Knife laws in Idaho are meant to preserve the right of people to own and keep knives but impose certain limits on concealed carry.
Residents can buy, possess, own or sell a variety of blades including ballistic knives and throwing stars for martial arts.
They can openly own and carry any knife except in a few places such as prisons, schools, and government buildings. The rights of concealing and carrying knives are quite limited as one can only carry a blade of length 4’’ or 2.5’’ on school property.
However, knives and cleavers used to prepare food are exempted from the length rule.
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Legal
Individuals above 18 years can buy, own or sell any kind of knife. The owner is entitled to carry the knife on their property or in the home. One can poses and own all pocket knives, single-edged fixed knives including KA-BAR and Bowie knives. It is also legal to own double-edged blades including daggers and swords. One can also own exotic knives including butterfly or balisong knives, machetes, ballistic knives, sword canes, disguised blades, stilettos, throwing knives, folding knives, and martial arts throwing knife. The knives can be carried openly except in locations such as government buildings, prisons, courthouses, schools and nuclear power plants. Minors under 18 years can only carry pocket knives. However, if they want to carry a knife or a blade, they must have a written permission from their legal guardian or parent. In addition, it is illegal to sell a knife to a minor unless the parent or the guardian consents in writing. Any minor who is under 12 years can only carry knives if they are physically accompanied by their parents.
Knife Length Limit
It is legal to carry knives of any length openly in the state of Idaho. One can conceal and carry a maximum blade length of 4“, but when in school compound, the maximum length is 2.5”. According to Idaho Const. Art. I, § 11, a person may carry concealed knife with a blade that is less than four inches. This includes knives such as Bowie, dirk knife, dagger and dirk. A person who intends to carry a dagger, a knife and a Bowie with a larger blade must seek for or be in possession of a license that allows him to carry concealed weapons.
Concealed Carry
The law restricts carrying concealed knives or any other blade. It forbids carrying of dirks, bowie knives, and daggers, single and double edged blades, and knives with blades that are more than 4 inches. Instruments needed to prepare or which can be used to eat food such as cleaver and pocket knife are exempted from this rule and can be concealed and carried.
Other Knife Law Considerations in Idaho
Even though there are no preemption laws, the state is knife-friendly especially when it comes to possession and open carry. Carrying a blade in a car is not well legislated but generally, Idaho law protects ownership and right to carry a knife whether you are a resident or just visiting the state.
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