Carrying a knife in SC

[NavyNukeET]

I've searched on this site and on the SLED site and haven't gotten much clarification. Hopefully someone here will have first hand knowledge of what is and isn't allowed to be carried as far as knives are concerned. I'm interested in both open and concealed carry.

Thanks.

 

[TheSwampFox]

The info I have received is that there no state law regarding the carry of knives. However each municipality has local laws an ordinances regarding knives. This site has a good list of city ordinances in SC.

http://www.municode.com/Library/SC

Hope that helps.

 

[John Canuck]

Many/some/most??? Municode snippets can be found here:

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=2816

 

[94formulabird]

ive always been told in sc legal limit is 3in...with that being said I EDC my CRKT M21 (4in)...also a gerber paraframe...and recently a new S&W Extreme Ops knife my gfs dad gave me...I was was pulled over and had my Benchmade LFK (5.25in) on me and the cop said to leave it in my room from now on...

 

[Frost]

I could be wrong here but the way I remember it;
As a state law we used to have either or two or three inch blade limit, everyone ignored it though.
Then they lifted the blade length restriction a few years ago so you could carry any length folder.
You still cannot carry an automatic even though we can own them in this state.
The rule against carrying an automatic is Federal law.

 

[John Canuck]

The only thing I can find in SC Code with a length limit is 16-23-430, which makes a person a felon for having an inanimate object in their pocket in a school. It seems municode is where you need to watch yourself. We need knife preemption on the list of bills that will get the support of three or four people.

A) It shall be unlawful for any person, except state, county, or municipal law enforcement officers or personnel authorized by school officials, to carry on his person, while on any elementary or secondary school property, a knife, with a blade over two inches long, a blackjack, a metal pipe or pole, firearms, or any other type of weapon, device, or object which may be used to inflict bodily injury or death.

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t16c023.php

 

[11B3XCIB]

I found this a while back:

In '08, the SC state legislature amended the state concealed weapons laws and said a knife is legal to carry unless it's being used to commit a crime. You should be good to go. http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess117_200 ... ls/968.htm

 

[thehammer69]

I could be wrong here but the way I remember it;
As a state law we used to have either or two or three inch blade limit, everyone ignored it though.
Then they lifted the blade length restriction a few years ago so you could carry any length folder.
You still cannot carry an automatic even though we can own them in this state.
The rule against carrying an automatic is Federal law.

The federal law about automatic knifes pertains to crossing state lines. Federal law doesn't make it illegal for a state to allow it within it's borders. Auto knives are only illegal in SC in municipalities that have banned them in the city limits.

 

[FunkyMonkey]

In '08, the SC state legislature amended the state concealed weapons laws and said a knife is legal to carry unless it's being used to commit a crime. You should be good to go. http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess117_200 ... ls/968.htm

The federal law about automatic knifes pertains to crossing state lines. Federal law doesn't make it illegal for a state to allow it within it's borders. Auto knives are only illegal in SC in municipalities that have banned them in the city limits.

Now all we need is current citations about city codes without wading through municode.

+1 on the preemption.

Here's a link backing up thehammer69: http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/15/29

Great research guys - thanks.

 

[John Canuck]

Now all we need is current citations about city codes without wading through municode.

Municode snippets can be found here:

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=2816

 

[Frost]

I am not sure what your point is.
I said we can own them in this state implying there was no restriction of ownership.
Try buying one in MA.

The last I was aware in SC you can buy, sell, and own automatic knives but they are not legal to carry, has this changed?

 

[thehammer69]

I am not sure what your point is.
I said we can own them in this state implying there was no restriction of ownership.
Try buying one in MA.

The last I was aware in SC you can buy, sell, and own automatic knives but they are not legal to carry, has this changed?

It is LEGAL to carry UNLESS you are in a MUNICIPALITY that has a ban on them. So you need to know the local laws in the city where you want to carry the auto knife.

 

[Rosea Carpa]

http://www.knifecenter.com/item/ON6504/ ... d-Scabbard


So I'm ok to carry??