Tennessee

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Tennessee

This jurisdictional hub aggregates FRC holdings related to Tennessee. It supports research on the state’s firearms history, technology, law, policy, and culture from the Southwest Territory and early statehood periods to the present.

Legal sources: statutes and session laws, administrative code, attorney general opinions, appellate decisions, and select municipal ordinances.
Historical materials: newspapers, photographs, maps, catalogs, frontier and militia records, river trade and transportation archives, manufacturing and law-enforcement collections, and oral histories tied to Tennessee people and places.
Research outputs: technical reports, academic studies, training manuals, and curated datasets relevant to the state.

Cite the Firearms Research Center and the item’s handle/DOI when using materials. Rights and licensing vary by item.

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Now showing 1 - 32 of 32

Tenn. Const. of 1796, art. XI, § 26
(1796)
Provided that the freemen of the state have a right to keep and bear arms for their common defense.
1858 Tenn. Code 871
(1858)
§ 4864: "Any person who sells, loans, or gives to any minor a pistol, bowie-knife, dirk, Arkansas tooth-pick, hunter's knife, or like dangerous weapon, except a gun for hunting or weapon for defence in travelling, is guilty of a misdemeanor,"
1884 Tenn. Comp. Stat. 1060–61, § 5533
(1879)
Made the sale, offer of sale, or importation into the state belt pistols, pocket pistols, revolver, or any other kind of pistols except Army or Navy pistols a misdemeanor.
1879 Tenn. Pub. Acts 135-36, An Act to Prevent the Sale of Pistols, chap. 96, § 1.
(1879)
Made the sale, offer of sale, or importation into the state belt pistols, pocket pistols, revolver, or any other kind of pistols except Army or Navy pistols a misdemeanor.
1884 Tenn. Comp. Stat. 1060–61, § 5533
(1879)
Banned concealed carry of any dirk or razor. Also banned the carry of any sword-cane, loaded cane, slung-shot, brass knuckles, Spanish stilletos, belt pistols, pocket pistols, revolvers, any kind of pistol.
Tenn. Const. of 1870, art. I, § 26
(1870)
Declared the citizens have a right to keep and bear arms, but that the legislature shall have the power to regulate the wearing of arms to prevent crime.
A Compilation of the Laws and Ordinances of the Corporation of Lebanon ch. 20, §23 (1871)
(1871)
Carrying Concealed Weapons Prohibited: Whoever shall carry concealed upon or about his person any pistol, Bowie knife, dirk, sword cane or other dangerous weapon, within the limits of the Corporation, unless on a journey or permitted by law to carry weapons, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and fined not less than three dollars nor more than fifty [dollars] for each offence."
Ordinances of the City Council of Memphis ch. 4, art. 5, §§ 1-8 (1867)
(1867)
Shooting Galleries: That from and after the passage of this ordinance, no person or persons shall be allowed, under any pretence whatever, to open, set up or establish a shooting gallery in the first story of any building within the corporate limits of the City of Memphis, under a penalty of fifty dollars per day for each and every day that such shooting gallery shall be set up or continued within said corporate limits of the city.
1871 Tenn. Pub. Stat. 95
(1871)
Criminal Laws, 1870-chapter 13, § 1: That it shall not be lawful for any person to publicly or privately carry a dirk, sword cane, Spanish stiletto, belt or pocket pistol or revolver,other than an army pistol, or such as are commonly carried and used in the United States army, and in no case shall it be lawful for any person to carry such army pistol publicly or privately about his person in any other manner than openly in his hands[.]
1855-1856 Tenn. Pub. Acts 34
(1855)
An Act to Amend and Reduce into One, the Acts Relating to the Charter of the Town of Clarkeville, ch. 32, § 2, pt. 20: To provide for the prevention and extinguishment of fires; to organize, establish and equip fire companies, hose companies, and hook and ladder companies; to regulate, restrain or prohibit the erection of wooden or combustible buildings in any part of the city; to regulate and to prevent the carrying on of manufactories dangerous in causing or producing fires; to regulate the storage of gun powder, tar, pitch, rosin, saltpetre [sic], gun cotton and all other combustible or explosive material[.]
John Lellyett, Ordinances of the City of Nashville 244 (1872)
(1872)
Active Nuisances, § 9: That it shall not be lawful for any person to use what is commonly called or known as a sling gun, or spring shot, made from India rubber, or other elastic substances, attached to a forked stick, or other brace, to throw or shoot pebbles, gravel, shot, bullets, or other hard substances, or to use a bow and arrow, within the corporate limits of Nashville. And the using of any such instrument or apparatus aforesaid, or having the same in his or her possession, shall be a misdemeanor; and such person or persons shall be liable to arrest and upon conviction, fined not less than two, nor more than fifty dollars, for each and every offense.
2 Tenn. Comp. Stat. 125, tit. 12, ch. 9, art. 2, § 4864
(1856)
Any person who sells, loans, or gives, to any minor a pistol, bowie-knife, dirk, Arkansas tooth-pick, hunter's knife, or like dangerous weapon, except a gun for hunting or weapon for defense in traveling, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars, and be imprisoned in the county jail at the discretion of the court.
1871 Tenn. Pub. Acts 108
(1858)
Elections, 1869-70 ch. 22, § 2: Prohibited for any person from carrying, concealed or openly, any pistol, dirk, Bowie knife, Arkansas Toothpick, or other deadly or dangerous weapon at an election, fair, race course, or other public assembly.
1879 Tenn. Pub. Acts 231
(1879)
Ch. 186, § 1: Prohibited the public or private carry of any dirk, razor concealed on their person. Also prohibited the open carry of any sword cane, spanish stilletto, belt pistols, pocket pistols, revolver, or any other kind of pistols except Army or Navy pistols. Violators fined fifty dollars and imprisoned in the county of the violation at the court's discretion.
1855-56 Tenn. Pub. Acts 92
(1856)
Ch. 81, § 2: Prohibited the sale or transfer of any pistol, Bowie knife, dirk, Arkansas toothpick, or hunter's knife to a minor. Excepted the transfer of a gun for hunting.
1879 Tenn. Pub. Acts 135–36
(1879)
Ch. 46, §§ 1–6: Made the sale, offer of sale, or importation into the state belt pistols, pocket pistols, revolver, or any other kind of pistols except Army or Navy pistols a misdemeanor.
1869–1870 Tenn. Pub. Acts 55
(1870)
Ch. 41, § 2: Prohibited the carry of dirks, sword-canes, Spanish stilletos, belt pistols, pocket pistols, or revolvers. Violators fined not less than ten but no more than fifty dollars and imprisoned not less than thirty days but no more than six months. One thousand dollar bond required to "keep the peace" for six months post-conviction.
Tenn. Const. art. I, § 26
(1831)
Establishes the right to keep and bear arms for the "free white men of this State."
1837-1838 Tenn. Pub. Acts 200, ch. 137, § 1.
(1837)
Prohibited any merchant from selling a Bowie knife or Arkansas tooth pick. Punishable by fine of $100-500 and imprisonment for $1-6 months.
1837-38 Tenn. Pub. Acts 200, ch. 137, § 1
(1837)
An Act to Suppress the Sale and Use of Bowie Knives and Arkansas Tooth Picks in this State, ch. 137, § 1: That if any merchant, . . . shall sell, or offer to sell . . . any Bowie knife or knives, or Arkansas tooth picks . . . such merchant shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof upon indictment or presentment, shall be fined in a sum not less than one hundred dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars, and shall be imprisoned in the county jail for a period not less than one month nor more than six months.
2 Tenn. Comp. Stat. 52, tit. 12, ch. 2, art. 5, § 4628 (1852)
(1852)
If any person assaults and beats another with a cowhide, stick, or whip, having a the time in his possession a pistol or other deadly weapon, with intent to intimidate the person assaulted, and prevent him from defending himself, he shall, on conviction, be imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than two nor more than ten years.
1831 Tenn. Pub. Acts 314
(1831)
Acts 1741, c. 24, § 40: Prohibited any "slave" from being armed with a gun, sword, club, or other weapon without a certificate from a court.
1837-1838 Tenn. Pub. Acts 201, ch. 137, § 4
(1837)
Prohibited the stabbing or cutting of another person with any knife or weapon known as a "Bowie knife, Arkansas tooth pick, or any knife or weapon that shall in form, shape or size resemble a Bowie knife," regardless of whether the person dies. Punishable by imprisonment for 3-15 years.
1836 Tenn. Comp. Stat. 673
(1821)
Shooting, 1821—Chapter 68, § 1: [A]ny person or persons who shall after the first of January next, shoot at a mark within the bounds of any town, or within two hundred yards of any public road of the first or second class within the state, such person or persons so offending shall be subject to a fine of ten dollars each[.]
1836 Tenn. Comp. Stat. 100
(1825)
Arms, 1825—Chapter 19, § 1: When any sheriff, coroner, or constable, shall know of his own knowledge, or upon the representation of any person, or if he or they, shall have good reason to suspect, any person of being armed with the intention of committing a riot or affray, or the wounding or killing any person, it shall be the duty of all such officers, immediately to arrest all such persons so suspected, and return them before some justice of the peace, whose duty it shall be, upon proof being made, that there was reasonable ground to suspect such person or persons for being armed, with intent to disturb or commit a breach of the peace, to bind such person or persons in a bond with two or more good and sufficient securities, in a sum of not less than two hundred and fifty dollars, and not exceeding two thousand dollars, conditioned for his or their good behavior and peaceable deportment for the term of twelve months thereafter
1836 Tenn. Comp. Stat. 325
(1836)
Felonies, 1829—Chapter 23, § 56: If any person within this state shall fight a duel, or shall deliberately and maliciously challenge, by word or writing, any other person, to fight with sword, pistol, or other deadly weapon, or shall deliberately and maliciously invite another verbally, or by writing, to meet him in this state, or elsewhere, with a view or intent to challenge or fight; or if any person so challenged, shall deliberately and maliciously accept the said challenge, in either case, such person so deliberately and maliciously giving or receiving, or sending any such challenge, and being convicted thereof, shall be sentenced to imprisonment, at hard labor in the penitentiary, for a term not less than three nor more than ten years: Provided always, that no person who shall be verbally challenged, shall be a competent witness to prove the fact of such verbal challenge, against any person who may be indicted for the same.
1837-38 Tenn. Pub. Acts 200-01, ch. 137, § 2
(1837)
An Act to Suppress the Sale and Use of Bowie Knives and Arkansas Tooth Picks in this State: Prohibited the carrying of a concealed Bowie knife, Arkansas tooth pick, or other knife or weapon. Punishable by fine of $200-500 and imprisonment for 3-6 months.
1825 Tenn. Priv. Acts 306
(1825)
An Act to Amend an Act Passed at Murfreesboro, October 20, 1821, Incorporating Winchester and Reynoldsburgh, ch. 292 § 3: That said mayor and aldermen may, and shall, have power and authority to make any rules and laws regulating the police of said town and the inhabitants thereof, to restrain and punish drinking, gaming, fighting, breaking the sabbath, shooting and carrying guns, and enact penalties and enforce the same, so that they do not conflict or violate the constitution of this State, and are consistent with the laws of this state.
1836 Tenn. Comp. Stat. 496
(1835)
Misdemeanors, 1835—Chapter 58, § 2: Prohibited any "free person" from selling, loaning, or giving any gun, pistol, sword, or dirk to "any slave."
1836 Tenn. Comp. Stat. 100
(1821)
Arms, 1821—Chapter 13, § 1: Every person so degrading himself by carrying a dirk, sword cane, Spanish stiletto, belt or pocket pistols, either public or private, shall pay a fine of five dollars for every such offence, which may be recovered by warrant before any justice of the peace, in the name of the county for its use, in which the offence may have been committed; and it shall be the duty of a justice to issue a warrant on the application, on oath, of any person applying; and it shall be the duty of every judge, justice of the peace, sheriff, coroner, and constable within this state, to see that this act shall have its full effect: Provided, that nothing herein contained shall affect any person that may be on a journey to any place out of his county or state.
1801 Tenn. Pub. Acts 260-261
(1801)
Ch. 22, § 6: Prohibited any person to ride or go armed to the terror of the people, or privately carry any dirk, large knife, pistol, or any other dangerous weapon. If the violator did not post a surety, the violation would be punished as. "breach of the peace or riot at common law."
1821 Tenn. Pub. Acts 63
(1821)
An Act to Amend the Militia Laws of This State, ch. 55, §§ 2-3: § 2. [T]he commissioned and staff officers of the infantry are hereby required to meet at the place of holding their battalion musters at eleven o'clock on the day preceding said muster, armed with a rifle, musket, or shot gun and dressed in the uniform prescribed by law, for the purpose of being trained as at regimental drills, and the commanding or senior officer present shall call, or cause the roll to be called, and make a return of all delinquents to the next regimental or battalion court martial. § 3. That regimental courts martial shall have power to fine delinquents, field or staff officers, and it shall be the duty of the commanding or senior officer present at any regimental, battalion or drill muster, to make a return of all such delinquents to the next regimental or battalion court martial, and they shall have a discretionary power to assess fines or not as they may think proper on delinquents.

Tennessee

Tennessee

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