AOs illegal in NC?

Can anyone give me a legal interpretation of the NC knife statue above? I'd hate to give a friend in NC a knife that would land him in the pokey.
Rich
 
I examined case law for NC and could find no court decisions that would be helpful. All cases I found involved knives possessed on school grounds, or matters of robbery or possession of firearms by felons, all of which are separate issues.

Unfortunately this means there is no reliable, verifiable answer anyone can provide on this forum. Due to the documented unreliability of police officer's opinions about knife legality, it may be at there whim (provided of course, that you did something to make them pat you down in the first place). The only other option is to consult an attorney in NC.

Worth noting: § 14-269 only prohibits concealed carry. Not open carry and not sale. In fact I saw several for sale when I was in a hardware store there just last Friday.
 
Thanks. I was aware of the concealed carry part. That is what bothers me; I understand it could mean ok if pocket clip is showing or it could mean that if any part is concealed. Just a quagmire like most other states knife laws. To be on the safe side,I'll tell me friend that possesion at home is ok, but not to carry one off his premises. Thanks again.
Rich
 
opened by a throwing, explosive, or spring action.
Click to expand...

AOs aren't opened by spring action, they're opened manually before the mechanism engages. This has been the central argument on the difference between switchblades and assisted openers.
 
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I am a police officer in NC. I hoped the following is helpful.

Nc G.S. § 14-269. Carrying concealed weapons

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

A "pocket knife" is an exception to this.

North Carolina statute defines a pocket knife as a small knife, made to carry in a pocket or purse, which has its cutting edge and point entirely enclosed by the handle, and that may not be opened by a throwing, explosive, or spring action.

Fyi, if the clip is showing it is not technically concealed. So a spring assisted knife would be legally fine to carry as long as the clip is showing. "Switchblades" are legal to own and carry, just not carry concealed.

http://www.knifeup.com/north-carolina-knife-laws/ is a site that goes into more detail.
 
My parents live in Raleigh these days. Traveling fro m California I figured anything I carry is OK.
This line in the above post (thanks Caviness) makes me wonder if an Axis folder can be opened with a "throwing...action".

"North Carolina statute defines a pocket knife as a small knife, made to carry in a pocket or purse, which has its cutting edge and point entirely enclosed by the handle, and that may not be opened by a throwing, explosive, or spring action."


Of course the pocket clip makes it openly carried so I should be fine.
 
It really upsets me that NC offers CHP (concealed handgun permits) vs CWP (concealed weapons permits). I like carrying a small fixed blade for EDC, not even self defense, but can't legally do it without tucking my shirt in so that it isn't concealed. We can carry a gun concealed, but not a knife?! Makes no sense to me...
 
Great info here. I have a place in NC and go there often. I live in TX, and I have many autos & assisted. What I have understood about NC through research is that a spring assisted knife may or may not be illegal, depending on interpretation. I also saw something that 3"+ blades were illegal to carry. All I understood may be wrong, I'm just sharing what I found. I hope what's posted above is accurate and correct. :)
 
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