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I carry one daily. Its illegal but most police dont care enough to write a ticket for it. Personal decision though.

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They're only illegal to carry concealed. Carrying one clipped to a pocket where the clip is visible is generally not considered concealed.

The point is moot though since they are generally slower to deploy than a decent "flipper" because the release button is small and recessed. They can open inside the pocket which is a nuisance unless you use the safety which makes them even slower to deploy.
 
I have been carrying one of several Benchmades for MANY years.

I am a fan of their mechanisms and lock-up.

Never an in issue with LEO who know I carry them.
 
IIRC, @LeeMajors and I were talking about this topic while manning the CFF table at a show. We asked a cop who was on duty there and he had absolutely no idea. :confused:
 
Can't answer your question but I've been carrying one for years as well.
 
This is true in all situations, auto, flipper, OTF, grandpa’s old case, or no knife at all.

exactly.

OP, I don’t know you at all, but I presume you are not carrying out activities where the LEO and DA would justify spending 10s of thousands of dollars in legal fees and resources etc to get ya for a $150 auto knife.

but again, if you got your heart set on donut and need to be THAT prude, I can ceracoat an AK47 pistol for ya in strawberry frosting and rainbow sprinkles, which is completely legal.

I [allegedly] always have a knife, if I’m ever in NYC. I’ve also lived places where “assisted openers” are banned and have [allegedly] carried a SOG flash II tanto for nearly a decade.

ill face the “consequences” if needed. A middle class hard working millennial father, happy little family, pays his taxes on time, who donates money to few non profits every year with no record and has been cleared on 6 background checks at both local and federal level spanning course of 10 years....yeah that will go far.
 
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IIRC, @LeeMajors and I were talking about this topic while manning the CFF table at a show. We asked a cop who was on duty there and he had absolutely no idea. :confused:

mans to Jim’s point, they also don’t know if chewing gum while patting your head and rubbing your belly at same time is illegal. You can get arrested at any time for anything (doesn’t mean you won’t be out in half hour and cop on performance improvement plan, but still...)
 
I'm not convinced it's illegal to own or to carry an auto knife. here's one source:
https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/north-carolina/
convince me.

Apparently, the only laws more convoluted than gun laws are knife laws.

if you came from where I’m from, you would just stop trying altogether. Laws get so silly and irrational, at some point, it not even worth the effort. I had no idea “Gun free zone” signs in NC were legally enforceable until it came up in discussion on here. Nor have I ever actually noticed any yet.

if I find myself in a bind, I’ll just set the police car on fire and chant “BEE EL EM, BEE EL EM” to get out of jail free.
 
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Only thing I am fairly sure about it is illegal to buy or sell an automatic opening knife across state lines (interstate commerce) to someone who is not military or law enforcement. Under the Federal Switchblade Act the term “automatic” opening knife and switchblade are interchangeable so if you do buy I’d look locally just in case ...
U.S. Code Title 15 Commerce and Trade
Chapter 29 – Manufacture, Transportation, or Distribution of Switchblade Knives
Commonly referred to as the “Federal Switchblade Act,” it was passed by Congress on August 12, 1958, enacted as Public Law 85-623, an “act to prohibit the introduction, or manufacture for introduction, into interstate commerce of switchblade knives, and for other purposes.”
§ 1241. Definitions
As used in this chapter –

(a) The term “interstate commerce” means commerce between any State, Territory, possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and any place outside thereof.

(b) The term “switchblade knife” means any knife having a blade which opens automatically –

(1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or

(2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both.

This section sets out the meaning of terms that are used throughout the rest of the chapter. The first defined term, “interstate commerce,” is of crucial importance to understanding this entire set of laws because it greatly limits the scope of what these laws apply to. “Interstate commerce” means commerce (i.e. buying, selling and trading) between any of the 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., any of the U.S. Territories (e.g. Guam or American Samoa), and “any place outside thereof,” referring to all foreign countries. In other words, this means this term applies to selling, buying and trading between states, between a state and a territory, between a state or territory and a foreign country (i.e. importing). It does NOT refer to buying, selling or trading within a state.

In regards to the term “switchblade knife,” the inclusion of the phrase “in the handle” in sub-section (1) is critical, because even if a knife has a spring-operated blade, if it has no device (button, etc.) that releases or activates it located “in the handle,” this definition does not apply (e.g. Assisted Opening Knives or Spring Assisted Knives – see also §1244(5) below)). The other definition (2) is meant to apply to gravity knives (which are rather obscure and rare) and butterfly knives (also commonly referred to as Bali-Song knives). Although referred to as the Federal Switchblade Act, the Federal definition of a switchblade also includes gravity knives and butterfly (Bali-Song) knives.
 
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I've probably answered my own question with Google, but just want to make sure. Auto knives that open with a button/spring are a no-no in NC aren't they?

Boker-Dessert-Warrior-Kalashnikov-Dagger-Auto-Donut-Blue-01KALS72NSOI-BHQ-108010-jr-large.jpg


And that means I can never make my meme dreams of owning and carrying this come true doesn't it?

Legalities aside, I am now on the waiting list for the AK74 Donut... That's the dopest pocket knife I have seen in forever...
 
Don't tempt me. Actually, as far as AK's go, I'd take pepperoni pizza over donuts/sprinkles.

So clear as mud then. Probably maybe not technically legal unless a cop doesn't like you, in which case probably life-ruining illegal.
Guess I'll stick to my boring Kershaw liner lock that doesn't look like food.


https://old.reddit.com/r/knives/comments/h7q1ua/the_donut_arrived_today/

Maybe I just need to carry it in the mag-sized box it comes in within a chest rig with my AK pistol.

This thread has made me realize I been watching far too much Gordon Ramsey during quarantine, because when I think of painting an AK with food “lamb lollipops” are coming to mind...ugh
 
Im not 100percent sure on the legal issues.........but i dont see.any real difference in an automatic knife (which may be."illegal") and a spring assisted knife which is generally considered legal in most any state.
 
Given that assisted opening is definitely legal, perfectly functional in the same role and generally available in any blade style you could want, why bother with the potential hassle of carrying a likely far more expensive automatic?
 
Only thing I am fairly sure about it is illegal to buy or sell an automatic opening knife across state lines (interstate commerce) to someone who is not military or law enforcement. Under the Federal Switchblade Act the term “automatic” opening knife and switchblade are interchangeable so if you do buy I’d look locally just in case ...

Whew! I read the whole thing and it doesn't say a word about bringing one through Customs.

:cool:
 
Don't tempt me. Actually, as far as AK's go, I'd take pepperoni pizza over donuts/sprinkles.

So clear as mud then. Probably maybe not technically legal unless a cop doesn't like you, in which case probably life-ruining illegal.
Guess I'll stick to my boring Kershaw liner lock that doesn't look like food.


https://old.reddit.com/r/knives/comments/h7q1ua/the_donut_arrived_today/

Maybe I just need to carry it in the mag-sized box it comes in within a chest rig with my AK pistol.

All the AKs come in those boxes. They're really handy knives too... Wish the box matched the knife...
 
Whew! I read the whole thing and it doesn't say a word about bringing one through Customs.

:cool:

When I was in Italy, i found out that they are allowed to ship any switchblade they want to the usa, as long as it doesn't "look" like a switchblade. I also found out that there is no legal way to receive the knife they ship to you here in the usa, because there is some kind of law against every possible way to do that for normal people. And yeah, bringing one in through customs is also illegal. it's ESPECIALLY illegal if you are flying from Italy to Windsor Ontario, and then driving across the border into detroit...

I really wanted to commerate our trip to italy with an italian stiletto type blade, but i couldn't figure out a legal way to do it. That's okay though, the one I eventually got looks a lot like the one I found/wanted when I was there. But I totally left it in MI where it was legal.

EDIT - I should also add that I got the nice knife AFTER it became legal in MI, because while I was in Italy, switchblades were still illegal in MI...
 
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IIRC, @LeeMajors and I were talking about this topic while manning the CFF table at a show. We asked a cop who was on duty there and he had absolutely no idea. :confused:

I wouldn't ask a cop for legal advice any more than I would ask a divorce lawyer for marriage counseling.

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When I was in Italy, i found out that they are allowed to ship any switchblade they want to the usa, as long as it doesn't "look" like a switchblade. I also found out that there is no legal way to receive the knife they ship to you here in the usa, because there is some kind of law against every possible way to do that for normal people. And yeah, bringing one in through customs is also illegal. it's ESPECIALLY illegal if you are flying from Italy to Windsor Ontario, and then driving across the border into detroit...

I really wanted to commerate our trip to italy with an italian stiletto type blade, but i couldn't figure out a legal way to do it. That's okay though, the one I eventually got looks a lot like the one I found/wanted when I was there. But I totally left it in MI where it was legal.

EDIT - I should also add that I got the nice knife AFTER it became legal in MI, because while I was in Italy, switchblades were still illegal in MI...

I actually found one on the road while hunting in Michigan after they become legal. Yes it is perfectly legal to hunt from the road in Michigan provided you have permission to hunt the adjacent property.

I then brought it back to New Hampshire when I returned where it wasn't quite legal yet. I didn't drive through Ontario, I went around through Ohio. After it became legal in NH, I gave it to my stepdaughter in MA. I'm pretty sure nothing is legal in MA.
 
NC's knife laws are fairly obscure and vague. For reference though:

§ 14-269. Carrying concealed weapons.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person willfully and intentionally to carry concealed about his or her person any bowie knife, dirk, dagger, slung shot, loaded cane, metallic knuckles, razor, shuriken, stun gun, or other deadly weapon of like kind, except when the person is on the person's own premises.

(d) This section does not apply to an ordinary pocket knife carried in a closed position. As used in this section, "ordinary pocket knife" means a small knife, designed for carrying in a pocket or purse, that has its cutting edge and point entirely enclosed by its handle, and that may not be opened by a throwing, explosive, or spring action.
https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-269.html
Case law is where the part about a pocket clip making the knife not concealed comes in. I dont have that at my fingertips but I'll post it if I find it.
 
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