Are Brass Knuckles Legal in Nebraska? (2026 Law Explained)

No Nebraska statute bans an adult from owning, buying, selling or openly carrying brass knuckles, and the state's concealed-carry ban on knuckles, Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1202, applies only to minors (under 21) and prohibited persons. Nebraska instead regulates knuckles by who has them and what they are used for: possession by certain prohibited persons is a felony under 28-1206, and using or possessing knuckles during a felony is a separate felony under 28-1205.

For 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 Nebraska state statutes in Chapter 28, Article 12 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes (sections 28-1201, 28-1202, 28-1202.01, 28-1204.01, 28-1204.04, 28-1205, 28-1206 and 28-1212), the penalty classes in 28-105 and 28-106, the deadly weapon definition in 28-109, the local-preemption statute 13-330 and the student-discipline statute 79-267. It does not cover the firearm rules in those sections beyond what is needed to explain them, Nebraska court decisions (apart from two noted on vehicles), city or county ordinances, courthouse, Capitol or jail security rules, college and university policies, federal law or federal property, or the law of other states.

How Nebraska defines brass knuckles

Nebraska's weapons article has its own definition, and it turns on design and purpose rather than metal:

"(9) Knuckles and brass or iron knuckles means any instrument that consists of finger rings or guards made of a hard substance and that is designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting serious bodily injury or death by striking a person with a fist enclosed in the knuckles;" Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1201(9)

Because the test is "a hard substance," the definition is not limited to brass or iron. The definition applies to sections 28-1201 to 28-1212.04, "unless the context otherwise requires." Elsewhere in the Criminal Code, the general definition of "deadly weapon" covers "any firearm, knife, bludgeon, or other device, instrument, material, or substance, whether animate or inanimate, which in the manner it is used or intended to be used is capable of producing death or serious bodily injury" (28-109(8)).

Who can carry brass knuckles concealed in Nebraska?

The concealed-carry statute names knuckles directly, but it reaches only two groups of people:

"(1) A minor or a prohibited person shall not carry a weapon or weapons concealed on or about his or her person, such as a handgun, a knife, brass or iron knuckles, or any other deadly weapon. (2) A violation of this section is a Class I misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class IV felony for a second or subsequent offense." Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1202

An adult who is 21 or older and not a prohibited person is outside 28-1202. The two defined groups are broader than many readers expect:

• Minor. For this article, a minor is "a person who is under twenty-one years of age" (28-1201(11)(a)). The definition excludes a person 18 or older who is a member of the US armed forces (active or reserve), the Nebraska National Guard or the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or who is a peace officer or other duly authorized law enforcement officer (28-1201(11)(b)).
• Prohibited person. This means a person barred from possessing a firearm or ammunition by state law, including 28-1206, or by 18 U.S.C. 922(d) or (g) "as such section existed on January 1, 2023" (28-1201(12)).

A Class I misdemeanor carries up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both, with no minimum (28-106). A Class IV felony carries up to two years in prison and twelve months of post-release supervision, a $10,000 fine, or both (28-105).

Who cannot possess brass knuckles at all

For some people, simply having knuckles is a felony. Section 28-1206 makes it "possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person" if a person:

• possesses a firearm, a knife, or brass or iron knuckles and has previously been convicted of a felony, is a fugitive from justice, is the subject of a current and valid protection order and is knowingly violating it, or is on probation under a deferred judgment for a felony under section 29-2292 or 29-4803 (28-1206(1)(a)); or
• possesses a firearm or brass or iron knuckles and "has been convicted within the past seven years of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" (28-1206(1)(b)).

The domestic-violence prong names firearms and knuckles but not knives, so a person in that group is reached for knuckles even though a knife is not listed. Possession of a deadly weapon other than a firearm by a prohibited person is a Class III felony (28-1206(3)(a)), which carries up to four years in prison and two years of post-release supervision, a $25,000 fine, or both (28-105).

Using or having knuckles during a felony

Section 28-1205 creates two offenses that name knuckles:

"(1)(a) Any person who uses a firearm, a knife, brass or iron knuckles, or any other deadly weapon to commit any felony which may be prosecuted in a court of this state commits the offense of use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. (b) Use of a deadly weapon, other than a firearm, to commit a felony is a Class II felony." Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1205(1)

Possessing "a firearm, a knife, brass or iron knuckles, or a destructive device during the commission of any felony" is a separate offense, and possession of a deadly weapon other than a firearm during a felony is a Class III felony (28-1205(2)). A Class II felony carries one to fifty years in prison (28-105). Either offense is "a separate and distinct offense from the underlying crimes being committed," and the sentence "shall be consecutive to any other sentence imposed" (28-1205(4)).

"Use" is defined broadly. It includes the visible display of any part of the knuckles, or telling another person they are present, immediately before, during or immediately after the felony, whether or not they were displayed or actively employed (28-1205(6)(d)). Possession can be proved by actual or constructive possession during, immediately before or immediately after the felony (28-1205(5)).

The Legislature amended 28-1205 in 2026 through LB935 (operative July 18, 2026) and LB965 (operative October 1, 2026), and amended 28-1206 through LB935. When force is lawful at all is covered in our guide to Nebraska self-defense laws.

Brass knuckles in a car

Two rules matter in a car. First, for a minor or prohibited person, knuckles hidden within easy reach in a vehicle can be carried concealed "on or about" the person under 28-1202. The Nebraska Supreme Court has held that a weapon is concealed on or about the person if it is concealed in such proximity to the driver or a passenger "as to be convenient of access and within immediate physical reach." In State v. Lowman (2021), it upheld a concealed-weapon conviction for a machete tucked down by the center console. In State v. Warlick (2021), it reversed a conviction where the gun was in a bag under the spare tire in the cargo area, with no evidence it was within the passenger's reach, and held that constructive possession does not establish the offense. Both cases applied the earlier version of 28-1202, which reached any person; the "on or about his or her person" wording is unchanged.

Second, a presumption applies to prohibited persons:

"The presence in a motor vehicle other than a public vehicle of any firearm or instrument referred to in section 28-1203, 28-1206, 28-1207, or 28-1212.03 shall be prima facie evidence that it is in the possession of and is carried by all persons occupying such motor vehicle at the time such firearm or instrument is found, except that this section shall not be applicable if such firearm or instrument is found upon the person of one of the occupants therein." Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1212

Section 28-1206 names brass or iron knuckles, so knuckles found loose in a private vehicle can be evidence that every occupant possessed them. That presumption matters for anyone in the car who falls under 28-1206.

Schools and other restricted places

Nebraska's criminal school-weapons statute, 28-1204.04, covers firearms only: it applies to "any person who possesses a firearm in a school, on school grounds, in a school-owned vehicle, or at a school-sponsored activity or athletic event." The list of places where concealed carry is barred in 28-1202.01(3), including courtrooms, meetings of the Legislature and school buildings and grounds, applies to concealed handguns.

Students are covered separately by Nebraska's student-discipline statute, which lists "knowingly possessing, handling, or transmitting any object or material that is ordinarily or generally considered a weapon" (79-267(5)). That wording does not name knuckles, but it is not limited to firearms.

Minors buying knuckles

Nebraska's ban on transferring weapons to juveniles, 28-1204.01, is limited to "a firearm to a juvenile," so it does not cover selling or giving knuckles to a young person. A person under 21 who carries knuckles concealed still commits the 28-1202 offense described above.

Can Nebraska cities or counties ban knuckles?

Nebraska's preemption statute is written for weapons in general, not only firearms:

"(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of any home rule charter, counties, cities, and villages shall not have the power to: (a) Regulate the ownership, possession, storage, transportation, sale, or transfer of firearms or other weapons, except as expressly provided by state law; or (b) Require registration of firearms or other weapons. (3) Any county, city, or village ordinance, permit, or regulation in violation of subsection (2) of this section is declared to be null and void." Neb. Rev. Stat. 13-330

If you are unsure whether a local rule applies, check the city or county code or call your local police department's non-emergency line. Knife rules are covered in our guide to Nebraska knife laws.

Nebraska penalties at a glance

Related pages

• Brass knuckles laws by state
• Nebraska knife laws
• Nebraska self-defense laws
• Nebraska pepper spray and stun gun laws
• Iowa brass knuckles laws
• Kansas brass knuckles laws

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

Last updated: 2026-10-09.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are brass knuckles legal in Nebraska?

No Nebraska statute bans an adult from owning, selling or openly carrying brass knuckles. The state restricts them by person and conduct: minors under 21 and prohibited persons may not carry them concealed (28-1202), certain prohibited persons may not possess them at all (28-1206), and using or possessing them during a felony is a separate felony (28-1205).

Can I carry brass knuckles concealed in Nebraska?

Section 28-1202 bars only a minor (under 21 for this purpose) or a prohibited person from carrying brass or iron knuckles concealed. A violation is a Class I misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class IV felony for a second or later offense.

Can an 18-year-old carry brass knuckles in Nebraska?

Nebraska's weapons article defines a minor as a person under 21, so an 18- to 20-year-old may not carry knuckles concealed under 28-1202. Knuckles hidden within immediate physical reach in a car can count as carried concealed. The definition excludes 18- to 20-year-olds who are members of the armed forces, the Nebraska National Guard or ROTC, and peace officers.

Can a felon have brass knuckles in Nebraska?

No. Possessing brass or iron knuckles after a felony conviction is possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, a Class III felony under 28-1206. The same section covers fugitives, people knowingly violating a protection order, people on felony deferred-judgment probation, and people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence within the past 7 years.

Can a Nebraska city ban brass knuckles?

Section 13-330 says counties, cities and villages do not have the power to regulate the ownership, possession, storage, transportation, sale or transfer of firearms or other weapons, except as expressly provided by state law, and declares a conflicting ordinance null and void.