The category can also include ice picks, push knives, bowie knives, and daggers. Then there are the more robust, military-grade substantial choppers for survival in deep uncharted woods, essential for survivalists, back-country hikers, and huntsmen. For legal implications in California, dirks and daggers refer to knives that can be readily used as a stabbing weapon.
These types of knives ideally have a mechanism that provides resistance in opening the blade. Some of the most common knives in the category include pocketknife, Swiss army knife, box cutter, and other utility knives. Others are sturdier, more stunning combat-type folders designed for survival and self-defense situations. As long as they are in the folded position, these knives can also be carried in a concealed manner. These types of knives normally have a spring mechanism that helps fire open the blade by pushing a button or a switch on the handle.
Switchblades of less than 2 inches are legal to carry in California, as long as they are not concealed. However, they are illegal when the blade is 2 inches or longer. Knowing the different types of knives and how they are regulated, you should have an idea of what you can and what you cannot carry in California.
To make it easier for you, we will discuss what is considered illegal in detail below. Explicitly Illegal. Banned from carrying Under California Laws In addition to switchblades that have blades 2 inches or longer, there are other types of knives that are considered illegal to carry in California.
Here are some you should know about: - All misleading knives are illegal. These include cane knives, lipstick knives, belt buckle knives, air gauge knives, writing pen knives, and penknives. These include all kinds of knives that will not set off metal detectors. These laws are normally more restrictive.
Know by heart what is legal and what is not about carrying knives in California. Everywhere else is a mish-mash. Like, I fully understand the reasoning for their restrictions, but no limit on the size of fixed blade knives? Is that a 2 inch cutting edge or 2 inch total length? I got into flipping as a hobby several years ago when a friend got me a balisong as a gift for making it all the way to Eagle Scout.
They knew I was a knife enthusiast who collected knives as a souvenir from each summer camp or major scouting event I attended.
At this point I own about 15 folding knives of various shapes and sizes, 2 swiss army knives, 5 balisongs, and 2 balisong trainers. Is their case authority for a pocket clip folding knife, to be considered concealed or not concealed? This is to answer Samuel Adams, karambits are legal, I am only 13 and I bought mine for my birthday, the person who sold it to me owned a shop in San Francisco called we be knives that I would very recommend. Sorry brother, you can have anything! The black ones illegal.
Your ok with silver!!! LMAO you asked for it???????? In a sheath on my right hip, trust ME when i say brother, thats all you need…. Can you own a wooden balisong knife its made completely out of wood Please someone respond , I need to know!!!
Would it be illegal if the knife was one like the benchmade infidel? Can I carry a toy balisong in public in my pocket , and lockt in a small container? Please respond , Thank You. I have a marine 6inch blade and I care it on my shoulder in the open in Los Angeles CA is that that legal?
Stay out of California, problem solved! Even if the knife in your possession is a legal knife, they can still arrest you on reasonable suspicion to commit a crime. California laws are stupid and rediculas, all these stupid laws they make do nothing more than trample your rights.
Every day law abiding citizens are the ones that pay the price upon the inforcement of these laws, me my preferred knife not only for a tool it is my mode of self defense. Every day law abiding citizens are the ones that pay the price upon the inforcement of these laws, me my preferred knife is a balisong not only for a tool it is my mode of self defense.
Im from Los Angeles, CA. Just read through your page. I bought a walking cane with a brass horse head. From reading through your page it looks like this is illegal to possess and sale. Am I correct? Just trying to be safe on the streets of L. Dirks or daggers are not illegal in california, u have to wear them openly in a sheathe on your waist.
They are illegal to carry concealed and so are any other folding knives capable of being a locking into place. It will be much appreciated if you have any solution. Regards, eric. Question if i fly to the states california and buy a balisong can i take it back to my country? It comes with a sheath. Can sporting goods stores and camping stores etc.
What age is it legal to own a knife in California? Also are karambits illegal for carrying around? I really want to buy an torpedo knife from Cold steel. All sword knives are illegal in Ca. A kitchen knife becomes illegal when sharpened on both edges or altered to increase its probability to delivering great bodily injury or death. Thanks Steve. Try to remember the following facts when determining legality. Never alter a knife away from its utilitarian tool use. Good attorneys even fail during there representation because the judge will consider intent each and every time.
Why why risk it. If your in some states the only illegal knife is a switch blade. Enjoy your hobby stay away from the gray! Dirks and daggers are not legal. Keep them home in your collection. Best read the Ca. Dirks and daggers are not allowed to be carried openly, but sheathed and suspended from your waist is fine.
I live in a room and board in Bakersfield. I was wondering if its legal to have one for protection even if its against the house rules? Am i legally able to have it on me for safety?
Are they aloud ti take it away from me? Hey Scott; Good question! That said, my guess is that the authorities would probably side with the house rules in order to make for an even and fair playing field where no one can have any weapon.
Of course, you and I know that the bad guys will always carry a weapon, so I feel your pain! Great question. It could still be a second amendment violation. As far as defense. Never tell them anyone you carry it for defense. Under the law, there is no distinction made between defensive use, or malicious use. If it is carried to cut a person, it is seen as malicious, regardless of intent.
You carry it for utility, and it just so happened to come in handy in a defensive situation. Think of carrying a rock. If you say you are carrying it for defense, you are looking to use it on a person, but if you are taking the rock t a museum, and you get mugged, and bash the guy over the head, it came in handy to help defend yourself.
As usual I have to tell you to consult with licensed legal counsel in the state of California. So you must open carry it You are permitted to holster carry it as long as you can clearly identify it. I have been told that it is illegal to carry a knife with the blade longer than 3 inches, is that true?? And anything that folds and stays shut can be concealed.
As soon as the blade is exposed out of the handle is when it is a problem. This only applies to my knowledge to L. The L. A law regards blades exposed with a length greater than three inches, so by the law, as long as the knife is in your pocket, you are fine regardless of length. The moment you open it, it is exposed, and that is the issue.
Folders can be any length, and in L. A, as long as the blade is not exposed in a public place unless it is part of your job. Hello just to let the community know even a box cutter of 1 inch is considered a weapon. Hello I was wondering if an one inch box cutter would be considered a knife and or a officer considering it as a weapon? Double bladed knives are only illegal to carry in CA if fully concealed.
It can be found under of the CA Penal Code. If open carried, a double edged knife dagger is completely legal. The writer of this web page is wrong about double edge knives always being illegal to possess. It is a myth. A false edge is not an edge. I keep it in my room. What are the laws surrounding that?
I fly out of town four my work. As long as they are kept in the check in baggage or checked in tool bag i should be ok right. Excellent question Tim! In theory, you should be okay, but I know strange things happen in airport security and in the USPS package delivery network.
Travelers and recipients of packages have noticed that knives have gone missing from their luggage or packages but not most of the time! Hey, just my thoughts.
Maybe others have experience traveling with knives?? I live in California and I have some balisongs or butterfly knifes so can I buy them and play with them in my house without any cops giving me a felony or a ticket. According to what I have come across, it is absolutely illegal to posses such knives, even if they were to remain in your house hold. You may own them, you just can NOT carry them, or transport them, unless the blade is under two inches. To add on to a previous reply, you cannot transport within the passenger area of your vehicle, however if it is in your trunk or cargo area you can transport it to your residence.
Is that considered a dirk or a dagger? Yes it is indeed legal to carry any type of assisted opening knife, as long as there is resistance when opening the knife and while doing so, it is opened by the user applying DIRECT pressure on the blade thumb stud or flipper to open it.
I think at one point the law read that three inches was the max legal legnth, but now it has dropped to two inches max. Some laws allow for a larger blade, some have allowances for mechanism, but few waiver on concealment, and appearance.
If a knife appears to be a cell phone and instead opens to reveal a 12 inch sword, authorities would frown on that. If a cop makes a case out of a three inch blade carried by a peaceable individual we need to take another look at OUR constitution. I used to think those guys were rednecks, dirts, backwood swamp water bathers, but the older I become the more frequent I reflect on their collective mindset. This country was indeed founded during a vastly different period of our history, and governing laws are designed to do that — Govern!
Laws are not designed for the convenience of one political party to further agendas, nor are they implemented to foster discussion pertain to specific groups of people. God save us? It would make my job a hell of a lot easier. I use to have a knife that was kinda like a folding knife but I myself had to flip up the knife to use it and then press a switch to unlock and set it back in place. If the knife itself is longer than five inches in the closed position, there is no California code that prohibits you from carrying it.
If the blade is longer than four inches, as long as it is folded it can remain in your pocket. Knives with blades longer than four inches, that are not already a prohibited category, and are a fixed blade type or a folding knife that remains in the open position, must be carried in a sheath in plain view on your person. Folding knives with a blade longer than 4 inches can be legally carried in the closed position in your pocket, as long as it is not already a prohibited class.
Probably, as it could be considered a switchblade or a dagger as it is double sided and is opened by a button. In California, is it legal to forge my own knives? I do not have any intent to sell them, just making them for personal use. Examples of knife types would be skinning knife, fillet knife and butcher knife. Thanks for the question, J. A ballistic knife, belt buckle knife, cane sword, lipstick case knife, shobi-zue, or writing pen knife: is not legal period.
With this being said, some knives may be required to be carried from the waist despite not being fixed-blades. Both are fine in the state, you might want to check the laws in your county though just to be on the safe side. I bought a survival knife that is 7. Can I open carry this knife in Oakland, CA.
I live in California and want to carry a 5 inch blade in my pocket what kind of permit would I need. Lived CA all my life. Carried a 7. I have a knife just like yours — I carry mine and havent had problems.
Make sure the handle and sheathe are always in view. Is it legal to open or conceal carry a folding knife swiss army kind for minors,i heard that the blade has to be under 2 inches and btw I live in Whittier just so you know. What is the length limit on folding knives in Cali? I hear its 3 inch maximum but I also heard its a 4 inch maximum. My understanding is that like daggers, swords and machetes can be openly carried in a sheath attached to a belt.
They cannot be carried concealed. So I assume when camping or hiking in the national forests in California that it is okay to have a fixed blade openly carried in its sheath as long as long its openly carried?
I carry my fixed blade out in the open everywhere. I never have any problems. When open carrying a fixed blade, dirk, dagger, etc. If you are wearing a jacket, you must have the handle sticking out with the sheath visible also. I live in the city in California, and I regularly carry a full size Kabar on my belt. The Socialist Republic of california. I would like to flip my knives in public.
Does it matter if it opens OTF or from the side? YES, side opening autos gerber 06, Kalashnikov, etc. However, there are a number of CA legal autos. It should never be illegal to own something. It should only be illegal to harm others with things. I live in Los Angeles and Butt Darts are legal to shoot anytime. As long as your business is on private property that you own or that someone else owns and has no anti weapons policies in place, you can totally conceal carry a fixed blade on your person????????
Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. KnifeUp was founded in Today, KnifeUp is the home to knife experts who provide clear, unbiased, practical advice on buying and maintaining knives to make your life easier. All Rights Reserved.
Table of Contents. Legal Knives In California. Laws Concerning Brandishing of Knives. Concealed Carry. Conclusion On California Knife Laws. California Knife Law Peter Stec ,. March 7, About The Author. Peter Stec. Hey Knife Up gang!
I'm Pete, and I'm just another man like you in a small rural town who loves the outdoors as much as the other million internet users that cruise sites like KnifeUp. The difference is that I like to share what I know and research what I don't totally know so that YOU can have all the info you need to feel confident and prepared for all things outdoors-related! And, for those who care, I have 42 years of wilderness canoeing and bushcraft experience in Northern Ontario and spend most of my Summers covered in mosquitos and fish slime, but hey, it's a lifestyle choice, eh?
Recent Posts. Jay, I point out that the violent crime rate and the murder rate of Arizona is about the same as California murder rate was a little higher in Arizona in , last year I have reliable stats for. Ok folks? I have a 3 inch non-auto or assisted knife. Can I carry it around town in my pocket? This is either a felony or misdemeanor, depending on the individual circumstances of each case. When you open carry a fixed blade remember these 3 things: 1.
It has to be recognizable as a knife cant be disguised 2. It must be in a sheath of some sort 3. The full length of the knife must be visible your shirt cant be pulled down over the handle i tuck my shirt in behind it Also to save yourself some trouble print up a copy of the laws that apply to your carry and keep it on your person. So I recently bought a fixed blade thats 5. No restriction on size. It says in the beginning paragraph of the article.
The City of LA does not allow fixed blade knives to be open carried at this time. Btw, it is legal to conceal carry your Tenacious. There are many local laws that supercede State and County laws. California Knife Laws a former D. All fixed blades must be open carry, and sheathed. Only folded knives can be concealed carry. Is there a limit to how many knives one can carry concealed or open there person.
Are you talking about assisted open? Can I purchase a balisong knife that has a 4 inch blade and carry it around? The reason is knives are more dangerous than guns. Semper Fi. IF there is a button on the sheathe that opens it, then it is a switchblade. It is perfectly legal.
Spring assisted knives and switchblades are different. Max blade length 1. Is it legal to carry concealed a fixed blade knife in CA when the blade is 3 inches or less? Is it ilegal to carry a kbar on the back of your belt mounted sideways.
Is it legal to have a comb butterfly knife because people told me it is. I was curious if it was legal to carry a karambit. Not a fixed blade, but a folding version.
Are Karambit knives legal in the Komminist paradise of Kalifornia? The beauty of karamvit knives. Disclaimer: I am not an attorney and this is not offered for legal advice. PC has been removed and replaced with PC , however the wording is exactly the same. You do still have to keep it sheathed, though, which seems obvious anyway. I am not an attorney. You should consult an attorney for proper legal review.
Yes, concealed fixed blade in a backpack or other case is illegal. See Penal Code I am not attorney. You should consult an attorney for proper legal advice. There is no length limit in knifes carried openly. A sword is not a knife. Hey Isaac is it legal to have a 3.
Total length. All I want to know is am I able to carry a fixed m9 bayonet? Are fixed knives illegal and if not what size can i have around my waist. Is it legal to carry a knife longer than 2 inches in a public place? Best regards, David Demarest. Did anyone actually read the article before writing a comment? Just sayin. What if you have a ccw license? Are you able to carry a knife along with your pistol? I plan to get a balisong comb are those ok to carry in California.
A blade is thee only way to go. Disclaimer: I am not an attorney and this is not offered as legal advice. Can you have a knife with a 11 in blade in driver side door pocket of your truck? Can i open carry a mini clever or mini tonahawk in California. The blade is only 3 inch. The same sportsman and religious exemptions apply at the county level. Note, however, that the courts have made conflicting rulings regarding the applicability of Los Angeles city and county ordinances in relationship to conflicting state laws.
There are a number of other California knife laws as well, including laws prohibiting cane swords and other disguised blades Penal Code , laws prohibiting the possession of knives on school grounds Penal Code Violating these laws can land you in county jail or state prison for up to a year.
Violation of the brandishing statute carries a mandatory minimum of thirty days in jail. If you have been the victim of motorcycle profiling, a violation of your civil rights, or you are otherwise in need of help from a knowledgeable California motorcycle rights lawyer, contact the seasoned and effective San Francisco biker rights lawyer William E. Weiss for a free consultation at Motorcycle riders must follow all of the same traffic laws as other motorists, as well as many additional rules and regulations.
All rights reserved. Close Menu. Menu Call Email Visit Search. Click here for more information.
0コメント