Yes, brass knuckles are illegal in Colorado. Under Colorado Revised Statutes 18-12-102, metallic knuckles are classified as an “illegal weapon,” and knowingly possessing them is a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.1Justia. Colorado Code 18-12-102 – Possessing a Dangerous or Illegal Weapon – Affirmative Defense – Definition The charge applies whether the knuckles are being carried, used, or simply sitting in a drawer.
How the Statute Classifies Them
Section 18-12-102 splits prohibited weapons into two categories. “Dangerous weapons” is the more restricted group and covers items like firearm silencers, machine guns, and short-barreled rifles. “Illegal weapons” is the group that includes metallic knuckles, along with blackjacks, gas guns, and ballistic knives.1Justia. Colorado Code 18-12-102 – Possessing a Dangerous or Illegal Weapon – Affirmative Defense – Definition
The statute says “metallic knuckles,” not “brass knuckles.” That word matters. Knuckle weapons made from brass, steel, aluminum, iron, or any other metal fall within the ban. Knuckle-style devices made entirely from plastic, carbon fiber, or other non-metallic materials may fall outside the statute’s plain language. Relying on that distinction is risky, because prosecutors and judges can read the law differently, but it reflects what the text actually says.
The prohibition is on knowing possession. The statute does not separately address manufacturing, selling, or transferring metallic knuckles. What triggers the charge is having them, and knowing you have them.1Justia. Colorado Code 18-12-102 – Possessing a Dangerous or Illegal Weapon – Affirmative Defense – Definition
Current Penalties
Possession of metallic knuckles is a Class 1 misdemeanor, the highest misdemeanor level in Colorado. The date of the offense controls which sentencing range applies.
For offenses on or after March 1, 2022, the maximum is 364 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.2Justia. Colorado Code 18-1.3-501 – Misdemeanors Classified – Penalties – Extraordinary Risk Crimes The 364-day cap replaced the old 18-month ceiling and was set below one year to avoid certain immigration consequences.
For offenses before March 1, 2022, the older range still applies: six to 18 months in jail and fines of $500 to $5,000.2Justia. Colorado Code 18-1.3-501 – Misdemeanors Classified – Penalties – Extraordinary Risk Crimes Older articles quoting 18 months and $5,000 are describing the pre-2022 framework.
If the Knuckles Are Used in Another Crime
Possession is a standalone charge, but striking someone with brass knuckles opens the door to assault charges that stack on top. A punch that causes bodily injury can support a third-degree assault charge. An attack causing serious bodily injury can support first- or second-degree assault, both felonies with prison time measured in years. The possession count is filed alongside the assault, not folded into it.
Defenses That Actually Apply
Colorado’s statutory affirmative defense to illegal weapon possession is narrow. It covers peace officers acting in the lawful discharge of their duties, members of the U.S. armed forces or Colorado National Guard acting in the lawful discharge of their duties, and people who hold a valid permit and license for the weapon.1Justia. Colorado Code 18-12-102 – Possessing a Dangerous or Illegal Weapon – Affirmative Defense – Definition No standard permit for metallic knuckles exists in Colorado, so that third category rarely helps in brass knuckle cases.
The Knowing-Possession Element
Because the statute requires that a person “knowingly possesses” an illegal weapon, the prosecution has to prove you were aware the knuckles were in your possession.1Justia. Colorado Code 18-12-102 – Possessing a Dangerous or Illegal Weapon – Affirmative Defense – Definition If someone slipped brass knuckles into your bag, or they were tucked inside a box of inherited belongings you had never opened, the knowing element fails. Most real-world defenses run through this element rather than through justification arguments.
Self-Defense Does Not Cure Possession
Colorado’s self-defense statute allows reasonable physical force against imminent unlawful force, and deadly force when a person reasonably believes lesser force is inadequate and they face imminent death or great bodily injury.3Justia. Colorado Revised Statutes 18-1-704 – Use of Physical Force in Defense of a Person That defense addresses whether force was justified in the moment. It does not erase the separate crime of possessing an illegal weapon. You can win a self-defense argument against an assault charge and still be convicted of the possession count.
How Priors and Supervision Change the Picture
Judges have broad discretion inside the statutory range, and prior convictions push sentences toward the top of it. A first-time defendant caught with knuckles in a backpack may see a fine and probation. Someone with prior weapons or violence convictions is more likely to see jail time near the 364-day cap.
Colorado’s habitual criminal statute covers repeat felony offenders, so it does not enhance a misdemeanor brass knuckles charge into a felony.4Justia. Colorado Code 18-1.3-801 – Punishment for Habitual Criminals
The bigger risk is for people already on probation or parole. Possessing an illegal weapon will almost certainly violate the terms of supervised release, which can trigger revocation and imposition of the suspended sentence from the earlier case. In that situation, the new charge is often the smaller problem.
Sealing a Conviction Later
A Class 1 misdemeanor conviction becomes eligible for record sealing three years after final disposition, once all restitution is paid. The filing fee is $65 and can be waived, and the district attorney must be notified.5Colorado Judicial Branch. Sealing Criminal Records – April 2025
Illegal weapon possession is not on Colorado’s list of offenses barred from sealing, which includes DUI, domestic violence, unlawful sexual behavior, crimes of violence, and identity theft. A standalone brass knuckle conviction is eligible once the waiting period passes.5Colorado Judicial Branch. Sealing Criminal Records – April 2025 Sealing is not expungement. The record still exists, but it is hidden from most background checks and the general public, while law enforcement and certain government agencies retain limited access.
Getting Confiscated Knuckles Back
When officers find metallic knuckles during a stop, search, or arrest, they seize them as contraband. Because the object itself is illegal to possess, there is no realistic route to recovering them, even if charges are dropped or you are acquitted. Confiscated knuckles are typically held as evidence during the case and destroyed once it closes.