Nevada knife laws generally make it legal to carry dirk-knives and daggers in Las Vegas, but with three qualifications:
- You need a CCW permit to conceal carry dirks or daggers;
- Dirks and daggers are prohibited at schools or child care facilities (with some exceptions);
- Brandishing a dirk or dagger in front of two or more people is illegal.
Can I conceal carry dirks or daggers in Nevada?
It is a Nevada crime to carry concealed dangerous or deadly weapons without a CCW permit. This probably includes dirks and daggers.
A knife is considered concealed if it is unnoticeable through ordinary observation. Carrying a knife on a belt buckle is considered open as long as a jacket or other clothes is not covering it.
A first offense of concealed carry of a dirk or dagger without a CCW permit is a gross misdemeanor. It is punishable by:
- Up to 364 days in jail, and/or
- Up to $2,000 in fines
A subsequent offense is a category D felony, punishable by:
- 1 – 4 years in Nevada State Prison, and
- up to $5,000 in fines (at the judge’s discretion)1
Clark County law mandates that you get the sheriff’s permission to carry concealed knives with a blade length of three (3) inches or longer. The permit-less concealed carry of a dirk or dagger with a three-inch or longer blade is a misdemeanor in Clark County, even for a first offense. Penalties include up to 6 months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines.2 For additional information, contact the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department at 702-828-3111.
Note that Nevada has no statewide preemption for knife laws. This means municipalities can make local laws that are harsher than state laws.
For more information see our article on carrying concealed weapons (NRS 202.350).
Can I carry dirks or daggers at schools?
It is generally illegal in Las Vegas to carry knives openly or concealed in:
- Private or public school property (or automobiles that belong to them)
- Public universities such as UNLV
- Licensed child care facilities (or automobiles that belong to them)
The unlawful possession or carry of knives at a school is a gross misdemeanor, even if no one sustains bodily harm. It is punishable by:
- Up to 364 days in jail, and/or
- Up to $2,000 in fines
There are exceptions: Law enforcement officers, peace officers, and security guards may carry weapons on the premises. If the child care facility doubles as your home, you can keep knives on the premises as long as children cannot access them.3
Learn more about possessing weapons at schools or childcare facilities (NRS 202.265).
Can I brandish a dirk or dagger?
Nevada law prohibits drawing or brandishing dirks or daggers in a rude, angry, or threatening manner in the presence of two (2) or more other people. This crime is a misdemeanor, carrying:
- Up to 6 months in jail, and/or
- Up to $1,000 in fines
A common defense to this crime is that you were acting in lawful self-defense.4
For more information see our article on drawing a knife in a threatening way (NRS 202.320). Note that brandishing a knife is a less serious offense than assault with a deadly weapon (NRS 200.471(2)(b) (ADW), which is a felony carrying prison time.5
Can I open carry a sword in Nevada?
Yes, you may open carry a sword in Nevada as long as the location does not prohibit knives, such as schools and child care facilities.6
Can I carry a dagger in public?
In general, it is legal to carry a dagger in public as long as the Nevada location is not a knife-free zone such as a school or child care facility. Though a CCW permit may be required to carry the weapon concealed.7
Are brass knuckles legal in Nevada?
No. Brass knuckles are prohibited in Nevada. Possessing “metal knuckles” (which is what Nevada law calls “brass knuckles”) is usually a gross misdemeanor in Nevada, carrying:
- up to 364 days in jail, and/or
- up to $2,000 in fines8
What self defense weapons are legal in Nevada?
In general you can use guns, knives, and stun guns for self-defense. Though it is always illegal in Nevada to possess blackjacks, slungshots, billies, sand-clubs, sandbags or metal knuckles.9
Call our law firm for help. We offer consultations and create attorney-client relationships in Las Vegas, NV, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno, and throughout Nevada.
See our related article, Are butterfly knives legal in the state of Nevada? And see our article on Nevada knife laws for information on other types of knives including machetes, pocket knives, trefoils, throwing stars, balisongs, fixed-blade knives, switchblade knives, and sword canes. Finally, see our article, Carrying a concealed weapon in Las Vegas – 3 things to know.
Arrested in California? Go to our informational articles on California knife laws.
Arrested in Colorado? See our article on Colorado knife laws, possession a weapon on school grounds (CRS 18-12-105.5), carrying concealed weapons in Colorado, or possessing of a dangerous weapon (CRS 18-12-102).
Legal References
- NRS 202.265; NRS 202.320; NRS 202.350. See, for example, Huebner v. State, (1987) 731 P.2d 1330, 103 Nev. 29 (The Nevada Supreme Court found that the defendant’s jacket concealed his knife.). See also Knight v. State, (2000) 116 Nev. 140, 993 P.2d 67 (“[T]he determination of whether a common steak knife is a dangerous or deadly weapon is a question of fact for the jury…”); Buff v. State, 114 Nev. 1237, 970 P.2d 564 (1998) (“[T]he district court could not determine as a matter of law that the Swiss army knife used by appellants was a deadly weapon…”).
- Clark County Code 12.04.180.
- NRS 202.265
- NRS 202.320.
- NRS 200.471.
- See notes 1 and 3.
- Same.
- NRS 202.350.
- NRS 202.350; NRS 200.200.
