collection will be a single edge, lol.


8/30/2026 12:47:42 PM EDT
[#4]
Check local ordinances, too.  Michigan has state preemption of gun laws but not knives. In some jurisdictions, just about any knife on your person is illegal.  They may not enforce those ordinances very often, but they still exist.
9/1/2026 7:08:42 AM EDT
[#5]
Quote History
Originally Posted By a_number_1:
I'm gonna look more into the words of the law, and stop by the local police stations to inquire as I get time.
View Quote

Don’t bother. Nothing they tell you is legal advice.  For that matter, random police have been notoriously bad when it comes to giving correct legal interpretations.
9/2/2026 10:42:10 AM EDT
[#6]
Quote History
Originally Posted By GarrettJ:

Don’t bother. Nothing they tell you is legal advice.  For that matter, random police have been notoriously bad when it comes to giving correct legal interpretations.
View Quote



I don't disagree, but I like to know what an average street cop thinks about things.  I also ask them about some of my "non typical" firearms too.
9/12/2026 12:55:03 AM EDT
[Last Edit: CarmelBytheSea][Edited] [#7]
Bought some knives for my son’s birthday who relocated to Michigan where his wife is from. They both recently graduated college.

Spent hours reading, rereading and then printing copies from AKTI, Grok etc to send to my son with the knives.

Open carry of double edge without unlawful intentions appears okay for most non city locations generally speaking but each city and town is allowed its own restrictions stricter than Michigan state law that’s why it becomes a confusing pain

Oakland county had 2 communities - Waterford & White Lake that I was surprised were as restrictive as Detroit - no double edge and no blade over 3 inches

Double edge knife cannot be on your person while driving or technically even inside a vehicle at all regardless of length. If you do, the advice is locked case in trunk or the rearmost area of vehicle without a trunk. I recommend you do not mention it in a traffic stop nor give consent to search your vehicle but also if decide to risk transport then it’s best to have a purpose to tell a court “I was going to the Renaissance faire” or “I’m moving to a new house” so you better have Renaissance festival tickets or a mortgage or some documents in the event it goes to court

From my understanding any dirk, dagger, stabbing instrument with a double edge regardless of length is a no go concealed unless on your personal property or business you own.

There’s some caveats for hunting activities

But even single edge folding pocket knives has limits as cities and counties can set their own stricter codes such as Detroit, Lansing and most of Wayne County appear to limit  single edge folding pocket knives to 3 inch maximum length {Novi was 3.5 inches}  and no double edge open carry or concealed carry for these cities if it’s not a folding pocket knife 3 inches or less or 3.5 using Novi example

If your not near a lower Michigan city it seems more lax for open carry of a double edge assuming no illegal intent - similar to New Jersey the Michigan law seems fixated on intent and purpose {I carry apples in New Jersey when I do films there}



There’s like 4 or 5 states with ultra strict knife laws including Michigan or  like Connecticut and Illinois or Massachusetts restricting any blade over 1.5 inches inside a vehicle or New Mexico which can treat button locks as switchblades and gravity knives or Los Angeles and San Francisco which are even worse than NYC for folding pocket knives - has to be folding under 3 inches

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