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North Dakota Switchblade & Automatic Knife Laws (2026)

Conditional: Switchblades/gravity knives are 'dangerous weapons' but not banned to own or open-carry; only concealing one (or any knife 6+ inches) requires a class 2 license (NDCC 62.1-01-01).

ConditionalVerified Jul 7, 2026

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Official source: ndlegis.gov →

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

Switchblade & Automatic Knife Laws in states bordering North Dakota

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

MinnesotaRestricted
Manufacturing, transferring or possessing a switchblade opening automatically is a crime under Minn. Stat. 609.66 subd. 1(a)(4); a 2024 federal challenge is pending, so the ban stands.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: revisor.mn.gov · Full Minnesota rule →
MontanaPermitted
Montana bans no knife by type (switchblade ban repealed 2019) and defines a concealed weapon as only a firearm, so automatic knives are legal to own and carry (MCA 45-8-315).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: mca.legmt.gov · Full Montana rule →
South DakotaPermitted
South Dakota repealed its automatic-knife ban (1976) and ballistic-knife ban (2006); current SDCL ch. 22-14 has no knife-type or blade-length prohibition.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: sdlegislature.gov · Full South Dakota rule →

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