Are Brass Knuckles Legal in Arkansas? (2026 Law)

Brass knuckles are illegal for most people in Arkansas. Arkansas Code § 5-73-104 makes it the offense of criminal use of prohibited weapons to knowingly use, possess, make, repair, sell or otherwise deal in "metal knuckles," except as authorized by law. Possession is a Class A misdemeanor; on the statute's text, the other listed conduct, such as making or selling knuckles, is a Class D felony. Furnishing knuckles to a minor without the consent of a parent or guardian, or to a known felon, is a Class B felony. 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 Arkansas Code's weapons offenses in Title 5, Chapter 73, Subchapter 1 that bear on knuckles: §§ 5-73-102, 5-73-104, 5-73-105, 5-73-109, 5-73-119, 5-73-120, 5-73-122, 5-73-128, 5-73-129 and 5-73-131, the prohibited-article offense in § 5-54-119, the deadly weapon definition in § 5-1-102, the contraband rule in § 5-5-101, the sentence and fine limits in §§ 5-4-401 and 5-4-201, the 2025 amendments in Act 508, and the local-government preemption amendments in Act 161 of 2025. It does not cover the concealed handgun license subchapter, the self-defense and justification chapters, city or county ordinances, federal law or federal property, or the law of other states.

What Arkansas law says about brass knuckles

Arkansas names metal knuckles in its prohibited weapons statute:

"(a) A person commits the offense of criminal use of prohibited weapons if, except as authorized by law, he or she knowingly uses, possesses, makes, repairs, sells, or otherwise deals in any: (1) Bomb; (2) Metal knuckles; or (3) Other implement for the infliction of serious physical injury or death that serves no lawful purpose." Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-104(a)

The offense requires that the person act "knowingly." Unlike a carry statute, it reaches possession itself, so it does not matter whether the knuckles are in a pocket, on a belt, in a car or at home. Arkansas has no separate open-carry or concealed-carry rule for knuckles because possession is already the offense.

Subsection (b) excludes items that comply with the National Firearms Act (26 U.S.C. 5801 through 5861) or other applicable federal law as either existed on January 1, 2019. That carve-out is aimed at items regulated under federal firearms law and does not describe knuckles.

Penalty for brass knuckles in Arkansas

The penalty depends on what the person did:

"(d) (1) Criminal use of prohibited weapons is a Class B felony if the weapon is a bomb. (2) Criminal use of prohibited weapons is a Class A misdemeanor if the offense is possession of metal knuckles. (3) Otherwise, criminal use of prohibited weapons is a Class D felony." Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-104(d)

Subsection (d)(2) lowers only "possession of metal knuckles." Read as written, using, making, repairing, selling or otherwise dealing in knuckles falls under the "otherwise" clause in (d)(3), a Class D felony.

The felony year ranges in the table are the statutory ranges the Arkansas Sentencing Commission's 2026 benchbook lists under A.C.A. § 5-4-401. Misdemeanor sentence limits come from § 5-4-401(b), and the fine limits from § 5-4-201.

Defenses and exceptions

Section 5-73-104 states two defenses:

"(c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that: (1) The defendant was a law enforcement officer, prosecuting attorney, deputy prosecuting attorney, prison guard, or member of the United States Armed Forces acting in the course and scope of his or her duty at the time he or she used or possessed the prohibited weapon; or (2) The defendant used, possessed, made, repaired, sold, or otherwise dealt in any article enumerated in subsection (a) of this section under circumstances negating any likelihood that the weapon could be used as a weapon." Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-104(c)

The first defense is limited to duty: an officer or service member is covered only when "acting in the course and scope of his or her duty." The second turns on the circumstances. The statute does not list examples, and it does not name collectors, museums or display pieces. Whether a given set of circumstances negates "any likelihood" of use as a weapon is a question for the court in the case, so it is not a safe harbor a person can count on in advance.

A separate section protects the supply chain to the government:

"Section 5-73-104 shall not be construed to prohibit the manufacture, repair, transportation, or sale of the weapons enumerated in § 5-73-104 to or for an authorized representative of: (1) The United States Armed Forces; or (2) Any law enforcement agency." Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-105, as amended by Act 508 of 2025

Act 508 of 2025 replaced "armed forces" with "United States Armed Forces" and defined that term for the weapons chapter as any regular or reserve component of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force or Coast Guard, and the National Guard of any state (§ 5-73-101(15)).

Plastic and other non-metal knuckles

Section 5-73-104 names "metal knuckles." Its text does not say whether knuckles made of plastic, polymer or another material fall within that term, or within subsection (a)(3)'s "other implement for the infliction of serious physical injury or death that serves no lawful purpose." The statute's words do not resolve that question.

Minors

Arkansas sets a higher penalty for furnishing knuckles to a minor. The offense is defined in subsection (a):

"(a) A person commits the offense of furnishing a deadly weapon to a minor if he or she sells, barters, leases, gives, rents, or otherwise furnishes a firearm or other deadly weapon to a minor without the consent of a parent, guardian, or other person responsible for general supervision of the minor's welfare." Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-109(a)

Subsection (b) sets the penalty:

"(b)(1) Furnishing a deadly weapon to a minor is a Class A misdemeanor. (2) However, furnishing a deadly weapon to a minor is a Class B felony if the deadly weapon is: (A) A handgun; (B) An explosive or incendiary device, as defined in 5-71-301; (C) Metal knuckles; (D) A defaced firearm, as described in 5-73-107; or (E) Another implement for the infliction of serious physical injury or death that serves no lawful purpose." Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-109(b)

Parental consent matters only to the furnishing offense. A minor who possesses knuckles is still subject to § 5-73-104, which applies to any "person."

Furnishing knuckles to a felon

"(b) A person commits the offense of furnishing a prohibited weapon to a felon if he or she sells, barters, leases, gives, rents, or otherwise furnishes: (1) A bomb; (2) Metal knuckles; ... to a person he or she knows has been found guilty of or who has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to a felony. (c) Furnishing a handgun or a prohibited weapon to a felon is a Class B felony." Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-129(b)-(c)

The offense requires knowledge of the other person's felony finding of guilt or plea.

The carrying-a-weapon statute

Arkansas's general carrying offense lists handguns, knives and clubs:

"(a) A person commits the offense of carrying a weapon if he or she possesses a handgun, knife, or club on or about his or her person, in a vehicle occupied by him or her, or otherwise readily available for use with a purpose to attempt to unlawfully employ the handgun, knife, or club as a weapon against a person. (b)(1) "Club" means any instrument that is specially designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting serious physical injury or death by striking, including a blackjack, billie, and sap; ..." Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-120(a)-(b)

Section 5-73-120 does not name knuckles, and its text does not say whether knuckles fit its definition of "club." The offense requires a purpose to attempt to unlawfully use the item as a weapon against a person, and § 5-73-120(d) makes it a Class A misdemeanor. For knuckles, the main rule remains § 5-73-104, which needs no such purpose.

A further backstop applies to any item. Under § 5-73-102, a person who "possesses any instrument of crime with a purpose to employ it criminally" commits a Class A misdemeanor.

Public buildings and the State Capitol

Arkansas restricts deadly weapons in publicly owned buildings:

"it is unlawful for a person other than a law enforcement officer, either on-duty or off-duty, a security guard in the employ of the state or an agency of the state or any city or county, ... or any state or federal military personnel, to knowingly carry or possess a loaded firearm or other deadly weapon in any publicly owned building or facility or on the State Capitol grounds. ... (c) A person violating this section upon conviction is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor." Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-122(a)(1), (c)

The section lists further exempt persons that are not reproduced here. Section 5-73-122 does not define "deadly weapon," but the Criminal Code's general definitions section defines it to include "anything manifestly designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting death or serious physical injury" (§ 5-1-102). Metal knuckles fit that description, so carrying them into a publicly owned building or onto Capitol grounds can be a separate Class C misdemeanor on top of the § 5-73-104 possession offense.

Jails, prisons and the State Hospital

Arkansas makes it a felony to bring prohibited items into a place of confinement. Under § 5-54-119, a person commits furnishing a prohibited article by knowingly bringing a prohibited article into a correctional facility, the Arkansas State Hospital or a youth services program, or by providing one to a person confined there. The Criminal Code's definition of "prohibited article" includes a weapon (§ 5-54-101). Furnishing a weapon is listed in the Class B felony tier, along with any other item that would facilitate an escape, a continuing criminal enterprise or violence within the facility (§ 5-54-119(b)(1)(A)). Other prohibited articles not listed there are a Class C felony (§ 5-54-119(b)(1)(B)).

A separate offense covers people who are already locked up. Under § 5-73-131, a person who, "without approval of custodial authority," uses, possesses, makes, repairs, sells or otherwise deals in any weapon while incarcerated in the Division of Correction, the Division of Community Correction, or a county or municipal jail or detention facility commits a Class D felony. The section does not apply to a weapon a person has before completing the standard booking and search procedures at a jail after arrest (§ 5-73-131(c)).

Schools and school buses

Arkansas's school weapons statute, § 5-73-119(b)(1), is written about firearms: "No person in this state shall possess a firearm" on the developed property of a public or private K-12 school, in or upon a school bus, or at a designated bus stop. It does not name knuckles.

A separate section, § 5-73-128, applies to a person who was under 19 at the time of the offense. If that person pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, or is found guilty of, a weapons offense under § 5-73-101 et seq., and the state proves the offense was committed on public school property or in or upon a school bus, the court must send an order denying driving privileges to the Department of Finance and Administration within 24 hours. A juvenile court finding that the person committed such an offense has the same effect. The department then suspends the person's driver's license for 12 to 36 months (§ 5-73-128(a)-(b)).

A § 5-73-104 knuckles offense is within that range of sections. In a case of extreme and unusual hardship, the order may allow a restricted permit for driving to and from work or school, and the suspension is in addition to any other penalty (§ 5-73-128(a)(2), (c)).

If knuckles are seized

Knuckles taken in a § 5-73-104 case fall within the code's definition of contraband, which includes any "article possessed under a circumstance prohibited by law" (§ 5-5-101(b)(1)(A)). Seized property is returned to its owner except contraband owned by a defendant, and contraband is destroyed. For contraband capable of lawful use, the court may instead let the arresting agency keep it or order it sold (§ 5-5-101(a), (c)).

Local rules

Act 161 of 2025 amended the county and city preemption statutes (§§ 14-16-504(b)(1)(A) and 14-54-1411(b)(1)(A)). As amended, a local unit of government may not regulate "the ownership, transfer, transportation, carrying, or possession of" firearms, ammunition for firearms, components of firearms, knives, or knife-making components, except as otherwise provided in state or federal law. Knuckles are not on that list. Knuckles are already prohibited statewide by § 5-73-104; check your city or county code, or call your local police department's non-emergency line, about any additional local rule.

Self-defense options and the use of force

Because Arkansas prohibits knuckles, readers often look at other options. The rules for sprays and stun devices are in our guide to Arkansas pepper spray and stun gun laws, the knife rules are in Arkansas knife laws, and the rules on when force may be used at all are in Arkansas self-defense laws.

Related pages

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

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

Last updated: 2026-10-08.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are brass knuckles legal in Arkansas?

No, not for most people. Arkansas Code § 5-73-104 makes it a crime to knowingly possess, use, make, repair, sell or otherwise deal in metal knuckles except as authorized by law. Possession is a Class A misdemeanor, and the statute provides defenses for officers and military members on duty and for circumstances negating any likelihood of use as a weapon.

What is the penalty for having brass knuckles in Arkansas?

Possession of metal knuckles is a Class A misdemeanor under § 5-73-104(d)(2), with a sentence of up to one year and a fine of up to $2,500 (§§ 5-4-401(b)(1), 5-4-201(b)(1)). Other conduct the section covers, such as making or selling knuckles, reads as a Class D felony under (d)(3), which the Arkansas Sentencing Commission lists with a range of 0 to 6 years.

Can I sell or buy brass knuckles in Arkansas?

Section 5-73-104(a) covers anyone who knowingly possesses, sells or otherwise deals in metal knuckles, so buying them leads to possession and selling them is dealing. Section 5-73-105 allows manufacture, repair, transportation and sale to or for an authorized representative of the United States Armed Forces or a law enforcement agency.

Can I keep brass knuckles in my car in Arkansas?

Arkansas does not set a separate rule for vehicles, because § 5-73-104 makes knowing possession itself the offense, wherever the knuckles are kept, subject to the defenses in § 5-73-104(c).

Can I own brass knuckles as a collector in Arkansas?

Section 5-73-104 has no collector exemption by name. Its subsection (c)(2) makes it a defense that the defendant possessed the item "under circumstances negating any likelihood that the weapon could be used as a weapon," and whether particular circumstances meet that test is for a court to decide.

Are plastic brass knuckles illegal in Arkansas?

Section 5-73-104 names "metal knuckles." Its text does not say whether plastic or composite knuckles fall within that term or within the catch-all for any "other implement for the infliction of serious physical injury or death that serves no lawful purpose."

Is it illegal to give brass knuckles to a minor in Arkansas?

Under § 5-73-109, furnishing a deadly weapon to a minor without the consent of a parent, guardian or other person responsible for the minor's general supervision is a Class B felony when the deadly weapon is metal knuckles. Consent does not change the minor's own exposure under § 5-73-104. The Arkansas Sentencing Commission lists a Class B felony range of 5 to 20 years.