Colorado Sword Laws

A katana on a wall in Denver, a longsword in a Boulder studio, a machete on a hip during a trail run in Aspen. Colorado has a sword-friendly framework for collectors built around two simple rules. Ownership is open. Carry depends on concealment and blade length. Once you understand how Colorado sword laws define the word "knife," most of the practical questions answer themselves.

Colorado sword laws live in Article 12 of Title 18 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. The framework was modernized in 2017 with Senate Bill 17-008, which removed switchblades and gravity knives from the "illegal weapons" category. What remains in Colorado sword laws is a regime that respects ownership, allows open carry, and reserves its enforcement energy for concealed carry of larger blades and for a handful of specific prohibited categories. This guide walks through the statutes, the exceptions, and how city ordinances (especially Denver's) can change the calculation.

What do Colorado sword laws actually say?

The core statutes are C.R.S. 18-12-101 (definitions), 18-12-102 (possessing dangerous and illegal weapons), 18-12-105 (unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon), 18-12-105.5 (weapons on school grounds), and 18-12-105.6 (preemption regarding travel in private vehicles). The pivotal definition is in 18-12-101(1)(f), which defines a "knife" for purposes of the concealed-carry statute.

Under that definition, a "knife" is any dagger, dirk, knife, or stiletto with a blade over 3.5 inches in length, or any other dangerous instrument capable of inflicting cutting, stabbing, or tearing wounds. The definition specifically excludes hunting and fishing knives carried for sports use. The 3.5-inch threshold is the practical center of Colorado sword laws because anything above it becomes a regulated "knife" for concealment purposes.

Is it legal to own a sword in Colorado?

Yes. Colorado sword laws impose no statewide restriction on the ownership of swords. Katanas, longswords, sabers, machetes, kukris, claymores, rapiers, and fantasy replicas can all be purchased and kept in a private residence without a permit, registration, or background check. There is no blade-length cap on ownership and no list of prohibited sword types.

Two categories of edged weapons remain prohibited under C.R.S. 18-12-102. Ballistic knives, which propel a blade as a projectile by means of a spring-loaded device or explosive charge, are classified as illegal weapons. Possession is a Class 5 felony carrying one to three years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Switchblades and gravity knives, by contrast, were removed from the illegal weapons category in 2017 under SB 17-008 and are now lawful to own and carry.

How do Colorado sword laws handle open and concealed carry?

Open carry of a sword is unrestricted at the state level under Colorado sword laws. There is no statute that prohibits visibly carrying a katana on a belt, a longsword in a back-mounted scabbard, or a machete on a hip in public. No permit is required, and no blade-length cap applies to open carry.

Concealed carry is where Colorado sword laws get specific. C.R.S. 18-12-105(1)(a) makes it a Class 2 misdemeanor (some recent amendments treat it as Class 1) to knowingly carry a "knife" concealed on or about the person. Because the statutory definition of "knife" captures any blade over 3.5 inches, a sword in a sword bag, duffel, or under a coat is a concealed knife and triggers the statute. The penalty range is 3 to 12 months in jail and fines from $250 to $1,000.

Three exceptions matter to collectors. The first is that concealed carry is lawful when the carrier is at their home, place of business, or in a private vehicle while traveling. The second is the hunting or fishing knife exception in the definition itself, which is an affirmative defense that must be raised by the defendant. The third is C.R.S. 18-12-105.6, which clarifies that state law prevails when someone is traveling in a private motor vehicle, blocking local restrictions in that scenario.

Show the blade, you are fine. Hide it, you have a problem.

What changed in 2017 with SB 17-008?

Senate Bill 17-008 went into effect August 9, 2017, and it removed switchblades and gravity knives from the list of "illegal weapons" in C.R.S. 18-12-102. Before that change, possessing either type of knife was a misdemeanor regardless of how it was carried. After the change, switchblades and gravity knives are treated like any other knife under Colorado sword laws, which means they are subject only to the standard concealed-carry rules.

Denver maintained a local ordinance restricting switchblades for some time after the state change, which is a useful reminder that Colorado does not have full statewide preemption on knife and sword law. Cities and counties can still pass their own rules unless they conflict with the narrow protections in C.R.S. 18-12-105.6 for travel in private vehicles.

Where can you not carry a sword in Colorado?

Several locations are no-go zones under Colorado sword laws regardless of how the blade is carried. C.R.S. 18-12-105.5 prohibits knives with blades over 3.5 inches on the property of public or private schools from kindergarten through university level, including seminaries. Violations are charged as a Class 6 felony, carrying 1 to 18 months in prison and fines from $1,000 to $100,000.

Other restricted locations to plan around under Colorado sword laws include:

• Courthouses, courtrooms, and judicial facilities
• Correctional facilities and jails
• Federal buildings (governed by federal law)
• Secure areas of airports past TSA screening
• Polling places on election day under some local rules
• Private property where the owner has banned weapons by sign or request
• Denver, which has historically maintained stricter local knife rules under Denver Municipal Code 38-117

An exception under 18-12-105.5 allows knives to be stored in locked compartments inside vehicles on school property. This is helpful for parents, staff, and visitors who need to drive through a school zone with a blade in the vehicle.

Does Denver have its own sword regulations?

Yes. Denver Municipal Code 38-117 has historically imposed stricter knife rules than the state framework, including restrictions on certain blade types. Colorado does not have a general statewide knife preemption statute, so local ordinances in Denver remain enforceable in most carry contexts. The exception is C.R.S. 18-12-105.6, which limits municipalities from restricting carry in a private motor vehicle.

For collectors who live in or travel through Denver, the practical takeaway is to verify the current municipal code before relying on state-level Colorado sword laws alone. The city's rules can change, and they apply alongside the state framework rather than being preempted by it. Other cities and counties may also have local provisions worth checking.

How should collectors transport swords across Colorado?

Transport is one of the easier scenarios under Colorado sword laws thanks to C.R.S. 18-12-105.6. The statute provides that state law applies when a person is traveling in a private vehicle or other private means of transportation, which blocks local ordinances from restricting how a sword is carried inside a car during travel. A sword in a hard case in the trunk, a katana in original packaging, or a sheathed longsword in the back seat are all lawful during transit under Colorado sword laws.

The protection narrows once the carrier steps out of the vehicle. At that point, the regular concealed-carry rule and any applicable local ordinances apply. The cleanest path is to keep blades cased or sheathed openly when they leave the vehicle and to avoid any city, like Denver, with stricter local rules. Carriers should also stay clear of school grounds, courthouses, and other restricted locations regardless of how the blade is packed.

The bottom line on owning and carrying swords in Colorado

Colorado sword laws strike a workable balance for collectors. Ownership is unrestricted, open carry is legal at the state level, and the travel preemption in C.R.S. 18-12-105.6 protects in-vehicle transport. The pinch points are concealed carry of blades over 3.5 inches outside the home or business, possession of ballistic knives, restricted locations like schools and courthouses, and local ordinances in Denver and other cities.

For anyone building a sword collection in Colorado, the practical takeaway is to display blades at home, transport in a case during travel, open-carry in a sheath when out and about, and verify city codes before walking a blade through any major metro. The 3.5-inch threshold and the concealed-carry rule are the two numbers worth memorizing.

Frequently Asked Questions

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