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North Carolina Switchblade & Automatic Knife Laws (2026)

Conditional: No NC statute bans owning or openly carrying an automatic knife, but a switchblade isn't an 'ordinary pocket knife,' so it can't be carried concealed off one's premises (N.C.G.S. 14-269(d)).

ConditionalVerified Jul 7, 2026

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Official source: ncleg.gov →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Switchblade & Automatic Knife Laws in states bordering North Carolina

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

GeorgiaPermitted
Georgia's weapon-carry law defines a regulated knife as a blade greater than 12 inches, so switchblades and automatic knives (and any knife 12 inches or less) are legal to own and carry (O.C.G.A. 16-11-125.1).
Verified Jul 30, 2026 · Source: gov.georgia.gov · Full Georgia rule →
South CarolinaPermitted
South Carolina has no statute banning switchblades/automatic knives or limiting blade length; adult ownership and carry are unrestricted statewide (K-12 schools cap blades at 2 inches).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: scstatehouse.gov · Full South Carolina rule →
TennesseePermitted
Switchblades are legal to own, possess, transfer and transport — Public Chapter 647 of 2014 removed them from the prohibited-weapons list effective July 1, 2014. But the same act made employing a switchblade during a dangerous offense a Class D felony (39-17-1307(e)) and raised the maximum fine to $6,000 where the deadly weapon is a switchblade (39-17-1307(d)(3)(B)).
Verified Jul 30, 2026 · Source: publications.tnsosfiles.com · Full Tennessee rule →
VirginiaPermitted
Switchblades are legal for adults — VA repealed possession/transfer limits (2022) and removed them from the concealed-carry ban list (2023); only ballistic knives remain prohibited to sell/give (18.2-311).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →

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