NC Legal Question

[soccergod04]

According to North Carolina laws "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."

Now, based on the types of edged "tools" named would it be considered legal to conceal something like a 3 inch drop point? It doesn't fall into dirk, dagger or bowie knife and is certainly not a razor. Just wanted some thoughts on this and maybe some feedback from people in North Carolina that conceal a fixed blade.

 

[Lurker]

I live in NC, and I have read all of the statutes pertaining to knives and given them considerable thought. I would say that a 3" FB concealed is in a grey area and one that I would personally avoid. In my opinion, I think it is quite possible for it to be considered a dirk or dagger by a cop or prosecutor. Whether that will stand up in court is another matter. It could certainly be argued that it is not technically a dirk or dagger. However, there is also the "or other deadly weapon of like kind" phrase that casts a wider net. Which way would the jury decide? I don't know and don't care to find out. Maybe case law could shed some light on that, but I have not researched the case law.

As a general rule of thumb, I think concealing any fixed blade is pushing the limits of knife law further than I would be comfortable with in NC and probably most any other jurisdiction. Just not worth the hassle. Carry it openly.

Even concealing a one-hand FOLDER with a 3 inch blade is kind of a grey area in NC. But I would be more comfortable with that, personally.

I am sure an attourney could give you a more precise opinion on this matter if you really want to pursue it.

 

[soccergod04]

Thanks, Lurker, you just affirmed my opinion on the matter. You're also right about the ambiguity of the folder part of the law. It's just a "small blade" or something like that and that leaves far too much open to interpretation, but that was probably the intent. I've had people tell me that my Cara Cara was huge!