Quick Legal Facts
Statewide Preemption:
No.
Concealed Carry:
Concealment is a factor. The law prohibits the concealed carry of certain knives as described.
Schools:
Knives are prohibited on all schools.
Critical Dimensions:
None noted.
The Oregon State Constitution recognizes and preserves for the people the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves.
The people shall have the right to bear arms for the defence (sic) of themselves, and the State, but the Military shall be kept in strict subordination to the civil power[.] OR CONST Art. I, § 27
The right of people in Oregon to keep and bear arms under the state statute has
been clearly recognized and upheld by the Oregon Supreme Court. The Supreme
Court of Oregon struck down the state switchblade prohibition law in 1984 in the case of
State v. Delgado, 692 P.2d 610 (1984).
The Oregon law regarding possession and carrying of knives and edged weapons may be found at Title 16, Chapter 166 (Possession and Use of Weapons).
Forbidden:
There are no forbidden or prohibited knives in Oregon.
Sale/Transfer:
There are no restrictions on the sale of knives in Oregon.
Concealment/Carrying:
Concealment is a factor. The law prohibits the concealed carry of certain knives as described.
(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 … O.R.S. § 166.240
Oregon has a well-developed scheme regarding possession of firearms or dangerous weapons in public buildings or court facilities. For purposes of this section, weapon is defined as:
(5) ‘Weapon’ means:
(b) Any dirk, dagger, ice pick, slingshot, metal knuckles or any similar instrument or a knife other than an ordinary pocket knife, the use of which could inflict injury upon a person or property; O.R.S. § 166.360(5)
Presumably, “ordinary” pocketknife excludes a knife with a blade that swings into position by force of a spring or centrifugal force.
Critical Dimensions:
None noted.
Statewide Preemption:
Yes as to firearms. The preemption does not apply to knives. § 166.170.
Schools:
Knives are prohibited on all schools.