Are Nunchucks Legal in New York?

The statutes

• N.Y. Penal Law § 265.01 ("chuka stick")
• Maloney v. Singas, 351 F. Supp. 3d 222 (E.D.N.Y. 2018)
• NY Courts law library FAQ on nunchaku

Owning and carrying: the short version

• New York banned nunchaku ("chuka sticks") in 1974.
• In Maloney v. Singas (E.D.N.Y., Dec 14, 2018), a federal court held the ban unconstitutional and said possession is "no longer unlawful."
• The Legislature has not removed "chuka stick" from Penal Law § 265.01(1), the case was brought against a single county district attorney, and the New York State Courts' law library calls nunchaku a legal "gray zone." Treat home possession as lower-risk but not settled.
• New York City rules were not checked.

Local rules

Cities and counties can have their own weapons rules. Check your local code before you buy or carry.

Buying and shipping

Arizona Nunchuck Co. ships to New York. A federal court held the state’s nunchaku ban unconstitutional in Maloney v. Singas (E.D.N.Y. 2018), but “chuka stick” is still listed in Penal Law § 265.01(1). Keep your set at home or in a training bag, and check New York City’s rules before you carry one in public.