colbyjack223
Well-Known Member
Trying to dig up a liable source on the NC knife laws. There may be a there on here already. If so please direct me to that thread so I won't waste yall's time. Thanks in advanced.
There is no legal limit on the length of a blade.Yes, we do. Pretty much anything other that a pocket "folder " that encloses the tip and has a blade length under so many inches is "illegal" to carry concealed. Sheath knives, etc, are technically illegal to conceal.
Define knife....
Is one of those plastic pointy knife like things they sell at gun shows considered a knife?
Partially true. There doesn't seem to be any state wide rule on length which has left it up to municipalities which creates a patchwork quilt of regulations.There is no legal limit on the length of a blade.
Partially true. There doesn't seem to be any state wide rule on length which has left it up to municipalities which creates a patchwork quilt of regulations.
For some reason I was thinking 14-269 specified an overall length requirement. Instead I think there may be some case law on the topic.
Based on what I am reading, this (or any other auto-knife) seems illegal to carry in NC?
http://www.benchmade.com/automatic-knives/3300bk-1701.html
@thrillhill ?
I think the key is it's illegal to conceal an automatic knife. I don't know for sure but I think you could win a case if the knife was clipped to a pocket. Even though the knife was mostly concealed there are so many people that carry with pocket clips that they would be hard pressed to say that they didn't know that was a knife.I'm no knife law expert by any stretch.
I just sell em.
And we sell a LOT of those Infidel style knives.
Mainly because we are over $100 cheaper than the lowest price internet vendors. But also because we are somewhat close to Ft. Bragg.
But yeah, it comes up in conversation a pretty frequently, and yes, that is my understanding of the law. From what I understand (but I am open to being wrong here) today in NC you can buy an automatic, you can own an automatic, but unless you are some form of military or first responder, and are in the course of exercising your duties, you can not carry an automatic opening knife.
I am not here as a vendor or staff member to suggest you "break the law", but, I carry whatever I feel like carrying that day.
In much the same fashion as my mom carried a .357 in her purse before we had a CCH program.
In much the same fashion as everyone I knew growing up had a handgun under the seat of their truck.
And in much the same fashion as I tried to break some of our old "blue laws" regarding sexual behavior as a teenager.
In other words, from my experience, it's generally one of those things you get charged with after you do something else larger in scale to violate the law.
If I have to go to a courthouse or something like that where I may have to empty my pockets I plan ahead to leave WHATEVER knife I might have in the vehicle.
Our knife laws are rather antiquated. Some states have recently responded to calls to update them, and several have recently decriminalized automatic openers. It would be nice if it happened here as well. But I am not holding my breath. The "knife lobby" is smaller than the gun lobby, and plus, hardly anyone cares, including your average LEO. I've been a "weapons geek" for a long time, and I don't know anyone who has been charged without some other issue being the "main problem" (ie, fighting the cops at the DUI checkpoint, domestic, assault, etc)
I think the key is it's illegal to conceal an automatic knife. I don't know for sure but I think you could win a case if the knife was clipped to a pocket. Even though the knife was mostly concealed there are so many people that carry with pocket clips that they would be hard pressed to say that they didn't know that was a knife.
No more than a flap holster is for a gun. If the police can readily identify that you have the weapon it would be hard to make a case for concealed. (Not to say that there's not one who might try if you piss them off.)when I read more closely it did seem that open carry was legal.
Is a belt case (think leatherman case) concealed? what if I stitch the word knife on it! LOL
Always. The law only addresses the concealment of said weapons.since when have switch blades been legal in NC?
No, read the first link.@J R Green so you can conceal them as long as they aren't in prohibited areas?