Wyoming Sword Laws

Q: What is the deadly weapon definition in Wyoming?

Wyo. Stat. § 6-1-104(a)(iv) defines 'deadly weapon' as 'a firearm, explosive or incendiary material, motorized vehicle, an animal or other device, instrument, material or substance, which in the manner it is used or is intended to be used is reasonably capable of producing death or serious bodily injury.' The definition is conduct-based. An object is a deadly weapon only when used or intended to be used in a manner capable of producing serious harm. In Conine v. State (2008), the Wyoming Supreme Court held that even a frying pan can be a deadly weapon under Wyoming sword laws when used to inflict injury.

Q: Do Wyoming cities have stricter sword regulations?

No. Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-401 provides statewide preemption: 'The sale, transfer, purchase, delivery, taxation, manufacture, ownership, transportation, storage, use and possession of firearms, weapons and ammunition shall be authorized, regulated and prohibited by the state, and regulation thereof is preempted by the state.' Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, Jackson, and other Wyoming cities cannot enact knife rules stricter than state law. The same rules apply uniformly across all 23 Wyoming counties under current Wyoming sword laws.

TL;DR

The short version

Wyoming is one of the most permissive states for swords. The word "knife" does not appear anywhere in the principal weapon statutes. Wyo. Stat. § 6-1-104(a)(iv) defines "deadly weapon" in a conduct-based manner: an instrument is a deadly weapon only based on "the manner it is used or is intended to be used." § 6-8-103 makes it a felony (up to 5 years, $1,000) to possess a deadly weapon with intent to unlawfully threaten or injure. § 6-8-104 makes concealed carry of a deadly weapon a misdemeanor for a first offense, but Wyoming's 2011 constitutional carry reform allows residents age 21 and older (not otherwise prohibited) to carry concealed without a permit. § 6-5-209 prohibits deadly weapons in courtrooms, jails, and mental hospitals. § 6-8-401 provides statewide preemption. There is no statutory prohibition on knives on school grounds.

A katana on a wall in Cheyenne, a longsword in a Casper study, a fantasy claymore in a Jackson apartment. Wyoming sword laws are some of the cleanest in the country. The principal weapon statutes do not mention knives at all. The "deadly weapon" definition under Wyoming sword laws is conduct-based: a knife or sword is a "deadly weapon" only based on the manner of its use or intended use. Wyoming's 2011 constitutional carry reform allows residents age 21 and older to carry concealed deadly weapons without a permit, and statewide preemption under § 6-8-401 prevents cities and counties from creating their own knife rules under Wyoming sword laws.

Wyoming sword laws live in Title 6, Chapter 8 of the Wyoming Statutes. The central provisions are Wyo. Stat. § 6-1-104(a)(iv) (definition of "deadly weapon"), § 6-5-209 (taking deadly weapons into jails, penal institutions, mental hospitals, or courtrooms), § 6-8-103 (possession, manufacture, or disposition of a deadly weapon with unlawful intent), § 6-8-104 (wearing or carrying concealed weapons, with the 2011 constitutional carry framework), and § 6-8-401 (firearm, weapon, and ammunition regulation preempted by the state). Conine v. State, 197 P.3d 156 (2008), is the key case interpreting the deadly-weapon definition. This guide walks through what current Wyoming sword laws say.

What do Wyoming sword laws actually say?

Wyo. Stat. § 6-1-104(a)(iv) defines "deadly weapon" as: "a firearm, explosive or incendiary material, motorized vehicle, an animal or other device, instrument, material or substance, which in the manner it is used or is intended to be used is reasonably capable of producing death or serious bodily injury." The definition is conduct-based: an item is a "deadly weapon" only when used or intended to be used in a manner capable of producing death or serious bodily injury. The word "knife" does not appear in the definition. In Conine v. State, 197 P.3d 156 (2008), the Wyoming Supreme Court held that even a frying pan can be a "deadly weapon" depending on how it is used.

Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-103 makes it a felony to "knowingly possess, manufacture, transport, repair or sell a deadly weapon with intent to unlawfully threaten the life or physical well-being of another or to commit an assault or inflict bodily injury on another." Penalty is up to 5 years in prison, a $1,000 fine, or both. The intent element is essential under Wyoming sword laws. Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-104 makes wearing or carrying a concealed deadly weapon a misdemeanor for a first offense (up to $750 fine and 6 months in jail). However, the 2011 constitutional carry reform amended § 6-8-104 to exempt Wyoming residents age 21 and older who are not prohibited from firearm possession. The result is that adult residents can carry concealed deadly weapons (including knives and swords) without a permit under Wyoming sword laws.

2011

The year Wyoming enacted constitutional carry under amendments to § 6-8-104. Wyoming residents age 21 and older who are not prohibited from firearm possession may carry concealed deadly weapons (including knives and swords) without a permit. Non-residents must hold a concealed-carry permit from a state with Wyoming reciprocity. The reform placed Wyoming sword laws firmly in the most permissive tier nationally.

Is it legal to own a sword in Wyoming?

Yes. Wyoming sword laws impose no restriction on the ownership of swords or any other knife category. Katanas, longswords, sabers, machetes, rapiers, kukris, claymores, sword canes, 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 for ownership, no inventory limit, and no list of generally prohibited sword types at the state level under Wyoming sword laws.

Switchblades, automatic knives, butterfly knives, gravity knives, balisongs, OTF knives, dirks, daggers, stilettos, bowie knives, sword canes, throwing stars, ballistic knives, disguised knives (such as belt-buckle or lipstick knives), and double-edged blades are all legal to own under Wyoming sword laws. The Wyoming statutes do not mention any specific knife type, and § 6-1-104(a)(iv) does not list any knife category in the deadly-weapon definition. For non-prohibited adults, ownership of all knife categories is fully unrestricted under Wyoming sword laws.

Does § 6-8-104 apply to traditional swords?

For Wyoming residents age 21 and older who are not prohibited from firearm possession, no. The 2011 constitutional carry reform exempts this group from the concealed-carry restriction. For non-residents and persons under 21, the analysis is more nuanced: § 6-8-104 makes concealed carry of a "deadly weapon" a misdemeanor, but § 6-1-104(a)(iv) defines "deadly weapon" in a conduct-based manner. A katana carried for collection or martial arts purposes is not used or intended to be used in a manner capable of producing death or serious bodily injury, so it would not generally fall within the deadly-weapon definition.

The practical effect is that ordinary open and concealed carry of any sword in Wyoming is legal at the state level for non-prohibited adult residents under Wyoming sword laws. Open carry is legal for everyone. There is no permit requirement for concealed carry by residents, no blade-length cap, and no statewide categorical ban on any knife type. Wyoming sword laws focus enforcement on prohibited-intent contexts (the § 6-8-103 felony), and Wyoming sword laws give collectors substantial latitude under the conduct-based framework.

Wyoming statutes do not mention the word "knife." The framework treats every object the same: it is a "deadly weapon" only when used or intended to be used in a manner capable of causing serious harm.

How does the 2011 Wyoming constitutional carry reform work?

Wyoming's 2011 constitutional carry reform amended Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-104 to exempt Wyoming residents age 21 and older who are not otherwise prohibited from firearm possession. Eligibility requirements include: U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, Wyoming resident, age 21 or older, no felony conviction, no violent misdemeanor conviction in the past 3 years, no controlled-substance misdemeanor conviction in the past year, no DUI conviction in the past year, no commitment to a mental institution, and other standard prohibited-persons criteria.

For eligible residents, no permit is required for concealed carry of a deadly weapon, including knives and swords. Non-residents must hold a concealed-carry permit from a state with Wyoming reciprocity (Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-104(b)). For persons under 21 or with disqualifying criminal history, the § 6-8-104 misdemeanor applies. Statewide preemption under Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-401 prevents cities and counties from enacting their own knife or weapon ordinances under Wyoming sword laws, and Wyoming sword laws give residents uniform rules across all 23 counties.

What about schools, courthouses, jails, and other restricted locations?

Wyo. Stat. § 6-5-209 prohibits taking a deadly weapon into a courtroom, jail, penal institution, or mental hospital. Penalty is a misdemeanor. Wyoming does not have a separate statewide statute criminalizing knives on K-12 school grounds (which is unusual; most states have one). However, federal law and individual school district policies prohibit weapons on school property. § 6-5-209 captures the principal state-level location restriction under Wyoming sword laws. Other restricted locations include:

Courtrooms (Wyo. Stat. § 6-5-209)
Jails and penal institutions (Wyo. Stat. § 6-5-209)
Mental hospitals (Wyo. Stat. § 6-5-209)
K-12 school property (district policies and federal law; no state statute)
Federal buildings (governed by federal law)
Secure areas of airports past TSA screening
Aircraft regardless of carrier
Indian Country (governed by tribal and federal law)
Private property where the owner has banned weapons
National parks (subject to federal regulations; Wyoming hosts Yellowstone and Grand Teton)

Scenario	Legal Under Wyoming Sword Laws?	Statute
Sword on display at home	Yes	No restriction
Open carry of any sword	Yes	No state restriction
Concealed sword carry (resident 21+, non-prohibited)	Yes (no permit required)	Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-104
Concealed deadly weapon by under-21 or prohibited person	Misdemeanor (first offense)	Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-104
Possession of deadly weapon with unlawful intent	Up to 5 years prison	Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-103
Sword in courtroom, jail, or mental hospital	Misdemeanor	Wyo. Stat. § 6-5-209

How should collectors transport swords across Wyoming?

Transport under Wyoming sword laws is among the simplest in the country for non-prohibited adult residents after the 2011 constitutional carry reform. A sword in a hard case in the trunk, a katana in original packaging, a sheathed longsword in the back seat, a blade openly carried on a back-mounted scabbard, or a concealed sword inside a coat are all lawful at the state level. The state framework imposes no general carry restrictions on knives or swords for this group. Statewide preemption under § 6-8-401 ensures uniform rules in every city and county under Wyoming sword laws.

The principal practical adjustments for collectors are the § 6-5-209 court and jail rule and the § 6-8-103 unlawful-intent felony. Avoid courtrooms, jails, and mental hospitals entirely. Non-residents should obtain a recognized concealed-carry permit before in-state concealed transport. For collectors heading to knife shows, dojos, hunting trips, conventions, or interstate travel through Yellowstone and Grand Teton (subject to federal park regulations), Wyoming sword laws give one of the cleanest state-level carry positions in the country, and Wyoming sword laws reserve enforcement for criminal-intent and narrow location-specific contexts.

The bottom line on owning and carrying swords in Wyoming

Wyoming sword laws sit at the top of the permissive tier of the national spectrum. Ownership is unrestricted. Open carry is unrestricted. Concealed carry is unrestricted for Wyoming residents age 21 and older who are not otherwise prohibited (no permit required after the 2011 constitutional carry reform). Non-residents must hold a recognized concealed-carry permit. The state uses a conduct-based "deadly weapon" definition rather than a design-based framework. The principal state-level location restriction is § 6-5-209 (courtrooms, jails, and mental hospitals). Statewide preemption under § 6-8-401 prevents local ordinances from eroding the framework.

For anyone building a sword collection in Wyoming, the practical takeaway is short. Buy what you want, carry openly or concealed as preferred (if a non-prohibited resident 21 or older), drive across the state without worrying about local ordinances, stay clear of courtrooms, jails, and mental hospitals entirely, and remember that the § 6-8-103 felony applies only to possession with unlawful intent to threaten or injure. Wyoming sword laws treat adult collectors with full trust and reserve enforcement for criminal-intent and the narrow § 6-5-209 location contexts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are swords legal to own in Wyoming?

Yes. Wyoming sword laws impose no restriction on the ownership of swords or any other knife category. Katanas, longswords, sabers, machetes, daggers, switchblades, sword canes, OTF knives, balisongs, ballistic knives, throwing stars, and fantasy replicas can all be purchased and kept in a private residence without a permit, registration, or background check. The Wyoming statutes do not mention the word "knife" anywhere in the principal weapon provisions, and § 6-1-104(a)(iv) does not list any knife category in the deadly-weapon definition.

Can I carry a sword concealed in Wyoming?

Yes, if you are a Wyoming resident age 21 or older and not otherwise prohibited from firearm possession. The 2011 constitutional carry reform under Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-104 allows permitless concealed carry of deadly weapons. Non-residents must hold a concealed-carry permit from a state with Wyoming reciprocity. Persons under 21 or with disqualifying criminal history are subject to the § 6-8-104 misdemeanor (first offense: $750 fine, 6 months jail). The conduct-based deadly-weapon definition under Wyoming sword laws also limits when knives qualify as deadly weapons.

Is open carry of a sword legal in Wyoming?

Yes. Open carry of any sword is fully legal at the state level under Wyoming sword laws. There is no permit requirement, no blade-length cap, and no statewide open-carry offense. Open carry applies to all adults regardless of residency. Statewide preemption under Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-401 prevents local governments from imposing additional open-carry restrictions. The § 6-5-209 court, jail, and mental hospital rule applies to open and concealed carry alike.

What is the "deadly weapon" definition in Wyoming?

Wyo. Stat. § 6-1-104(a)(iv) defines "deadly weapon" as "a firearm, explosive or incendiary material, motorized vehicle, an animal or other device, instrument, material or substance, which in the manner it is used or is intended to be used is reasonably capable of producing death or serious bodily injury." The definition is conduct-based. An object is a deadly weapon only when used or intended to be used in a manner capable of producing serious harm. In Conine v. State (2008), the Wyoming Supreme Court held that even a frying pan can be a deadly weapon under Wyoming sword laws when used to inflict injury.

Is there a Wyoming statute prohibiting swords on K-12 school grounds?

No statewide statute. Unlike most states, Wyoming does not have a specific statutory provision criminalizing knives or swords on K-12 school property. The Wyoming Statutes do not include a school-weapons section comparable to those in neighboring states. However, federal Gun-Free School Zones Act provisions apply (firearms primarily), and individual school district policies prohibit weapons on school property. Practical advice: do not bring swords or any blade onto K-12 school grounds in Wyoming, regardless of the absence of a specific state statute.

Do Wyoming cities have stricter sword regulations?

No. Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-401 provides statewide preemption: "The sale, transfer, purchase, delivery, taxation, manufacture, ownership, transportation, storage, use and possession of firearms, weapons and ammunition shall be authorized, regulated and prohibited by the state, and regulation thereof is preempted by the state." Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, Jackson, and other Wyoming cities cannot enact knife rules stricter than state law. The same rules apply uniformly across all 23 Wyoming counties under current Wyoming sword laws.

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Sources

Justia	Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-103 Deadly Weapon with Unlawful Intent
American Knife and Tool Institute	Wyoming Knife Laws Overview
RavenCrest Tactical	Wyoming Knife Laws Detailed Analysis
KnifeUp	Wyoming Knife Laws Summary
KnifeAde	Wyoming Knife Law Complete Guide