Are Brass Knuckles Legal in Mississippi? (2026 Law)

Mississippi does not ban brass knuckles outright, but it does make it a crime to carry them concealed. Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-1(1) lists "metallic knuckles" among the weapons a person may not carry "concealed on or about one's person," and a first conviction carries a fine of $100 to $500, up to six months in the county jail, or both. Separate statutes ban knuckles on school property, bar convicted felons from possessing them and bar selling or giving them to minors. To compare other states, see our guide to brass knuckles laws by state.

Information last verified on 2026-10-09. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers the Mississippi Code of 1972: the concealed weapons statute (§ 97-37-1) and its defenses (§ 97-37-9), weapon seizure (§ 97-37-3), the felon possession statute (§ 97-37-5), the minors statutes (§§ 97-37-13 and 97-37-15), the educational property statute (§ 97-37-17), the brandishing statute (§ 97-37-19), the aggravated assault statute (§ 97-3-7), the armed carjacking statute (§ 97-3-117), the jail and prison contraband statutes (§§ 47-5-193 and 47-5-195), the local privilege tax on weapon sellers (§ 27-17-415), the license statute (§ 45-9-101) and the firearms preemption statute (§ 45-9-51). It does not cover rules for courthouses or other public buildings, city or county ordinances, federal law or federal property, or the law of other states.

Are brass knuckles legal in Mississippi?

Owning brass knuckles is not, by itself, a crime for most Mississippi adults. The criminal provisions in Title 97 that name metallic knuckles (§§ 97-37-1, 97-37-5, 97-37-17 and 97-3-117) regulate concealed carry, educational property, convicted felons and armed carjacking. None of them makes it an offense for an adult who is not a convicted felon to own, buy or sell knuckles. Sellers are, however, subject to a local privilege tax: under the Local Privilege Tax Law, § 27-17-415 lists $100 "upon each person selling ... brass or metallic knuckles," and counties and municipalities levy and collect these taxes (§ 27-17-5(2)).

The restrictions that do apply are significant:

• Concealed carry is a crime under § 97-37-1, with penalties that rise on each repeat conviction.
• School property is off limits under § 97-37-17(4), whether the knuckles are carried openly or concealed.
• Convicted felons may not possess them at all under § 97-37-5.
• Minors may not be sold, given or lent them by an adult who knows their age (§ 97-37-13), and a parent who knowingly lets a child under 18 have them commits a misdemeanor (§ 97-37-15).

Carrying brass knuckles concealed: § 97-37-1

Section 97-37-1 is Mississippi's general concealed weapons statute. Its opening subsection reads, in the part that names knuckles:

"(1) Except as otherwise provided in Section 45-9-101, any person who carries, concealed on or about one's person, any bowie knife, dirk knife, butcher knife, switchblade knife, metallic knuckles, blackjack, ... shall, upon conviction, be punished as follows:" Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-1(1)

The list goes on to name other weapons, including pistols, revolvers, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, machine guns and "any fully automatic firearm or deadly weapon." The opening clause refers to § 45-9-101, the licensing statute, which is discussed below.

The conditional 2023 change to the list

In 2023 the Legislature passed House Bill 912, which the Governor approved on April 13, 2023. Section 5 of the bill rewrites § 97-37-1(1) to remove "slingshot" and "any muffler or silencer for any firearm" from the list. The words "metallic knuckles" are unchanged.

House Bill 912 does not take effect on a fixed date. Under Section 7 of the bill, it takes effect only after either of two events: the United States Supreme Court rules in favor of the Texas Attorney General in an appeal related to Paxton v. Richardson (No. 4:22-cv-00143, pending when the bill passed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas), or ten days pass after the Mississippi Attorney General publishes, in the administrative bulletin, a determination that the Supreme Court has set binding precedent making it reasonably probable the act would be upheld as constitutional.

This page does not treat either version of the list as settled. For brass knuckles the difference does not matter: metallic knuckles are on the list under both versions.

What counts as concealed, and is open carry allowed?

Section 97-37-1 defines the word that limits its reach:

"(4) For the purposes of this section, “concealed” means hidden or obscured from common observation and shall not include any weapon listed in subsection (1) of this section, including, but not limited to, a loaded or unloaded pistol carried upon the person in a sheath, belt holster or shoulder holster that is wholly or partially visible, or carried upon the person in a scabbard or case for carrying the weapon that is wholly or partially visible." Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-1(4)

Knuckles in a pocket, under clothing or in a closed bag on the body are hidden from common observation, which is the conduct the section punishes. Carrying them in plain view is outside § 97-37-1, but it is not unrestricted: open carry is still a crime on educational property (§ 97-37-17(4)), and brandishing knuckles in a threatening manner is a separate crime (§ 97-37-19), both covered below.

Home, business, vehicle and sports exceptions

Section 97-37-1 contains two exceptions:

"(2) It shall not be a violation of this section for any person over the age of eighteen (18) years to carry a firearm or deadly weapon concealed within the confines of his own home or his place of business, or any real property associated with his home or business or within any motor vehicle. (3) It shall not be a violation of this section for any person to carry a firearm or deadly weapon concealed if the possessor of the weapon is then engaged in a legitimate weapon-related sports activity or is going to or returning from such activity." Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-1(2)-(3)

Subsection (3) defines "legitimate weapon-related sports activity" as "hunting, fishing, target shooting or any other legal activity which normally involves the use of a firearm or other weapon."

Both exceptions are written for "a firearm or deadly weapon." The section does not say whether metallic knuckles count as a deadly weapon for these exceptions, so a reader keeping knuckles in a car or at work should not assume that the vehicle or business exception covers them. The subsection (2) exception also applies only to a person over 18.

Defenses to a concealed carry charge: § 97-37-9

Mississippi lets a person charged under § 97-37-1 raise specific defenses, and puts the burden on the person charged:

"Any person indicted or charged for a violation of Section 97-37-1 may show as a defense: (a) That he was threatened, and had good and sufficient reason to apprehend a serious attack from any enemy, and that he did so apprehend; or (b) That he was traveling and was not a tramp, or was setting out on a journey and was not a tramp; or" Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-9(a)-(b)

After listing further defenses, subsection (i) ends with the words "and the burden of proving either of said defenses shall be on the accused."

Senate Bill 2079, the Mississippi School Safety Guardian Act, amended § 97-37-9 effective July 1, 2023. As amended, subsection (j) covers a person who was then "a member of a church or place of worship security program," actually performing those duties and meeting the requirements of § 45-9-171, and a new subsection (k) covers a person certified under a School Safety Guardian Program who was "then actually engaged in the performance of his or her duties under the program and met the requirements of Section 45-9-181."

A defense is something the person charged must prove in court. It is not a permit to carry.

Does a Mississippi carry license cover brass knuckles?

Mississippi's licensing statute covers specific weapons:

"(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided, the Department of Public Safety is authorized to issue licenses to carry stun guns, concealed pistols or revolvers to persons qualified as provided in this section." Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(1)(a)

Subsection (24) of the same section, which removes the license requirement for holstered or bagged carry, is likewise written about "a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver." Neither provision mentions knuckles. The Legislature amended § 45-9-101 in House Bill 529 (2023), which reprints subsections (1)(a) and (24) without change.

So although § 97-37-1(1) opens with "Except as otherwise provided in Section 45-9-101," the licensing statute is not described as authorizing concealed carry of knuckles.

Penalties for brass knuckles in Mississippi

Section 97-37-1 sets its own penalty ladder rather than assigning a misdemeanor class:

Note the wording of the second-conviction tier: it uses "and," so both the fine and at least 30 days in jail apply.

Knuckles used in a § 97-37-1 violation are also seized. Under § 97-37-3(1), any weapon used in violation of § 97-37-1 "shall be seized by the arresting officer," is forfeited on conviction and disposed of as the court orders, and "shall be returned to the accused" if the charge is dismissed or the person is acquitted.

Brass knuckles at school

Mississippi's educational property statute names metallic knuckles and applies to open carry as well as concealed carry:

"(4) It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, any BB gun, air rifle, air pistol, bowie knife, dirk, dagger, slingshot, leaded cane, switchblade knife, blackjack, metallic knuckles, razors and razor blades (except solely for personal shaving), and any sharp-pointed or edged instrument except instructional supplies, unaltered nail files and clips and tools used solely for preparation of food, instruction and maintenance on educational property. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or be imprisoned not exceeding six (6) months, or both." Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-17(4)

The offense applies to "any person," not only students. "Educational property" includes public and private school buildings, buses, campuses, grounds, recreational areas and athletic fields, and other property owned, used or operated by a school, college or university board for the administration of an educational institution or during a school-related activity (§ 97-37-17(1)(a)).

Subsection (7) lists exceptions. They include a weapon used solely for educational or school-sanctioned ceremonial purposes or in a school-approved supervised program (§ 97-37-17(7)(a)), and armed forces, National Guard, law enforcement and certain guard personnel acting in their official duties (§ 97-37-17(7)(b)).

One exception does not help with knuckles. Section 97-37-17(7)(g) exempts "Any weapon not prescribed by Section 97-37-1" in a motor vehicle that a parent, guardian or custodian uses to bring or pick up a student. Metallic knuckles are listed in § 97-37-1, so that drop-off exception does not cover them.

Jails and prisons

Under § 47-5-193(1), it is unlawful for any person to take, attempt to take or assist in taking "any weapon, deadly weapon" or other contraband onto property in the state belonging to the corrections department, a county, a municipality or another entity "that is occupied or used by offenders," except as authorized by law. A violation is a felony punishable by 3 to 15 years in the Penitentiary, a fine of up to $25,000, or both (§ 47-5-195). Leave knuckles at home before visiting a jail or prison.

Minors and brass knuckles

Three statutes protect minors. Section 97-37-13 makes it unlawful to provide knuckles to a minor:

"It shall not be lawful for any person to sell, give or lend to any minor under eighteen (18) years of age or person intoxicated, knowing him to be a minor under eighteen (18) years of age or in a state of intoxication, any deadly weapon, or other weapon the carrying of which concealed is prohibited, or pistol cartridge; and, on conviction thereof, he shall be punished by a fine not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding one (1) year, or both." Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-13

The section does not name knuckles, but it covers any "weapon the carrying of which concealed is prohibited," and metallic knuckles are on the § 97-37-1 list. The offense requires that the seller or giver know the buyer is under 18 or intoxicated. The same rule applies to intoxicated persons of any age.

Section 97-37-15 reaches parents. A parent, guardian or custodian "who shall knowingly suffer or permit any child under the age of eighteen (18) years to have or to own, or to carry, any weapon the carrying of which concealed is prohibited by Section 97-37-1" is guilty of a misdemeanor, "fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), and shall be imprisoned not more than six (6) months in the county jail." The section does not apply to a minor who is exempt under § 97-37-14, a provision this article does not cover.

Separately, § 97-37-17(5) makes it a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months, or both, for any person to cause, encourage or aid a minor under 18 to possess or carry metallic knuckles on educational property.

Convicted felons

Mississippi bars convicted felons from possessing metallic knuckles, not only from carrying them:

"(1) It shall be unlawful for any person who has been convicted of a felony under the laws of this state, any other state, or of the United States to possess any firearm or any bowie knife, dirk knife, butcher knife, switchblade knife, metallic knuckles, blackjack, or any muffler or silencer for any firearm unless such person has received a pardon for such felony, has received a relief from disability pursuant to Section 925(c) of Title 18 of the United States Code, or has received a certificate of rehabilitation pursuant to subsection (3) of this section. (2) Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or committed to the custody of the State Department of Corrections for not less than one (1) year nor more than ten (10) years, or both." Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-5(1)-(2), as amended by House Bill 928 (2021)

Two felony provisions can therefore apply to the same person. Possession alone is covered by § 97-37-5, and concealed carry by a person with any prior felony conviction carries one to ten years under § 97-37-1(1)(d).

Brandishing or using knuckles in a fight

Mississippi separately punishes threatening display or misuse of weapons whose concealed carry § 97-37-1 prohibits:

"If any person, having or carrying any dirk, dirk-knife, sword, sword-cane, or any deadly weapon, or other weapon the carrying of which concealed is prohibited by Section 97-37-1, shall, in the presence of another person, brandish or wield the same in a threatening manner, not in necessary self-defense, or shall in any manner unlawfully use the same in any fight or quarrel, the person so offending, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in a sum not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding three (3) months, or both." Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-19

The offense needs more than having the knuckles: the person must brandish or wield them in a threatening manner in another person's presence, not in necessary self-defense, or unlawfully use them in a fight or quarrel. It applies whether the knuckles were carried openly or concealed.

Striking someone with knuckles can also be charged as aggravated assault. Under § 97-3-7(2)(a)(ii), a person is guilty of aggravated assault if he or she "attempts to cause or purposely or knowingly causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon or other means likely to produce death or serious bodily harm." Whether knuckles count as a deadly weapon or such a means depends on how they were used and the facts of the case. A conviction is punishable by up to one year in the county jail or up to 20 years in the custody of the Department of Corrections, and § 97-3-7(2)(b) sets a higher penalty when the victim is one of the persons listed in subsection (14) under the circumstances it describes.

Armed carjacking

Mississippi's carjacking statute names knuckles by a broader phrase. A person "who commits the offense of carjacking while armed with or having readily available" any of a list of weapons, including "metallic or other false knuckles," is guilty of armed carjacking (Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-117(2)). The offense requires the carjacking itself; having knuckles in a car is not armed carjacking on its own.

Senate Bill 2101 (2023), effective July 1, 2023, sets the penalty for armed carjacking at a fine of up to $10,000 and 10 to 30 years in the custody of the Department of Corrections (§ 97-3-117(2)(a)). A second or subsequent offense under the section doubles the fine and the minimum and maximum terms (§ 97-3-117(3)), and the minimum terms cannot be reduced or suspended, nor is the defendant eligible for electronic monitoring, house arrest or intensive supervision (§ 97-3-117(4)).

Plastic and other non-metal knuckles

Sections 97-37-1, 97-37-5 and 97-37-17 all say "metallic knuckles." Section 97-37-1 defines "concealed" but not that term. The carjacking statute is worded more broadly, "metallic or other false knuckles," a phrase that is not limited to metal. The concealed-carry, felon and school statutes' text does not say how "metallic knuckles" applies to knuckles made of plastic, polymer or other non-metal materials.

Local rules

Mississippi's preemption statute is limited to firearms:

"(1) Subject to the provisions of Section 45-9-53, no county or municipality may adopt any ordinance that restricts the possession, carrying, transportation, sale, transfer or ownership of firearms or ammunition or their components." Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-51(1)

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 and other options

Readers weighing knuckles often compare other options. Several of the same statutes govern knives; see Mississippi knife laws. Sprays and stun devices are covered in Mississippi pepper spray and stun gun laws, and the rules on when force may be used at all are in Mississippi self-defense laws.

Related pages

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

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

Last updated: 2026-10-09.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are brass knuckles legal in Mississippi?

The Mississippi criminal statutes that name metallic knuckles do not ban an adult who is not a convicted felon from owning them. Carrying them concealed is a crime under Miss. Code Ann. § 97-37-1, and they are banned on educational property (§ 97-37-17(4)) and for convicted felons (§ 97-37-5).

Can you carry brass knuckles concealed in Mississippi?

No, outside the exceptions in the statute. Section 97-37-1(1) lists metallic knuckles among the weapons a person may not carry concealed on or about the person, with a first-conviction penalty of a $100 to $500 fine, up to six months in the county jail, or both.

Can you open carry brass knuckles in Mississippi?

Section 97-37-1 reaches only concealed carry, and subsection (4) defines concealed as hidden or obscured from common observation. Open carry is still a crime on educational property under § 97-37-17(4), and brandishing knuckles in a threatening manner is a crime under § 97-37-19.

Can I keep brass knuckles in my car in Mississippi?

Section 97-37-1(2) lets a person over 18 carry a "firearm or deadly weapon" concealed within any motor vehicle, but the text does not say whether metallic knuckles are a deadly weapon for that exception. A vehicle used to drop off or pick up a student is a separate case: the school-vehicle exception in § 97-37-17(7)(g) does not cover weapons listed in § 97-37-1.

Does a Mississippi concealed carry license cover brass knuckles?

Section 45-9-101(1)(a) authorizes licenses to carry "stun guns, concealed pistols or revolvers." The statute does not describe the license as covering knuckles.

Are plastic brass knuckles legal in Mississippi?

Sections 97-37-1, 97-37-5 and 97-37-17 say "metallic knuckles," and § 97-37-1 defines "concealed" but not that term. The armed carjacking statute, § 97-3-117(2), says "metallic or other false knuckles." The concealed-carry statute's text does not say how it applies to plastic or composite knuckles.

Can you sell brass knuckles to a minor in Mississippi?

No. Section 97-37-13 bars selling, giving or lending to a person known to be under 18 any deadly weapon or other weapon whose concealed carry is prohibited, which includes the metallic knuckles listed in § 97-37-1. The penalty is a fine of up to $1,000, up to one year in the county jail, or both.

What is the penalty for brass knuckles in Mississippi?

Concealed carry under § 97-37-1 brings a $100 to $500 fine, up to six months in the county jail, or both on a first conviction, rising to one to five years in state custody on a third conviction and one to ten years for a person with a prior felony. Knuckles on educational property bring a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months, or both (§ 97-37-17(4)).