Carrying bladed weapons without permission or in violation of storage rules entails administrative or criminal liability - from a fine of 500 rubles to imprisonment for 4 years. The size of the penalty depends on the type of weapon, the circumstances of the arrest and the availability of permits. For example, for wearing Finnish knife without permission in a public place you face a fine of up to 2,000 ₽ (Part 4 of Article 20.8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation), and for combat dagger - a criminal case under Art. 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation with the risk of imprisonment.

Key Point: The Law Distinguishes bladed weapon (knives, daggers, checkers) and cold throwing weapon (bows, crossbows). The first is regulated by the Code of Administrative Offences, the second - often by the Criminal Code. It is also important where exactly you carry a weapon: in the forest while hunting or in a city park. We will analyze all the cases with the current amounts of fines and judicial practice for 2023–2026.

What weapons are considered edged by law?

In Russia, edged weapons are defined Federal Law No. 150-FZ as products designed to hit a target using human muscle power. This includes:

  • 🔪 Knives (combat, national, hunting) with a blade length > 90 mm or a blade lock.
  • ⚔️ Bladed weapon: sabers, checkers, cutlasses, daggers.
  • 🏹 Throwing weapons: bows, crossbows, boomerangs (adjustable separately).
  • 🛡️ Other: brass knuckles, nunchucks, flails (can be classified as edged or other weapons).

Important: household knives (kitchen, folding without lock) and tourist machete are not edged weapons unless their design is intended to cause harm. However, upon arrest, the police can conduct an examination - and if the knife is recognized as a weapon, punishment will follow even for carrying it in a backpack.

Examples of court decisions on knives

Folding knife Benchmade 940 with a blade length of 89 mm, it was recognized as a weapon due to its “combat purpose” (decision of the Leninsky District Court of Yekaterinburg, 2023). At the same time the knife Victorinox SwissChamp with a 91-mm blade was recognized as a household one due to the lack of a blade lock (decision of the Moscow Regional Court, 2026).

If you are unsure whether your knife is a weapon, check:

  1. Is there on the blade manufacturer's mark (for example, "ZIK" or "IZH").
  2. Does the length of the blade exceed 90 mm (measured in a straight line from handle to tip).
  3. Is there blade lock (even for folding knives).

Fines for carrying bladed weapons without permission

The main article for punishment is Part 4 Art. 20.8 Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (“Violation of the rules of carrying weapons”). Fines in 2026:

Type of violation Fine (₽) Additional punishment
Carrying without permission in a public place 500–2 000 Confiscation of weapons
Carrying while intoxicated 2 000–5 000 Confiscation + possible arrest up to 15 days
Wearing at a public event (rally, concert) 3 000–5 000 Confiscation + administrative arrest up to 15 days
Carrying throwing weapons (bow, crossbow) without permission 2 000–4 000 Confiscation + fine for lack of storage license

⚠️ Attention: If a bladed weapon is found on you during administrative detention (for example, when checking documents), the fine will be minimal - 500 rubles. But if the weapon is seized when security check at the entrance to a shopping center or airport, the amount will increase to 2,000–3,000 rubles due to aggravating circumstances.

📊Have you ever encountered a check for carrying a bladed weapon?
No, never
Yes, the police checked the knife in the car.
Yes, the shopping center security didn’t let me in with a knife.
Yes, there was a fine for carrying without permission

Exceptions when a fine can be avoided:

  • 🏕️ Carrying weapons in hunting in the forest (if you have a hunting license).
  • 🚗 Transportation to covered in the trunk (not in the salon!).
  • 🏠 Storage at home (if the weapon is registered with the police).

When does carrying a bladed weapon become a criminal offense?

If bladed weapons are recognized combat (e.g. dagger, brass knuckles, nunchucks) or you wear it for the purpose of attack, the case is transferred to the criminal code. Current articles:

  • 📜 Art. 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Illegal acquisition, storage, carrying of weapons”):
    • Fine: 50,000–100,000 rubles.
    • Correctional work: up to 1 year.
    • Imprisonment: up to 2 years (if the weapon is military).
  • 📜 Art. 223 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Illegal manufacture of weapons"):
    • Fine: up to 80,000 rubles.
    • Imprisonment: up to 4 years (if the weapon is manufactured for sale).

⚠️ Attention: If they find a bladed weapon on you along with drugs or intoxicated, the court can qualify actions based on a set of articles (for example, Article 222 + Article 6.9 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). In this case, the minimum fine will be 200,000 rubles, and the maximum term will be 5 years in prison.

Do not immediately admit guilt - request an examination of the knife|Check whether the police have a search report|Take photographs of the weapon and the arrest environment|Contact a lawyer within 2 hours|Do not sign reports without a lawyer-->

How to legally carry bladed weapons?

To avoid fines, apply for a carry and storage permit. Procedure in 2026:

  1. Apply to OLRR (Department of Licensing and Permitting Work) at the place of residence.
  2. Pass medical commission (narcologist + psychiatrist).
  3. Provide certificate of no criminal record.
  4. Pay the state fee - 2 000 ₽ (for individuals).
  5. Pass testing knowledge of the rules of handling weapons (test in OLRR).

The permit is valid 5 years. Enough for hunting knives hunting ticket (not to be confused with a weapons permit!). National edged weapons (for example, Caucasian saber or Cossack saber) can be worn without permission, but only in national clothes and during cultural events.

💡

If you collect edged weapons, register them as museum exhibit. To do this, you need to obtain an expert’s opinion on the cultural value - and then storage will be legal even without permission from the OLRR.

Common mistakes that lead to fines

Even law-abiding citizens sometimes violate the rules of carrying weapons. Top 5 mistakes:

  • 🚗 Transporting a knife inside a car (must be in the trunk in a case).
  • 🎒 Carrying a folding knife with a lock in a backpack (equivalent to wearing on a belt).
  • 🍺 Carrying a hunting knife with you after drinking alcohol (even 0.1 ppm is grounds for a fine).
  • 🏢 Bringing weapons into a government office (even with permission - prohibited).
  • 🛒 Buying a knife without a receipt (during inspection you will not be able to prove legal purchase).

⚠️ Attention: If you have lost your gun permit, you have 30 daysto restore the document. After this, carrying weapons will be considered illegal.

What to do if you were fined illegally?

If you are sure that the knife is not a bladed weapon, or the police violated the search procedure, appeal the decision:

  1. Write a complaint to district court within 10 days from the moment the decision was made.
  2. Demand independent examination of the knife (its result can be used in court).
  3. Please indicate the violations in your complaint:
    • Lack of witnesses during the inspection.
    • Incorrect blade length measurement.
    • Lack of examination certificate.

The average cost of an appeal through a lawyer is 10,000–20,000 rubles. If the court sides with you, the fine will be canceled and the weapon will be returned. Example of a successful appeal: in 2023, a resident St. Petersburg canceled fine for knife Opinel No. 8 (85 mm), proving that he is household, not combat.

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Even if a knife is not a weapon, carrying it in in an aggressive manner (for example, a demonstration in a conflict) can be qualified as threat of violence (Article 119 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) with a fine of up to 200,000 rubles.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about fines for edged weapons

Is it possible to carry a knife for self-defense without permission?

No. Any bladed weapon, even one intended for self-defense, requires permission. Exception - gas cartridges and stun guns (but they also need documents). If you carry a knife “just in case,” when detained, this may be regarded as preparation for an attack (Article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

What is the punishment for carrying a bladed weapon on the subway?

The same rules apply in the metro as in other public places: a fine of 500–2,000 rubles (part 4 of article 20.8 of the Administrative Code). However, if a weapon is detected while passing through a metal detector, the amount can be increased to 3,000 rubles due to an “attempt to smuggle into transport infrastructure.”

Is it possible to carry bladed weapons in a case on a belt?

Yes, but only if available permissions. Without documents, even a cover will not save you from a fine. Important: the sheath must completely cover the blade and be fixed on the belt (free dangling of the knife in the sheath is equivalent to open carrying).

What happens if a 16 year old child is caught with a knife?

For minors, the same articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses apply, but fines are replaced by warning or community service. However, if the knife is recognized as a military weapon, the case will be transferred to the commission for minors, and the parents will be fined 1,000–3,000 rubles.

Is it possible to carry bladed weapons on an airplane?

Yes, but only in checked baggage in a sheathed form. Carrying in hand luggage is prohibited. If you violate the rule, you will be fined 2,000–3,000 rubles, and your weapon will be confiscated. To transport military weapons (for example, a dagger) it is required permission from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.