<P> Many of today's state criminal codes restricting knife use and ownership have been amended repeatedly over the years rather than rewritten to remove old classifications and definitions that are largely a historical legacy, a process that frequently results in illogical, confusing, and even conflicting provisions . Thus in Arkansas, a state in which knife fights using large, lengthy blades such as the Bowie and Arkansas Toothpick were once commonplace, a state statute made it illegal for someone to "carry a knife as a weapon", specifying that any knife with a blade 3.5 inches or longer constituted prima facie evidence that the knife was being carried as a weapon, yet allowed a complete exemption to the law when "upon a journey". </P> <P> While Arkansas eventually repealed its archaic criminal knife possession law in its entirety, other states still periodically amend archaic criminal codes that penalize both historic and present - day behavior involving knife use and ownership; these patchwork statutes can result in lengthy legal disputes over legislative intent and definitions . As one example, Indiana law makes it illegal to possess a' dagger',' dirk',' poniard',' stiletto',' switchblade', or' gravity knife' on school property, or to possess any knife on school property "capable of being used to inflict cutting, stabbing, or tearing wounds" if that knife "is intended to be used as a weapon", but provides for a criminal penalty only if a person "recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally" possesses such a knife on school property . The statute thus requires 1) an examination of the knife and the legislative history of the statute; 2) expert testimony on the individual characteristics of historic knife designs to determine whether the knife in question fits within one of the six specified categories of knife; 3) a determination as to whether the blade can cause a "cutting, stabbing, or tearing wound"; 4) a determination as to what degree of injury constitutes a "wound", and 5) two separate determinations of the defendant's intent by the fact finder--before guilt or innocence may be adjudged . </P> <P> Some states prohibit the possession of a folding knife with a quick - opening mechanism such as a gravity knife, butterfly knife, balisong, or switchblade . Other states may impose no restrictions at all, while many allow possession with some restrictions (age, carrying on one's person, carrying concealed, carrying while a convicted felon, prohibited possessor, or while in the commission of a serious offense, etc .) </P> <P> The continual advent of new knife designs, such as assisted - opening knives can complicate issues of legality, particularly when state laws have not been carefully drafted to clearly define the new design and how it is to be classified within existing law . This omission has led in the past to cases in which state courts have substituted their own understanding of knife design to interpret legislative intent when applying statutes criminalizing certain types of knives . </P>

When did it become illegal to carry a sword