Are Brass Knuckles Legal in Alabama? (2026 Law)

Alabama's code names brass knuckles in one offense: carrying them concealed. Under Ala. Code § 13A-11-53, anyone who "carries concealed about his person brass knuckles, slingshots or other weapon of like kind or description" can be fined $50 to $500 and may also be jailed or sentenced to hard labor for the county for up to six months. The general weapons provisions in Division 1 of Article 3, Chapter 11, Title 13A do not ban owning, buying, selling or openly carrying knuckles, but "metal knuckles" appear in the Criminal Code's definition of a deadly weapon, which matters for offenses such as the school premises rule. To compare other states, see our guide to brass knuckles laws by state.

Information last verified on 2026-10-08. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers the Code of Alabama: the brass knuckles concealment offense in § 13A-11-53, the other general weapons provisions in Division 1 of Article 3, Chapter 11, Title 13A (§§ 13A-11-50 through 13A-11-61.3, including the sale-to-minors section, § 13A-11-57, the restricted-places statute, § 13A-11-61.2, and the preemption statute, § 13A-11-61.3), the deadly weapon definition in § 13A-1-2(7), the permit definition and school premises offense in §§ 13A-11-70 and 13A-11-72, the prison contraband offense in § 13A-10-36, and the felony sentencing ranges in §§ 13A-5-6 and 13A-5-11. It does not cover the posted rules of individual buildings, Alabama's rules for places that serve alcohol, city or county ordinances, federal law or federal property, or the law of other states.

What Alabama law says about brass knuckles

Alabama's brass knuckles rule is a single sentence in Title 13A:

"Anyone who carries concealed about his person brass knuckles, slingshots or other weapon of like kind or description shall, on conviction, be fined not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00, and may also be imprisoned in the county jail or sentenced to hard labor for the county for not more than six months." Ala. Code § 13A-11-53

The offense is concealment. The section does not regulate owning knuckles, buying or selling them, or carrying them in plain view.

Owning, buying and selling brass knuckles

None of the general weapons provisions in Division 1 of Article 3, Chapter 11, Title 13A (§§ 13A-11-50 through 13A-11-61.3) makes it an offense for an adult to own, make, buy, sell or openly carry brass knuckles. Section 13A-11-53 is the only one of those sections that names them, and it reaches concealed carry only.

That does not mean every Alabama rule is silent. Metal knuckles are named in the Criminal Code's general definition of deadly weapon (discussed below), and offenses written in terms of a deadly weapon can reach them in particular places.

Concealed carry, open carry and keeping knuckles in a car

Concealed carry about the person is the core restriction. Section 13A-11-53 applies to "anyone," and the quoted text contains no exception for permit holders, collectors or any other group.

The words "about his person" are the whole location element. The section does not mention a vehicle. Compare the pistol concealment offense, which is written differently:

"A person who, in violation of this article, carries concealed about his or her person or in a vehicle a pistol or firearm of any other kind shall, on conviction, be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor." Ala. Code § 13A-11-50

Section 13A-11-50 covers only a pistol or other firearm, so it does not reach knuckles. The contrast shows that the legislature wrote "or in a vehicle" into the pistol offense and not into § 13A-11-53. The text does not settle how a court would treat knuckles hidden in a glove box or under a seat, so a reader in that situation should not assume either answer.

Open carry is not addressed by § 13A-11-53, which is limited to concealed carry, and the other Division 1 sections do not make it an offense for knuckles.

Does an Alabama pistol permit cover brass knuckles?

Alabama's permit is defined in terms of pistols:

"CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT or PISTOL PERMIT. A permit to carry a pistol in a vehicle or concealed on or about his or her person within the state." Ala. Code § 13A-11-70(2)

Section 13A-11-53 does not mention permits, and the permit definition says nothing about knuckles. The permit does matter in one place covered here: § 13A-11-72(e) exempts persons with permits issued under § 13A-11-75 from the school premises offense in subsection (d), discussed below.

Penalty for brass knuckles in Alabama

Section 13A-11-53 sets its own penalty rather than assigning a misdemeanor class.

A Class C felony carries one year and one day to 10 years in prison (§ 13A-5-6(a)(3)) and a fine of up to $15,000 (§ 13A-5-11(a)(3)).

Because § 13A-1-2(7) names metal knuckles as a deadly weapon, Alabama's armed-felony sentencing rules can apply to them. For a Class B or C felony in which a deadly weapon "was used or attempted to be used in the commission of the felony," the minimum prison term is 10 years, and for a Class A felony it is 20 years (§ 13A-5-6(a)(5)-(6)).

Metal knuckles as a deadly weapon

The Criminal Code's definitions section lists metal knuckles by name:

"Unless different meanings are expressly specified in subsequent provisions of this title, the following terms shall have the following meanings: ... (7) DEADLY WEAPON. A firearm or anything manifestly designed, made, or adapted for the purposes of inflicting death or serious physical injury. The term includes, but is not limited to, a pistol, rifle, or shotgun; or a switch-blade knife, gravity knife, stiletto, sword, or dagger; or any billy, black-jack, bludgeon, or metal knuckles." Ala. Code § 13A-1-2(7)

The definition applies across Title 13A unless a later provision gives the term a different meaning. Where an offense is written in terms of a "deadly weapon" and uses this definition, metal knuckles fall within it.

Note the two different words. Section 13A-11-53 says "brass knuckles," and § 13A-1-2(7) says "metal knuckles." Neither section defines its term.

Brass knuckles at school

Alabama's school premises offense is written in terms of a deadly weapon:

"(d)(1) Subject to the exceptions provided by Section 13A-11-74, no person shall knowingly with intent to do bodily harm carry or possess a deadly weapon on the premises of a school. (2) A violation of this subsection is a Class C felony. (e) ... Law enforcement officers are exempt from this section, and persons with permits issued pursuant to Section 13A-11-75, are exempt from subsection (d)." Ala. Code § 13A-11-72(d)-(e)

Three points follow from the text. The offense requires both knowing carrying or possession and an "intent to do bodily harm"; possession without that intent is not what subsection (d) describes. Section 13A-11-72 has its own definition of deadly weapon, and it names "metal knuckles" (§ 13A-11-72(h)(2)). And subsection (d) is subject to the exceptions in § 13A-11-74, as well as the exemptions in subsection (e) for law enforcement officers, permit holders, and authorized school security personnel and school resource officers.

The § 13A-11-74 exceptions list groups such as marshals, sheriffs, police and other law enforcement officers, jail and prison wardens, on-duty members of the armed forces and National Guard, authorized federal officers, people in the business of making, repairing or dealing in pistols, and licensed common carriers. None of them is a general exception for a member of the public carrying knuckles.

The section defines "school" as "a school composed of grades K-12" and includes "a school bus used for grades K-12" (§ 13A-11-72(h)(5)). That definition does not include colleges or universities. Schools also set their own conduct rules, which are separate from the criminal statute.

Plastic and other non-metal knuckles

Section 13A-11-53 names "brass knuckles" and adds "other weapon of like kind or description." Section 13A-1-2(7) names "metal knuckles." None of these terms is defined, and the statutes' text does not say how they apply to knuckles made of plastic, polymer or another material.

Minors

Article 3's section on furnishing weapons to minors does not name knuckles:

"(a) Any person who sells, gives or lends to any minor any pistol, except under the circumstances provided in Section 13A-11-72, bowie knife, or other knife of like kind or description, shall, on conviction, be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500)." Ala. Code § 13A-11-57(a)

Minors are covered by § 13A-11-53 in the same way as adults, because it applies to "anyone." The knife rules for minors are covered in our guide to Alabama knife laws.

Other restricted places

Jails and prisons are covered by a felony written in terms of a deadly weapon. A person who "intentionally and unlawfully introduces within a detention facility, or provides an inmate or juvenile with, any deadly weapon" commits promoting prison contraband in the first degree, a Class C felony (Ala. Code § 13A-10-36). A detention facility includes any place used to confine a person charged with or convicted of a criminal offense (§ 13A-10-30(b)(3)). Because § 13A-1-2(7) names metal knuckles as a deadly weapon, this offense reaches knuckles.

Alabama's statute for police stations, courthouses, buildings housing a district attorney's office, psychiatric care facilities, certain athletic events and guarded buildings, § 13A-11-61.2, is written about firearms: a person "may not knowingly possess or carry a firearm" in those places without permission. It does not name knuckles. This article does not address Alabama's rules for places that serve alcohol. Check the posted rules of the facility or ask its operator before bringing knuckles into one.

Local rules

Alabama's preemption statute is limited to firearms:

"(c) Except as otherwise provided in Act 2013-283 or as expressly authorized by a statute of this state, the Legislature hereby occupies and preempts the entire field of regulation in this state touching in any way upon firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories to the complete exclusion of any order, ordinance, or rule promulgated or enforced by any political subdivision of this state." Ala. Code § 13A-11-61.3(c)

The section does not name knuckles or other non-firearm weapons. Check your city or county code, or call your local police department's non-emergency line, about any local rule.

Self-defense options and the use of force

Readers weighing knuckles often compare other options. The rules for sprays and stun devices are in our guide to Alabama pepper spray and stun gun laws, and the rules on when force may be used at all are in Alabama self-defense laws.

Related pages

• Brass knuckles laws by state
• Alabama knife laws
• Alabama pepper spray and stun gun laws
• Alabama self-defense laws

This article provides general legal information about Alabama law, not legal advice. Weapons laws change and local rules vary. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Alabama or your local law enforcement agency.

Last updated: 2026-10-08.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are brass knuckles legal in Alabama?

Alabama's general weapons provisions (Ala. Code §§ 13A-11-50 through 13A-11-61.3) do not ban owning, buying, selling or openly carrying brass knuckles. Carrying them concealed about the person is an offense under § 13A-11-53, punishable by a $50 to $500 fine and up to six months in jail or at hard labor.

Can you carry brass knuckles concealed in Alabama?

No. Section 13A-11-53 applies to anyone who "carries concealed about his person brass knuckles, slingshots or other weapon of like kind or description," with a fine of $50 to $500 and up to six months in the county jail or at hard labor for the county.

Can you open carry brass knuckles in Alabama?

Section 13A-11-53 is written about concealed carry, and the other general weapons provisions in §§ 13A-11-50 through 13A-11-61.3 do not make open carry of knuckles an offense. Rules for particular places, such as school premises under § 13A-11-72(d) and jails under § 13A-10-36, still apply.

Can I keep brass knuckles in my car in Alabama?

Section 13A-11-53 says "concealed about his person" and does not mention vehicles, unlike the pistol offense in § 13A-11-50, which covers a pistol concealed "about his or her person or in a vehicle." The statute's text does not settle how a court would treat knuckles hidden in a car.

Does an Alabama pistol permit let me carry brass knuckles?

Section 13A-11-70(2) defines the concealed carry permit as "a permit to carry a pistol," and § 13A-11-53 does not mention permits. Permit holders are exempt from the school premises offense in § 13A-11-72(d), a separate rule.

Are plastic brass knuckles legal in Alabama?

Section 13A-11-53 names "brass knuckles" and "other weapon of like kind or description" without defining either, and § 13A-1-2(7) says "metal knuckles." The statutes' text does not say how they apply to plastic or composite knuckles.

What is the penalty for brass knuckles in Alabama?

Concealed carry under § 13A-11-53 brings a fine of $50 to $500, and the court may add up to six months in the county jail or at hard labor for the county. Possessing a deadly weapon on school premises with intent to do bodily harm is a Class C felony under § 13A-11-72(d), as is bringing a deadly weapon into a jail or prison under § 13A-10-36. A Class C felony carries one year and one day to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.