The legal landscape for pocket knives in North Dakota is relatively permissive, but there are important regulations to understand regarding ownership, carrying, and restrictions on certain types of knives. North Dakota law allows individuals to own and carry a wide variety of knives, including folding knives like traditional pocket knives and multi-tools, as well as fixed-blade knives such as hunting knives, daggers, and stilettos.
A key regulation in North Dakota is the blade length restriction related to concealed carry. Knives with blades longer than five inches are considered “dangerous weapons” under state law and cannot be carried concealed unless the person has a valid North Dakota concealed firearm and dangerous weapon license. Concealed carry of pocket knives with blades shorter than or equal to four inches is generally allowed without a license. Open carry of knives is permitted without blade length restrictions, but knives cannot be carried into certain restricted areas such as schools, government buildings, courthouses, and airports.
The minimum age to own or carry a pocket knife in North Dakota is 18 years old, with some exceptions for outdoor activities such as hunting. There are no statewide prohibitions on any specific types of knives, but many municipalities like Bismarck, Fargo, and Grand Forks have their own local ordinances which may impose additional restrictions.
Violations of North Dakota’s knife laws—such as carrying a concealed dangerous weapon without a license or possessing knives in restricted locations—can lead to criminal charges, typically classified as Class A misdemeanors, punishable by fines and up to 360 days in jail. Law enforcement and military personnel are generally exempt from some of these restrictions when carrying knives as part of their official duties.
In sum, North Dakota allows broad ownership and open carry of pocket knives while regulating concealed carry primarily by blade length and licensing requirements. Awareness of local ordinances and restricted areas is crucial for compliance with the knife laws in the state.
Sources
(https://knifeade.com/north-dakota-knife-law/)
(https://nobliecustomknives.com/us-knife-laws/north-dakota-knife-laws/)
(https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/north-dakota/)
(https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/63-2013/session-laws/documents/wepns.pdf)
(https://www.carved.com/blogs/life-at-carved/pocket-knife-rules-laws-by-state)
