Are Brass Knuckles Legal in Colorado? (2026 Possession Law)

Brass knuckles are illegal to possess in Colorado. Section 18-12-102 of the Colorado Revised Statutes lists "metallic knuckles" as an illegal weapon, and anyone who knowingly possesses one commits a class 1 misdemeanor, whether the knuckles sit in a drawer at home or ride in a pocket. For how other states handle the same item, 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 Colorado state law: the illegal-weapon possession offense in C.R.S. 18-12-102, the concealed-carry statute in 18-12-105, the previous-offender statute in 18-12-108, the school-grounds offense in 18-12-105.5, the misdemeanor sentencing ranges in 18-1.3-501, and the local-firearm-ordinance article in Title 29, Article 11.7. It does not cover city or county ordinances, federal property, tribal land, or the law of other states.

What Colorado law says about brass knuckles

Colorado treats metallic knuckles as contraband. Section 18-12-102(2) defines the term "illegal weapon" for that section, and subsection (4) makes possessing one a crime:

"(2) As used in this section, the term illegal weapon means a blackjack, gas gun, ballistic knife, or metallic knuckles. ... (4) A person who knowingly possesses an illegal weapon commits a class 1 misdemeanor." C.R.S. 18-12-102(2), (4)

Three features of that language shape everything else on this page.

First, the crime is possession. The statute does not ask whether the knuckles were concealed, carried openly, or left at home, so Colorado does not draw the concealed-versus-open line that many states draw for weapons.

Second, the mental state is "knowingly." The offense requires that the person knowingly possesses the item.

Third, the list is short. Alongside metallic knuckles it names only blackjacks, gas guns and ballistic knives. Switchblades and gravity knives do not appear in it. Subsection (2) was last amended in 2023 (HB 23-1293, effective October 1, 2023), which added ballistic knives to the illegal-weapon list; metallic knuckles were on the list before and after that change, and the 2025 amendment changed subsection (1) only.

Owning, buying and selling knuckles

Owning a set of metallic knuckles in Colorado is the offense. Section 18-12-102 contains no exception for possession inside a home, on private land, or in a collection.

Article 12 of Title 18, which holds Colorado's weapons statutes, has no separate section on selling, making or transferring knuckles. The possession offense in 18-12-102 is the provision that names them. In practice that closes the gap: a buyer who takes delivery of a set possesses it, and a seller holding inventory possesses it too.

Carrying concealed, carrying openly, and keeping knuckles in a car

Colorado's concealed-carry statute does not mention knuckles. C.R.S. 18-12-105(1) makes it a class 1 misdemeanor to knowingly and unlawfully carry a knife or a firearm concealed on or about the person. That statute also carves out people in their own dwelling, business or property, and people in a private automobile who carry a weapon "for lawful protection of such person's or another's person or property while traveling."

Those exceptions belong to 18-12-105 only. They do not appear in 18-12-102, so they do not excuse possessing metallic knuckles. The practical result:

Colorado's repeat-offender rule does not add to this. Section 18-12-107 raises a second conviction within five years to a class 5 felony only for violations of 18-12-103, 18-12-105 and 18-12-106. It does not list 18-12-102.

A separate statute applies to people with certain prior felony convictions. Under C.R.S. 18-12-108, a person previously convicted of a felony defined in section 24-4.1-302(1) or listed in 18-12-108(7) who knowingly possesses "any other weapon that is subject to the provisions of this article 12," which includes metallic knuckles, commits possession of a weapon by a previous offender, a class 5 felony. Subsection (3) applies a similar rule to certain juvenile felony adjudications within the previous ten years.

Penalties for possessing brass knuckles

Knowing possession of metallic knuckles is a class 1 misdemeanor under 18-12-102(4). Colorado's sentencing statute sets the range for offenses committed on or after March 1, 2022:

Only the class 1 row applies to the possession offense; the class 2 row is shown for comparison. These are maximum sentences. A person with a qualifying prior felony conviction faces the class 5 felony in 18-12-108 instead.

Defenses written into the statute

Section 18-12-102(5) gives two affirmative defenses to a charge of possessing an illegal weapon:

"It shall be an affirmative defense to the charge of possessing a dangerous weapon, or to the charge of possessing an illegal weapon, that the person so accused was a peace officer or member of the armed forces of the United States or Colorado National Guard acting in the lawful discharge of his duties, or that said person has a valid permit and license for possession of such weapon." C.R.S. 18-12-102(5)

The duty defense requires that the officer or service member was "acting in the lawful discharge of his duties," so it does not cover off-duty or personal possession on its face. The section does not say which permit or license could cover metallic knuckles.

Plastic knuckles, knuckle knives and other variants

The statute names "metallic knuckles" and stops there. Article 12's definitions section, 18-12-101, defines terms such as "blackjack" but contains no definition of knuckles, and the definition of "illegal weapon" in 18-12-102(2) applies "as used in this section" only.

That leaves two open points the text does not resolve:

• Plastic, polymer or wood knuckles. The word "metallic" is in the statute. Whether a non-metal set falls outside 18-12-102 is not answered by the section's text, and no definition fills the gap.
• Knuckle knives and trench-style knives. A knife with a knuckle guard is still a knife, so carrying one concealed can raise a separate charge under 18-12-105(1)(a), subject to that section's exceptions. Whether the knuckle portion also counts as "metallic knuckles" under 18-12-102 is not addressed in the statute.

Any of these items can also be a "deadly weapon" under the general definition in C.R.S. 18-1-901(3)(e), which covers "any other weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance ... that, in the manner it is used or intended to be used, is capable of producing death or serious bodily injury." That definition turns on use, not on what the object is made of. For the knife rules in more detail, see our guide to Colorado knife laws.

Schools, colleges and universities

Bringing a non-firearm deadly weapon onto school grounds is a felony in Colorado. Section 18-12-105.5(1)(a) bars knowingly and unlawfully carrying, bringing or possessing a deadly weapon that is not a firearm on the property of any public or private elementary, middle, junior high, high or vocational school, or any public or private college, university or seminary. Subsection (1)(b)(I) makes the violation a class 6 felony.

The section does not name knuckles. It uses the deadly-weapon definition in 18-1-901(3)(e), so the question is whether the knuckles, "in the manner [they are] used or intended to be used," are capable of producing death or serious bodily injury. The section lists exceptions, including an authorized public demonstration or exhibition pursuant to instruction in conjunction with an organized school or class. Those exceptions apply to the school-grounds felony; the separate possession offense in 18-12-102 still applies on its own terms.

Minors and brass knuckles

Section 18-12-102 applies to "a person" and sets no age limit, so a minor who knowingly possesses metallic knuckles is covered by the same class 1 misdemeanor offense. Colorado's separate juvenile-possession statute, 18-12-108.5, addresses handguns only: it makes it unlawful for a person under 18 knowingly to possess a handgun, and it does not mention knuckles.

City and county rules

Local codes can add their own weapon rules, and this page does not cover them. Colorado's article on local firearm ordinances, Title 29, Article 11.7, is framed around firearms: its declaration speaks of "the regulation of firearms," and 29-11.7-103 lets a local government enact ordinances governing firearms, ammunition and firearm components or accessories. Those sections do not address knuckles. Check your city or county municipal code, or ask the local police department's non-emergency line, for any local rule.

Self-defense alternatives under Colorado law

Readers looking at knuckles for personal protection often compare other tools. Colorado's rules on sprays and stun devices are covered in our guide to Colorado pepper spray and stun gun laws, and the rules on when force may be used at all are in Colorado self-defense laws.

Related pages

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

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

Last updated: 2026-10-08.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are brass knuckles legal in Colorado?

No. C.R.S. 18-12-102 lists metallic knuckles as an illegal weapon, and knowingly possessing them is a class 1 misdemeanor.

Can I keep brass knuckles at home in Colorado?

Section 18-12-102 makes knowing possession the offense and contains no exception for a home. The home and business exceptions in the concealed-carry statute, 18-12-105, do not apply to the possession offense.

What is the penalty for having brass knuckles in Colorado?

Possession is a class 1 misdemeanor under C.R.S. 18-12-102(4). For offenses on or after March 1, 2022, that means up to 364 days in jail, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both under C.R.S. 18-1.3-501. A person with certain prior felony convictions who possesses knuckles commits a class 5 felony under C.R.S. 18-12-108.

Is it legal to buy or sell brass knuckles in Colorado?

Article 12 of Title 18 has no separate section on selling or making knuckles, but buying a set and keeping it is possession, which 18-12-102 makes a class 1 misdemeanor.

Are plastic knuckles legal in Colorado?

The statute bans metallic knuckles and does not define the term, so its text does not settle whether plastic or polymer knuckles are covered. Any object used as a weapon can still be a deadly weapon under C.R.S. 18-1-901(3)(e) depending on how it is used or intended to be used.

Can I keep brass knuckles in my car in Colorado?

The vehicle exception in 18-12-105(2)(b) belongs to the concealed-carry statute, not to the possession offense. Section 18-12-102 has no vehicle exception, so knuckles in a car are still possessed.

Are brass knuckles illegal at Colorado schools and colleges?

C.R.S. 18-12-105.5 makes it a class 6 felony to bring or possess a non-firearm deadly weapon on school, college, university or seminary grounds, subject to the exceptions the section lists. Knuckles are not named; the deadly-weapon test turns on use or intended use.