Understanding Your Knife Rights in New Mexico: A Legal Guide

Here is a legal guide to understanding knife rights and knife laws in New Mexico as of 2025:

Overview of Knife Laws in New Mexico
New Mexico’s knife laws are relatively lenient compared to some other states. The state generally allows individuals to own, carry, and use a wide variety of knives. However, there are specific restrictions mostly relating to concealed carry, certain types of knives, and carrying knives in restricted locations such as schools.

Open Carry

1. New Mexico permits carrying knives openly without a license or any special permit.
2. A knife openly carried is not typically subject to legal penalty unless it falls under the category of prohibited weapons.
3. Open carry refers to having the knife visible, such as clipped to a belt or carried in hand, but not concealed.
4. Blade length limits for open carry generally allow blades up to 6 inches, and certain exceptions exist for daggers and serrated knives up to 8 inches.
5. Carrying a knife in a sheath at the belt is considered open carry, but it does not grant a right to carry all types of knives.

Concealed Carry Restrictions

1. Concealed carry of certain knives is prohibited by law, including:
   1. Dirk knives (long pointed knives primarily designed for stabbing)
   2. Switchblade knives (illegal to own, sell, or carry concealed)
   3. Bowie knives and poniards
2. Concealed carry of these knives outside of one’s residence or property is generally a petty misdemeanor.
3. Police and military personnel on duty are exempt from these restrictions.

Prohibited Knives

1. Switchblades, butterfly knives (balisongs), and other automatic opening knives are illegal to possess, sell, or carry.
2. Possession or use of knives classified as “dangerous weapons” with the intent to injure can lead to felony charges.
3. Carrying a deadly weapon with unlawful intent is a criminal offense punishable by law.

Restricted Locations

1. Carrying knives defined as dangerous or deadly weapons is prohibited on school grounds and other specific public places.
2. Exceptions for school authorities and certain student organizations apply under strict regulations.
3. There are restrictions on carrying knives on public transportation and in government buildings.

Blade Length and Definition

1. New Mexico law defines various classes of knives based on blade shape and length, distinguishing regular knives, daggers, and dirk knives.
2. Recent amendments clarified that “dirk knives” must be primarily designed and manufactured to be used as weapons with a pointed tip.
3. The blade length for some knives (such as certain daggers) can influence their legal classification.

Penalties

1. Illegal possession, sale, or carrying of banned knives may result in petty misdemeanors, fines, and potential jail time up to six months.
2. More severe offenses, such as carrying deadly weapons with the intention to injure, can be charged as felonies.
3. Violations including possession on restricted property such as schools carry heightened penalties.

Comparisons & Practical Advice

1. New Mexico’s knife laws are similar to many neighboring states, but with nuances especially around concealed carry.
2. While open carrying knives is generally legal, carrying them concealed requires vigilance to avoid prohibited types.
3. Always check local city or county ordinances, as some local rules might impose additional restrictions.
4. Carrying knives responsibly and understanding where restrictions apply will reduce the risk of legal trouble.

New Mexico provides relatively broad rights for knife ownership and open carry but restricts concealed carry of certain knives and enforces prohibitions on switchblades and similar weapons. The state’s laws emphasize the design intent and blade types in defining what is legally permissible, with multiple safeguards against carrying knives as weapons unlawfully. Awareness of location-based restrictions, prohibited knife types, and applicable legal penalties is essential for anyone carrying knives in New Mexico.

Sources

(https://www.carltonforestgroup.com/new-mexico-knife-laws-what-you-should-know/)
(https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/new-mexico/)
(https://nobliecustomknives.com/us-knife-laws/new-mexico-knife-laws/)
(https://handgunlaw.us/documents/USKnife2.pdf)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knife_legislation)