Columbia, SC, laws and switchblade definition

[HornsKeith]

I'll be moving to this area in the near future, so I've been checking up on the laws. South Carolina as a state seems to have very little in the way of knife laws (outside of committing crimes with them or carrying them on school property), but the city of Columbia has a few:

Sec. 14-102. Carrying weapons.
It shall be unlawful for any person to carry about his person any pistol, dirk, butcher knife, case knife, sword or spear, cane, metal knuckles, razors or other weapons of offense within the corporate limits of the city.
(Code 1979, § 2-2044)
State law references: Carrying concealed weapons, forfeiture of weapons, S.C. Code 1976, § 16-23-460.

Sec. 14-103. Sale or possession of switchblade knives.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale or possess a switchblade knife within the city.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the term "switchblade knife" shall mean a knife having the appearance of a pocket knife, the blade of which can be opened by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle, or other mechanical devices.
(Code 1979, § 2-2045)

So if I'm understanding this correctly, I will have no limits on the size of knife that I can carry as long as it doesn't qualify as a butcher knife, case knife, or sword. I don't actually know what a case knife (other than Case being a manufacturer of small pocketknives). Anyone know what they mean? Am I right in assuming that there's no blade length limit in either South Carolina or in Columbia?

Also, their definition of a switchblade reads to me as thought it would include AO knives such as the Leek. Though I doubt I'd actually get in trouble if I wasn't flashing it around, it would be good to know if AO knives would technically be illegal under the switchblade provision.

Thanks.

 

[mp510]

Contacting the local authorities seems to be a good idea IMHO.

case knife

Could that possibly be referring to a box cutter or utility knife (like a Stanley 199 or one of those folders that accepts razer blades)?

 

[Ray Bair]

The laws are a hodgepodge (as usual).

In Dixie-speak, "case knife" often refers to a "sheath" (or fixed-blade) knife. I's carried in a "case" on the belt . . .