Are multi-tools allowed in school?

We always want to carry our multi-tools with us where ever we go. We’re living the Multi-Tool Life so we don’t feel right unless we’re ready for whatever comes our way. But we do know there are some places that we can’t take our multi-tools. Is a multi tool considered a weapon? Is it legal to carry a multi tool? If you haven’t read my article on what to do with your multi-tool when you fly, you probably know it’s not a good idea to try to take your multi-tool onboard the plane.

It’s understandable why you might want to try though, those complimentary packets of peanuts can be really hard to open without a knife! Not being able to take a multi-tool with a knife on a plane makes sense in these times but what about schools? Are multi-tools allowed in school?

The most likely answer is NO you are not allowed to bring a multi-tool to school. But it will depend on different factors like:

– whether your state or municipal laws specifically ban knives from school property, or
– whether the school itself has a policy against multi-tools or knives, or
– whether your multi-tool has a knife and how big that knife is.

Let’s look at each of these factors in detail.

Multi-tools without a knife

I know it’s obvious but just to be very clear, we’re not talking about whether a multi-tool that doesn’t have a knife is allowed in a school or not. If it doesn’t have a knife, it is most likely legal to have on any school property. I say “most likely” because you need to refer to the school policy specifically. It would be very unusual if the policy didn’t allow you to carry a multi-tool that doesn’t have a weapon but you never know! Even if you do have a multi-tool without a blade (my absolute favorite multi-tool without a knife is on the Recommended Multi-Tools page) you could still be questioned about it.

There are a lot of stories of teachers and students who have carried a multi-tool without a knife onto school grounds, pulled it out to do something with it and been questioned by staff. If you want to carry a bladeless multi-tool, of course, you can decide how you want to do that. One of the ways is to talk to someone in authority at the school and get their opinion. And if you do pull out your multi-tool to open your can of chilli for lunch, it could save you some hassle to tell anyone interested that it doesn’t have a knife.

Federal, State or Municipal Laws

There are no US Federal Knife Laws that prohibit the owning, open carrying or concealed carrying of multi-tools. Not just on school grounds but anywhere. The Federal law leaves it to the state laws to determine what you can legally do with your multi-tool with a knife. If you want to know what your state says about you and your multi-tool, click on your state on this page. Some states specifically prohibit any knives on school grounds while others don’t say anything. Check your state but the states I know that don’t allow knives are Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts and North Carolina. There are a couple of other states that don’t allow deadly weapons on school grounds – Conneticut and Maryland – but multi-tools aren’t classified as deadly weapons in these states. You can see how it could get tricky though so be careful.

Even if your state doesn’t specifically prohibit knives on school grounds, city or municipal ordinances could. For example, the knife laws are much stricter in New York City than they are in New York state. That means you could be traveling around in New York state and be legal with what you’re carrying and then go into NYC and suddenly be illegal. So you need to be aware whether your multi-tool is legal wherever you are. Doesn’t make it easy does it? And cities and municipalities can change their laws when they like so I can’t point you to any single resource to give you a definite answer. If you live around these areas you should be able to keep on top of any laws once you’ve done your research though.

School Policy

Individual schools, school districts, universities and other learning organizations can have their own policies that allow or prohibit multi-tools. In current times, a lot of these institutions will adopt a zero-tolerance policy because that’s easy and safe and is the lowest risk policy for them. They don’t want the liability in our litigious society. A survey I saw asked people whether knives should be allowed in school and 81% said Yes they should be allowed because you shouldn’t make policies for the ‘bad few’. The trouble is that 19% said No because there isn’t a need to have a knife. Even though that’s the minority view, it’s still easier for the schools to prohibit knives.

The policy may specifically reference multi-tools or they may just talk about knives. Either way, you need to make yourself aware of any relevant policies before you decide to take your multi-tool onto their grounds. And some of the policies can be specific:

• About the type of “weapon” – the size of the knife and type of knife, balisong for example
• When it might be OK to carry it – when you’re going to and from the Tool Shop or Theatre for example
• How you can carry it – open or concealed
• Whether you’re a staff member or a student
• Whether you’re a Minor or not

Of course, these policies can change over time.

What can you do?

There are really only 2 ways to deal with this.

1. Do your research – check your state laws on owning and carrying multi-tools by going to my US Multi-Tools page. If that doesn’t say anything about carrying a knife on school grounds then check your city or municipal laws. If that’s OK then research the policy of the learning institution you’re going to be visiting. If they all check out OK then carry your multi-tool with you. Even if it’s legal though be sensible about how you handle your multi-tool. Anyone who decides you are acting in a threatening manner could have a problem with you and that could spell trouble. Being a low-key Multi-Tool MacGyver is always best. OR
2. Play it safe – don’t carry a multi-tool with a knife or don’t carry a multi-tool at all. If you decide it’s not worth the hassle to carry any multi-tool then just don’t. Doesn’t match my Multi-Tool Life so I would look at option 1 first but of course you should decide what’s best for your circumstances.

Are things different in the UK and Australia?

Yes, they are different.

In the UK, the law doesn’t talk specifically about carrying a multi-tool or knife onto school grounds but it does have new strict rules about carrying a knife with a locking blade. Most multi-tools have a locking blade where you need to depress or slide a lock to release the blade to fold it back into the handle. These types of knives are illegal to carry unless you have a “good reason” to carry it. If you’re going to a school, you’ve probably already lost the “good reason” argument.

You can, however, carry a non-locking knife with a blade length under 3 inches (7.5 cms). Non-locking knives are usually called ‘friction knives’ as they are held in their extended position by friction alone and don’t have a button to allow them to be refolded. Something like a Gerber Vise fits this description. I would still check with the school before I started carrying a knife into school.

Australia bans the carrying of knives except if you’re carrying it for a lawful purpose. That means if you’re carrying it to go fishing, hunting or for employment that’s OK. Being a student at the school is not a lawful purpose. If you’re the Tool Shop teacher or the Theatre maintenance guy then you probably have a case to carry a multi-tool

Multi-Tools – Never Leave Home Without One (unless maybe you’re going onto school grounds!)

Have you had any experience with carrying a multi-tool on school grounds? What was your experience? Did you have any problems or reactions?  Let me know in the comments below.