Yes. People are generally allowed to open-carry knives in Nevada. However, you may not carry dirks, daggers, or switchblades (openly or concealed) at public universities, schools, or childcare facilities.
In fact, carrying a dirk, dagger, or switchblade at a school or childcare facility is a gross misdemeanor carrying:
- Up to 364 days in jail and/or
- Up to $2,000 in fines.1
Meanwhile, some city and county governments have strict restrictions about if and where you can open carry knives, such as in parks or during protests.2 Therefore, be sure to check local county and municipal codes before you carry knives anywhere in Nevada.
What is the definition of open carry?
“Open carry” means that a person could see your knife through ordinary observation, such as in a sheath or scabbard hanging from your belt. Though if your jacket covers your knife, then it is considered “concealed” under Nevada knife law.
Can I conceal carry knives in Nevada?
Contact your local sheriff’s office to see if you need a CCW permit to conceal carry your particular knife. In Clark County for example, you need a CCW permit to conceal carry a knife with a blade of three inches or longer.3
Note that you always need a CCW permit in order to conceal carry machetes anywhere in Nevada.4
Are any knives illegal?
No. You can own any type of knife in Nevada, such as:
- balisongs
- boning knives
- bowie knives
- butterfly knives
- cleavers
- daggers
- dirks and dirk-knives
- drop point knives
- fixed blade knives
- gravity knives
- hatchets
- hunting knives
- ice pics
- kukris or khukuris
- machetes
- mezzaluna knives
- nakiri knives
- pocket knives
- razor blades
- sabers
- santoku bōchōs (or bunka bōchōs)
- spears
- steak knives
- stilettos
- switchblade knives (including automatic knives, spring-blade knives, and snap-blade knives)
- swords and sword canes
- throwing knives
- trefoils (including ninja stars, throwing stars)
- utility knives
- yanagi-ba-bōchōs (or yanagi bas or yanagis)
What about brandishing knives?
It is a Nevada misdemeanor to draw or brandish dirks, dirk-knives, swords, or sword canes in a rude, angry, or threatening manner with at least two other people present. The penalties are
- Up to 6 months in jail and/or
- Up to $1,000 in fines.5
However, if your brandishing puts anyone in immediate fear of bodily harm, then you could be arrested for assault with a deadly weapon (NRS 200.471(2)(b) no matter how few people are present. A category B felony, assault with a deadly weapon carries:
- 1 to 6 years in Nevada State Prison and/or
- Up to $5,000 in fines.6
You can open carry knives in Nevada except at schools or anywhere else local laws prohibit.
Legal References
- NRS 202.265. If your home doubles as a childcare facility, just make sure to keep any knives out of the children’s reach.
- Las Vegas Municipal Code 10.88.010. Clark County Code 12.30.010. Las Vegas Municipal Code 13.36.020.
- Clark County Code 12.04.180.
- NRS 202.350. See also Knight v. State (Nevada Supreme Court, 2000) 116 Nev. 140, 993 P.2d 67 (2000); Buff v. State, 114 Nev. 1237, 970 P.2d 564 (1998).
- NRS 202.320.
- NRS 200.471(2)(b).
