Are Brass Knuckles Legal in Oregon? (2026 Metal Knuckles Law)

Oregon law names "metal knuckles" directly. Under ORS 166.240, carrying metal knuckles concealed upon the person is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. ORS chapter 166 names metal knuckles in four sections (166.240, 166.270, 166.275 and 166.360), and none of them bans owning, buying or selling knuckles, or carrying them openly, for an adult who has no felony conviction and is not committed to an institution. Knuckles are a restricted weapon for people with felony convictions (ORS 166.270, a Class A misdemeanor), a felony for people committed to an institution (ORS 166.275, up to 20 years), and a listed "weapon" for court facilities (ORS 166.360(10)). People on probation face a separate limit: unless the court deletes it, the general probation conditions in ORS 137.540(1) include "Not possess weapons, firearms or dangerous animals." 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 Oregon state law in the Oregon Revised Statutes: the weapons provisions in ORS chapter 166 (166.170, 166.220, 166.240, 166.250, 166.270, 166.275, 166.279, 166.360 and 166.370), the definitions and penalty statutes in chapter 161 (161.015, 161.605, 161.615, 161.625 and 161.635), the contraband statutes 162.135 and 162.185, the assault and robbery statutes 163.165, 163.175 and 164.415, the probation, set-aside and mandatory minimum statutes 137.225, 137.540, 137.700 and 137.712, the school definition in 339.315 and the school discipline statute 339.250(7), and the Oregon appellate decisions State v. Behee, State v. Hamilton and State v. Cortes. It does not cover the felony sentencing guidelines, city or county ordinances, school district or college policies, court rules or presiding judge orders, federal law or federal property, or the law of other states.

Carrying metal knuckles concealed

Oregon's concealed weapons statute lists metal knuckles by name:

"(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, any person who carries concealed upon the person any knife having a blade that projects or swings into position by force of a spring or by centrifugal force, any dirk, dagger, ice pick, slungshot, metal knuckles, or any similar instrument by the use of which injury could be inflicted upon the person or property of any other person, commits a Class B misdemeanor. (2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section applies to any peace officer as defined in ORS 133.005, whose duty it is to serve process or make arrests. Justice courts have concurrent jurisdiction to try any person charged with violating any of the provisions of subsection (1) of this section." ORS 166.240

Key points from the text:

• Only concealed carry is covered. The offense is carrying the item "concealed upon the person." The section does not reach ownership, sale or open carry.
• No license exception. The only exception in 166.240 is for peace officers whose duty is to serve process or make arrests. The section contains no exception for people licensed to carry a concealed handgun.
• Similar instruments count too. The list ends with "any similar instrument by the use of which injury could be inflicted upon the person or property of any other person."
• Metal knuckles are not defined in the section. The Oregon Court of Appeals has defined the term (see below). The section does not say whether plastic or other non-metal knuckles are covered, except through the "similar instrument" wording.

The section speaks of carrying "upon the person." It does not separately address a bag or a vehicle, and no court decision on that question is discussed here.

A Class B misdemeanor carries a maximum jail term of 6 months (ORS 161.615(2)) and a maximum fine of $2,500 (ORS 161.635(1)(b)).

What counts as metal knuckles

In State v. Behee, 267 Or App 77 (2014), a felon-in-possession case under ORS 166.270(2), the Oregon Court of Appeals noted that "metal knuckles" is not defined in ORS 166.270 or anywhere else in Oregon statutes and adopted this test:

"the 'defining characteristic' of 'metal knuckles' is the presence of a metal band (or individual rings connected together), worn over the fingers, designed for enhancing the effectiveness of a punch with a closed fist." State v. Behee, 267 Or App at 85

The court held that "the absence of individual finger rings" was "not dispositive," and that "whether an object can be used for a particular purpose is not the correct inquiry under ORS 166.270(2)." Applying that test, it reversed the conviction because tree-climbing claws designed to be worn with the spikes on the palm side are not metal knuckles. The court also treated "brass knuckles" and "metal knuckles" as interchangeable terms and noted that metal knuckles are listed among the concealed weapons in ORS 166.240.

Owning, buying and selling

None of the chapter 166 sections that name metal knuckles bans an adult with no felony conviction from owning, buying or selling them. ORS 166.250, which regulates minors, is written for firearms, and the sections that name metal knuckles contain no age limit. Check local rules before buying or carrying knuckles, because the state's preemption statute (below) is written for firearms.

People with felony convictions

"(2) Any person who has been convicted of a felony under the law of this state or any other state, or who has been convicted of a felony under the laws of the Government of the United States, who owns or has in the person's possession or under the person's custody or control any instrument or weapon having a blade that projects or swings into position by force of a spring or by centrifugal force or any blackjack, slungshot, sandclub, sandbag, sap glove, metal knuckles or an Electro-Muscular Disruption Technology device as defined in ORS 165.540, or who carries a dirk, dagger or stiletto, commits the crime of felon in possession of a restricted weapon. ... (5) Felon in possession of a firearm is a Class C felony. Felon in possession of a restricted weapon is a Class A misdemeanor." ORS 166.270(2), (5)

For a person with a felony conviction, simply owning or possessing metal knuckles, even at home and unconcealed, is felon in possession of a restricted weapon. A Class A misdemeanor carries up to 364 days in jail (ORS 161.615(1)) and a fine of up to $6,250 (ORS 161.635(1)(a)).

Subsection (4), which lists people the felon rule does not apply to, opens with "Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to any person who has been: ..." Subsection (1) is the firearm offense. The relief in subsection (4) is therefore written for firearms, not for the restricted weapons in subsection (2), which include metal knuckles.

Two other rules do reach subsection (2). Under ORS 166.270(3), a felony conviction "shall not be deemed a conviction of a felony" for this section if the court declared it a misdemeanor at the time of judgment (or, for a marijuana possession offense, if the conviction was before January 1, 1972). And when a conviction is set aside under ORS 137.225, the person "for purposes of the law shall be deemed not to have been previously convicted."

People on probation

Unless the court specifically deletes it, ORS 137.540(1) makes "Not possess weapons, firearms or dangerous animals" a general condition of every probation sentence, whether the conviction was a felony or a misdemeanor. In State v. Cortes, 374 Or 461 (2025), reviewing a finding that a probationer violated that condition by possessing a knife, the Oregon Supreme Court held that "weapons" in ORS 137.540(1)(j) means "instruments designed primarily for offensive or defensive combat or instruments that would reasonably be recognized as having substantially the same character, and not to tools or objects designed primarily for utility." In a footnote, the court noted that the 1971 commentary to Oregon's Criminal Code gave "metallic knuckles" as an example of "instruments designed for offensive or defensive purposes." A person on probation should not assume that knuckles kept at home are allowed.

Courthouses and court facilities

For court facilities and public buildings, Oregon uses its own definition of "weapon," and it names metal knuckles:

"As used in ORS 166.360 to 166.380, unless the context requires otherwise: ... (10) Weapon means: (a) A firearm; (b) Any dirk, dagger, ice pick, slingshot, metal knuckles or any similar instrument or a knife, other than an ordinary pocketknife with a blade less than four inches in length, the use of which could inflict injury upon a person or property; (c) Mace, tear gas, pepper mace or any similar deleterious agent as defined in ORS 163.211; (d) An electrical stun gun or any similar instrument; (e) A tear gas weapon as defined in ORS 163.211; (f) A club, bat, baton, billy club, bludgeon, knobkerrie, nunchaku, nightstick, truncheon or any similar instrument, the use of which could inflict injury upon a person or property; or (g) A dangerous or deadly weapon as those terms are defined in ORS 161.015." ORS 166.360(10)

The court facility rule works as a surrender-or-remove duty:

"(2)(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, a person who intentionally possesses: ... (B) A weapon, other than a firearm, in a court facility may be required to surrender the weapon to a law enforcement officer or to immediately remove it from the court facility. A person who fails to comply with this subparagraph is guilty, upon conviction, of a Class C felony. ... (b) The presiding judge of a judicial district or a municipal court may enter an order permitting the possession of specified weapons in a court facility." ORS 166.370(2)

A person who intentionally possesses metal knuckles in a court facility may be required to surrender them to a law enforcement officer or to remove them immediately; failing to comply is a Class C felony. A Class C felony carries a maximum prison term of 5 years (ORS 161.605(3)) and a maximum fine of $125,000 (ORS 161.625(1)(d)).

Schools, colleges and other public buildings

A separate rule in the same section covers public buildings:

"(1)(a) Any person who intentionally possesses a loaded or unloaded firearm or any other instrument used as a dangerous weapon, while in or on a public building, shall upon conviction be guilty of a Class C felony." ORS 166.370(1)(a)

Under ORS 166.360(9), "public building" includes a hospital, a capitol building, a public or private school as defined in ORS 339.315, a college or university, a city hall, the residence of any state official elected by the state at large, and the grounds adjacent to each such building. It also includes the portion of any other building occupied by an agency of the state or by a city, a county, a district as defined in ORS 198.010 or another municipal corporation under ORS 297.405 (other than a court facility), and "The passenger terminal of a commercial service airport with over one million passenger boardings per year."

For this purpose, ORS 339.315 defines "school" as a public or private kindergarten through grade 12 institution, the grounds adjacent to it, and "Any site or premises that at the time is being used exclusively for a student program or activity that is sponsored or sanctioned by the institution, a public school district, an education service district or a voluntary organization and that is posted as such."

For this subsection, "dangerous weapon" has the meaning in ORS 161.015:

"Dangerous weapon means any weapon, device, instrument, material or substance which under the circumstances in which it is used, attempted to be used or threatened to be used, is readily capable of causing death or serious physical injury." ORS 161.015(1)

Subsection (1)(a) does not name metal knuckles. It reaches "any other instrument used as a dangerous weapon," and the statute text does not settle whether knuckles that are merely carried, and not used or threatened, fall within that wording. No Oregon court decision on that point is discussed here.

Subsection (3) lists people the public building rule does not apply to, including law enforcement officers and others, and:

"(g) A person who is licensed under ORS 166.291 and 166.292 to carry a concealed handgun, except as provided in subsection (1)(b) of this section. (h) A person who is authorized by the officer or agency that controls the public building to possess a firearm or dangerous weapon in that public building." ORS 166.370(3)(g), (h)

Note the contrast: a concealed handgun license is listed as an exception to the public building rule in 166.370, but it is not an exception to the concealed carry offense in 166.240.

On school discipline, the state-mandated expulsion rule in ORS 339.250(7) is written for firearms, and chapter 339 contains no expulsion rule that names knuckles. School district discipline codes are separate; check the district's policy.

Jails, prisons and institutions

Oregon names metal knuckles in its inmate weapons statute:

"Any person committed to any institution who, while under the jurisdiction of any institution or while being conveyed to or from any institution, possesses or carries upon the person, or has under the custody or control of the person any dangerous instrument, or any weapon including but not limited to any blackjack, slingshot, billy, sand club, metal knuckles, explosive substance, dirk, dagger, sharp instrument, pistol, revolver or other firearm without lawful authority, is guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term not more than 20 years." ORS 166.275

The section does not define "institution" or "committed." In State v. Hamilton, 186 Or App 729 (2003), the Oregon Court of Appeals held "that the phrase 'any person committed to any institution' means any person placed into the charge or keeping of any institution." It applied that reading to a man on post-prison supervision whose approved supervision plan required him to live at a county community corrections center, under close supervision and unable to leave without an escort, and affirmed his conviction under ORS 166.275.

A separate statute covers contraband. ORS 162.135(1)(a)(D) defines contraband to include "Any article or thing which a person confined in a correctional facility, youth correction facility or state hospital is prohibited by statute, rule or order from obtaining or possessing, and whose use would endanger the safety or security of such institution or any person therein." Under ORS 162.185, knowingly introducing contraband into a correctional facility, youth correction facility or state hospital, or knowingly making, obtaining or possessing it while confined there, is supplying contraband, a Class C felony. Knuckles are not named in 162.135; they fall under it only if they meet that definition.

Using or intending to use knuckles against someone

Several Oregon offenses turn on a "dangerous" or "deadly" weapon rather than on knuckles by name. ORS 161.015(2) defines a deadly weapon as "any instrument, article or substance specifically designed for and presently capable of causing death or serious physical injury," and the dangerous weapon definition quoted above depends on how an item is used.

• Unlawful use of a weapon (ORS 166.220): a person who "Attempts to use unlawfully against another, or carries or possesses with intent to use unlawfully against another, any dangerous or deadly weapon as defined in ORS 161.015" commits a Class C felony.
• Robbery and assault: first-degree robbery (ORS 164.415), a Class A felony, turns on being armed with a deadly weapon or using or attempting to use a dangerous weapon. Intentionally or knowingly causing physical injury to another by means of a deadly or dangerous weapon is second-degree assault, a Class B felony (ORS 163.175(1)(b)), and recklessly causing serious physical injury that way is third-degree assault, a Class C felony (ORS 163.165(1)(a), (2)(a)).
• Mandatory minimums: ORS 137.700 requires a prison term of at least 90 months for first-degree robbery and at least 70 months for second-degree assault. For second-degree assault under ORS 163.175(1)(b), ORS 137.712 allows a shorter sentence only if the court finds on the record that the victim was not physically injured by means of a deadly weapon, did not suffer a significant physical injury, and the defendant has no listed prior conviction, and that a substantial and compelling reason justifies the lesser sentence.
• Firearm enhancement: the firearm-use sentencing provision in ORS 161.610 is limited to firearms.

Forfeiture

"(2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, at the time of sentencing for any criminal offense in which a firearm or other deadly weapon was possessed, used or available for use to facilitate the offense, the court shall declare the weapon to be contraband and order that the weapon be forfeited. ... (5) As used in this section, deadly weapon has the meaning given that term in ORS 161.015." ORS 166.279(2), (5)

Forfeiture under 166.279 itself reaches knuckles only if they meet the 161.015(2) deadly weapon definition. Separately, ORS 166.370(6) provides that "Any weapon carried in violation of this section is subject to the forfeiture provisions of ORS 166.279," which covers weapons carried in violation of the public building and court facility rules.

Oregon penalties at a glance

Misdemeanor maximums come from ORS 161.615 and 161.635; Class C felony maximums from ORS 161.605(3) and 161.625(1)(d). These are statutory maximums; Oregon's felony sentencing guidelines are outside the scope of this article.

City and county rules

Oregon's preemption statute is written for firearms:

"(2) Except as expressly authorized by state statute, no county, city or other municipal corporation or district may enact civil or criminal ordinances, including but not limited to zoning ordinances, to regulate, restrict or prohibit the sale, acquisition, transfer, ownership, possession, storage, transportation or use of firearms or any element relating to firearms and components thereof, including ammunition. Ordinances that are contrary to this subsection are void." ORS 166.170(2)

Knuckles are not named, so 166.170 does not by its terms address local rules on them. Check your city or county code, and call your local police department's non-emergency line if a rule is unclear.

Knives, sprays and self-defense in Oregon

ORS 166.240 lists spring-blade knives, dirks and daggers alongside metal knuckles; those are covered in our guide to Oregon knife laws. The court facility weapon definition also lists mace, tear gas and stun guns; see Oregon pepper spray and stun gun laws. When the law allows force at all is covered in Oregon self-defense laws.

Related pages

• Brass knuckles laws by state
• Oregon knife laws
• Oregon pepper spray and stun gun laws
• Oregon self-defense laws
• Washington brass knuckles laws
• California brass knuckles laws

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

Last updated: 2026-10-08.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are brass knuckles legal in Oregon?

Carrying metal knuckles concealed upon the person is a Class B misdemeanor under ORS 166.240. The chapter 166 sections that name metal knuckles do not ban owning, buying or selling them, or carrying them openly, for an adult with no felony conviction who is not committed to an institution. A person on probation is subject to the general condition not to possess weapons under ORS 137.540(1)(j) unless the court deletes it.

Can I carry brass knuckles with a concealed handgun license in Oregon?

ORS 166.240 has no exception for concealed handgun license holders; its only exception is for peace officers whose duty is to serve process or make arrests. Carrying metal knuckles concealed upon the person is a Class B misdemeanor.

Can a felon own brass knuckles in Oregon?

No. Under ORS 166.270(2), a person convicted of a felony who owns or possesses metal knuckles commits felon in possession of a restricted weapon, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days and a $6,250 fine.

Can I bring brass knuckles into an Oregon courthouse?

Metal knuckles are a weapon under ORS 166.360(10). A person who possesses one in a court facility may be required to surrender it or remove it immediately, and failing to comply is a Class C felony under ORS 166.370(2).

Can I bring brass knuckles to a school in Oregon?

ORS 166.370(1)(a) makes possessing any instrument used as a dangerous weapon in a public building, including a school or college, a Class C felony. The statute does not name knuckles, and its text does not settle whether merely carrying them is covered.

Are ninja climbing claws metal knuckles in Oregon?

No, under State v. Behee, 267 Or App 77 (2014). In that felon-in-possession case under ORS 166.270(2), the Oregon Court of Appeals held that tree-climbing claws worn with the spikes on the palm side are not metal knuckles, because the defining characteristic of metal knuckles is a metal band or connected rings worn over the fingers, designed for enhancing the effectiveness of a punch with a closed fist.