NC Fixed Blade Open Carry

[JSMcustoms]

I've been thinking about adding my Ka-Bar U.S.N MK1 to my EDC gear. Is there anything I need to be aware of here in North Carolina before I go openly carrying a fixed blade down the street?

 

[glistam]

NC Law only covers concealed carry. It is possible, though unlikely, that a large city might have local laws prohibiting open carry.
http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-269.html

However, legality is more than just statutory law. The Ka-Bar is a both large and recognizable as a combat knife, and so it may or may not be appropriate to carry in certain situations. For example, if you walked into a grocery store with it, the manager is within his legal rights to force you to leave, and to call the police if you refuse. If he's a bit thick, he might call the police outright and then you will have an awkward coversation with a cop to contend with, even if you walk away without a ticket. In some contexts, legal carry of a weapon can still result in a citation for disorderly conduct or "causing alarm" if other's felt threatened.

http://weaponlaws.wikidot.com/start

 

[JSMcustoms]

Thanks, I shouldn't have much of an issue around here seeing as a fixed blade is needed for some tasks at my work (cutting very thick rope for example). Only time I would really be out in the street with it would be when I'm going to lunch. I have a couple of options for an EDC fixed blade over the Ka-Bar (which isn't as big as some I've seen). Other options include my Becker BK2 (would likely cause problems before anything else would) or my RAT 3 (though it's a little small for what I'd be using it for).

 

[skidoo]

I believe Virginia code (and probably Carolina code too) has some language addressing...well...the act of being scary. I can't think of the proper terminology, and I'm not going to look it up right now, but basically the idea is that even if it's legal to open-carry a viscous looking 12" Rambo-style sawback survival knife, it's not necessarily legal to whip it out in 7-Eleven to open a bag of corn nuts.

Just an FYI. Useless trivia, most likely.

 

[glistam]

Generally it falls into Disorderly Conduct that almost all states have in some form or another. It's basically the catch-all charge for being intentionally disruptive in public or alarming others. For example most states do not actually have a public drunkenness statute, they just lump it under Disorderly. But for it to stick, it generally has to be evident you were doing something disruptive on purpose.