Can I Order Brass Knuckles in Canada?
1-Min Summary: Brass knuckles are prohibited weapons under Canadian federal law. Ordering them online, importing, or simply possessing them is a criminal offence punishable by up to 5 years in prison — regardless of which province you live in. The one legal alternative: plastic knuckles are explicitly permitted under CBSA Memorandum D19-13-2 and can be legally purchased in Canada.
The short answer is no — and the reason is straightforward. Brass knuckles are classified as a prohibited weapon under Section 84(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada. According to Strategic Criminal Defence, this classification covers every step of the chain: buying, selling, possessing, carrying, and importing are all criminal offences. Prohibited is the most serious weapon category in Canadian law — unlike restricted firearms, which can be owned with a licence, prohibited weapons cannot be legally held by a private individual under any circumstances. The ban is federal, which means it applies equally in every province and territory. There is no regional loophole — the rules are identical in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, and everywhere else.
The most common misconception is that ordering from a foreign website somehow sidesteps the law. It does not. Byrna Canada notes that ordering brass knuckles online is treated the same as importing a prohibited weapon, and Canadian authorities enforce this actively. If Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) intercepts the package — which they routinely do — the item is seized. As confirmed by the CATSA official prohibited items list, the protocol upon discovery is immediate notification of police. More importantly, seizure of the parcel is not the end of the matter. The act of placing the order can itself attract criminal charges for attempted import of a prohibited weapon — meaning you could face prosecution even if the package never reaches you.
If charged, the consequences are serious. Strategic Criminal Defence outlines that an indictable conviction carries a maximum of 5 years imprisonment, while a summary conviction can result in up to 2 years less a day and a $5,000 fine. Beyond jail time, a criminal record affects employment background checks, international travel, and housing applications. On the question of material: CBSA Memorandum D19-13-2 explicitly states that plastic knuckles do not fall within the definition of brass knuckles under Canadian law and are therefore legal to own in Canada. This is not a grey area — the Memorandum is an official government document that directly exempts plastic versions from the prohibited weapons tariff classification. If you are looking for a legal option, Brass Knuckles Canada is a Canadian retailer that sells plastic knuckles that are legal to purchase and own under Canadian law.
The bottom line is simple: if a website is willing to ship brass knuckles to a Canadian address, that willingness is not a legal green light — it is a red flag. The seller's shipping policy has no bearing on what Canadian law permits you to receive. Whether you are considering ordering for self-defence, curiosity, or collection, none of those purposes provide a legal exemption. If you are uncertain whether an item qualifies as a prohibited weapon, the safest step is to consult a criminal defence lawyer before making any purchase.
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