The North Dakota Knife laws don't specify about knife ownership.
Therefore, any knife irrespective of blade deployment method, size, and throwing suitability are legal to own.
Even the ballistic knives, which are banned in most states, are legal in this state.
Most knife legislations in North Dakota concentrate on conceal carry. It concentrates on the 5” length of the blade. Any blade which has a blade that exceeds this length is prohibited for conceal carry. Also, many knives are banned, and these include gravity and switchblade knives regardless of its length. It’s legal to carry openly any knife. However, some local municipalities prohibit some of other knives, and this is because North Dakota doesn’t have preemption rule.
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Legal
• Owning any knife is legal.
• It’s legal to open carry any sort of knife except in some municipalities.
Illegal
• Carrying a dangerous weapon is illegal. A deadly weapon consists of all knives whose blade length exceed 4” in a retail location that sells liquor except the proprietor and their employees and police officers. There is an exception on an ordinary pocket knife.
• Carrying a knife in public gatherings is prohibited. These meetings include schools, churches, public buildings, sporting events, athletic events.
Length Limit
Any knife with a blade length of 5” and above is considered a dangerous weapon. It has no effect on open carry or ownership.
Conceal Carry
It’s illegal to carry dangerous weapons concealed if you don’t have a license. Any pocket knife shorter than 5” can be carried concealed without a permit. A deadly weapon includes daggers, swords, gravity knives, switchblades, stilettos, scimitars, machetes. These weapons cannot be carried hidden.
There is an exemption in the rules. When a knife is locked in a truck of your car, it’s not concealed. Also, those going fishing, hunting, working on farms, or trapping are allowed to carry knives hidden as long as its legitimate and the activity exist.
Other Knife Laws in North Dakota
Municipalities in North Dakota can impose their ordinances since the state law doesn’t have preemption rule. Anyone in the state can apply for dangerous weapon license and class 2 firearm. Any resident of 21 years and above needs to prove residency by providing an official photo ID or driver’s license and undergo several background checks to determine criminal records and mental health history. The resident will also have to take a test which is an open book so as to acquire the license.
Conclusion
The knife laws in North Dakota is to the point. It’s legal to open carry and own any knife. It’s illegal to carry any knife concealed with a blade length of 5” and above.
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