Carrying blades: what are the legal implications of bladed weapons?

Bladed weapons can be defined, in official terms, as cutting or piercing artifacts. These items usually have a blade, as in pocket knives or knives. However, carrying blades in Brazil is a nebulous subject.

Doubts surrounding the term arise from several aspects. The first is that, unlike firearms, which have regulated use and very clear penalty implications, bladed weapons have imprecise regulations.

Thus, we arrive at some very common impasses that are always circulating among lovers of high-quality cutlery:

Is carrying blades allowed in Brazil?

This question is valid and very understandable. Since, when acquiring a personal use blade, the permission to carry it is always surrounded by questions such as: "Is it allowed to carry a knife or pocket knife?" "Can I be arrested for carrying a blade?"

Simple questions like these, unfortunately, have confusing answers. To help you understand them, Cutelaria Cimo, passionate about blades just like you, has gathered information that can help you learn a little more about this topic.

In Brazil, the previous questions could be answered with just one word: it depends. Depends on what? On your luck! Unfortunately, that is the truth when it comes to carrying bladed weapons, in general.

Brazilian legislation and carrying blades

Our country has legislation from 1941 that deals with minor offenses. It states the following:

“Carrying a weapon outside the house or its dependencies, without authorization from the authority: Penalty – simple imprisonment, from fifteen days to six months, or a fine, from two hundred thousand réis to three thousand réis, or both cumulatively. (Art. 19.)”

If we only observe this excerpt, we conclude that carrying weapons is indeed prohibited and can lead to the individual's arrest. Especially since the description of the crime is completely clear.

However, it must be noted that here in Brazil there is no license for blades or bladed weapons. There is no requirement to apply for permission to carry these instruments.

This means that carrying a blade will not get you arrested, because knives and pocket knives are considered tools and not necessarily weapons.

However, since not everything is so simple, what really matters are the interpretations that an authority, such as a police officer or delegate, makes when encountering an individual carrying a knife or a pocket knife.

To summarize, you can indeed walk down the street with your blade, but it's best not to get into fights, right?

Is there a maximum blade size I can carry?

One question leads to another. Some Brazilian states have defined specific laws regarding blade sizes. This should be considered a positive point, as they make the rules clearer for citizens and avoid misunderstandings.

The following passage can be found in administrative laws:

“It is forbidden to carry a cutting or piercing artifact usually intended for offensive action, such as a knife, dagger, sword, foil, rapier, or similar, whose blade is ten centimeters, or more, in length.”

However, as it is an administrative law, there is not enough force to imprison a person carrying a larger size than allowed. The most that can happen is a type of fine or the seizure of the object.

It is worth remembering that, if authorities are called to the scene, we fall back into the first topic of this text. However, in general, there are no major restrictions on use. To avoid problems, find out if there is a similar law in your state.

It is worth mentioning that accessories, such as multi-tools, are permitted. So, be sure to check them out!

Can teenagers carry blades?

Can a minor carry a knife or pocket knife? The answer to that is simple: the teenager falls under the same legislation as an adult. But in these cases, due to the common immaturity of the age group in question, the risks can be greater.

Thus, it is up to parents to educate and check whether their son or daughter is carrying a knife or pocket knife. After all, it is a cutting tool. A large part of incidents involving cuts caused by blades involve teenagers.

It is always important to keep an eye on and closely monitor children's routines regarding objects involving cutlery.

How to proceed if caught with knives or pocket knives?

As we mentioned above, if you are caught with a knife or pocket knife, what will often count is the authority's interpretation. If this happens, the tip is to argue, especially if you are doing absolutely nothing wrong.

Try to explain that you carry the tool for specific and everyday purposes, such as for performing work activities, for example. Everything will depend on the context of the situation. And if you are really in the right, you can use the arguments of the legislation in your favor. They exist precisely for that.

So, did you like this post? We hope that it is now easier to understand the confusing regulations about carrying blades. (Read more: “Carrying bladed weapons in RJ”).

Oh, and if you're passionate about the world of cutlery, there's much more here on the Cutelaria Cimo blog.

Check out our content fully dedicated to this market and be surprised by Cimo's quality.

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