[tomaz45]

Will be staying in the people's republic of ********** for about a week. Can't carry firearm. What are state laws on folding knives, i.e. length of blade, single or double sided, assist opening, etc.??:confused:

[hso]

http://www.thefiringline.com/library/blades/knifelaws.html

State law may be helpful, but you really need to know what the local laws are for where you're going to be staying.

CA has no restrictions on folder blade length nor do they care about assisted opening mechanisms. Like most states they don't allow carry of daggers (double edge).

What do you already carry as and EDC?

[TAB]

fixed blades can not be concealed... at all...= felony

[tomaz45]

Sorry for the delay. Everyday carry, Kershaw blur or scalloin. Also carry at time a Coldsteel Gunsite folder. Primary carry is commander 45ap w/ 380 keltec backup.

[Valkman]

Whatever you do, don't wear a neck knife. Saw a guy on Cops get busted for that and charged with a felony.

[ChaoSS]

http://www.ninehundred.net/~equalccw/knifelaw.html

This guy spells it out very well.
CA has no restrictions on folder blade length nor do they care about assisted opening mechanisms. Like most states they don't allow carry of daggers (double edge).That depends on how you define assisted opening, here is the actual law:

For the purposes of this section, "switchblade knife" means a knife having the appearance of a pocketknife and includes a spring-blade knife, snap-blade knife, gravity knife or any other similar type knife, the blade or blades of which are two or more inches in length and which can be released automatically by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle, flip of the wrist or other mechanical device, or is released by the weight of the blade or by any type of mechanism whatsoever. "Switchblade knife" does not include a knife that opens with one hand utilizing thumb pressure applied solely to the blade of the knife or a thumb stud attached to the blade, provided that the knife has a detent or other mechanism that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade, or that biases the blade back toward its closed position.

[Smith]

You'll be fine with any folder as long as it is not a switchblade, gravity knife, etc, and it is not double edged. There is no state length limit; however, L.A. and San Francisco have (I think) a three inch limit. Don't carry any kind of fixed blade. I usually carry a Spyderco Endura and a CRKT M16-10KZ.

[wittzo]

Both my original Spyderco Endura and my Rescue knife could be opened with a flick of the wrist. My new model Endura can be opened that way, but it's harder. In the wording of the law, they're California switchblades..

[Gordon]

A fixed blade can be carried openly Not concealed (unless local ordinances forbid it) of any length single or double edged IF you are in possesion of a valid hunting or fishing license and can reasonably argue you are pursuing those ends.

[ChaoSS]

Gordon, could you point me to the law that requires you to have a hunting or fishing license to carry the knife? It has been my understanding that here in California I could walk around with any fixed blade knife, of any size and configuration, so long as I did not conceal it. My experiences with police have validated that belief, although that is obviously not proof.

[tcsnake]

I have to agree with the other posts, just about anything goes if it is a non-switchblade folder.

California is actually pretty knife friendly, but try to get an extendable baton and your suddenly a felon.

Oh and switchblades are actually legal here, just not to carry and under 3 inches I believe.

[ChaoSS]

TCsnake, you can carry a switchblade that is under two inches in length, but I believe they are illegal to import, because of federal laws or something?

See the link I provided a few posts back.

[Gordon]

I meant you COULD CONCEAL the fixed blade with the sporting license!

[ChaoSS]

Ah, ok, thank you.

[shappa]

Open carry of a "dirk or dagger" is permissible. "dirk or dagger" is further defined as an readily available stabbing implement. Also known as a fixed blade.

http://www.ninehundred.net/~equalccw/knifelaw.html

Go to "street carry rules" and go to the last 2 sentences.

Folders of any length can be carried concealed...as long as they are folded. If you carry a "folder" open and concealed it is treated the same as a fixed blade. It's a readily available stabbing implement. Fixed blades of any length must be carried openly. It does not have to be on a belt. Neck knives are o.k. as long as they are not concealed.

1.9" is the max length of a switchblade that you may carry. There are several companies that make CA legal switchblades.

Assisted opening knives are legal. Kershaw with it's assist and crkt with it's flippers are legal. They do not use a button to assist with the opening of the blade. You must manually open the blade.

Laws do vary from city to city and county to county.
I'm not a lawyer, just a knife enthusiast. Your mileage may vary etc., etc.

[sniper5]

I am sitting dead center in the PRK and writing this with a Blur clipped to my pocket. I bought it in San Francisco at Pier 39 at the knife shop there. As long as you don't carry it concealed with the blade in the open position (why someone would do that, I haven't a clue) you are fine.

[eJack]

The numerous references to double edged blades being illegal is urban myth. You can buy them at Walmart. Not anywhere in the law. Fixed blades over 2.5 inches can't be concealed. Only non locking folders under 2.5 inches allowed on school campuses. That is about it. For ca carry I recommend a good solid folding knife (I've been very happy with Cold Steel Recon and Kershaw Blackout and Blur), and a 2 AA tac light. Neither of those are very useful if you don't know how to use them, but I've gotten through some rough patches with that combo.

Other solution is dirty carry. Concealed carry of a firearm by itself is only a misdemeanor as it was never intended to be enforced on non whites. It is roughly the equivalent of being caught with a joint, and your chances of getting caught are roughly zero. They call it concealed carry because nobody should know you are carrying. I personally don't for the same law abiding fear most other gun owners have, but like I said, your chances of being caught are virtually zero.

[hso]

Might wanna look the law up. Carrying a dagger concealed on your person is not permitted by the state of California.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=12001-13000&file=12020-12040
PENAL CODE
SECTION 12020-12040

12020. (a) Any person in this state who does any of the following
is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year
or in the state prison:

(4) Carries concealed upon his or her person any dirk or dagger.

[ChaoSS]

Other solution is dirty carry.Let's clarify. You are advocating breaking the law because it is unlikely that you will get caught, right?
Concealed carry of a firearm by itself is only a misdemeanor as it was never intended to be enforced on non whites. What is that supposed to mean?

BTW, it's not true that your chances of being caught are roughly zero. I've been searched by the police before when I was doing nothing wrong, nothing suspicious, just wrong place, wrong time kind of thing. I don't fancy getting in trouble for an illegal weapon that often, and you shouldn't recommend it.

[Gordon]

Like I said you CAN carry a fixed blade knife concealed with a hunting or fishing license. NOT gonna work for a V42 stelletto in a down town however!

[eJack]

Might wanna look the law up. Carrying a dagger concealed on your person is not permitted by the state of California.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=12001-13000&file=12020-12040

(24) As used in this section, a "dirk" or "dagger" means a knife or other instrument with or without a handguard that is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death. A nonlocking folding knife, a folding knife that is not prohibited by Section 653k, or a pocketknife is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death only if the blade of the knife is exposed and locked into position.

You can't conceal a screw driver, pen, or any other pointed object if an officer decides that you could use it to cause harm.

[eJack]

Let's clarify. You are advocating breaking the law because it is unlikely that you will get caught, right?
What is that supposed to mean?

BTW, it's not true that your chances of being caught are roughly zero. I've been searched by the police before when I was doing nothing wrong, nothing suspicious, just wrong place, wrong time kind of thing. I don't fancy getting in trouble for an illegal weapon that often, and you shouldn't recommend it.

I never advocated breaking any law, nor did I recommend it. You won't find those words and I would appreciate it if you didn't claim otherwise. I simply stated that it was an option, albeit an option that carried consequences. I stated the risks and consequences very clearly. I went further to explicitly state that I do not do it for those exact reasons.

As for the enforcement part, California's gun laws were written to target minorities. They were openly promoted by the KKK, and were written so that they would have a minimal impact on whites. The may issue permit system was a blatant Jim Crow law, and the penalty for concealed carry was reduced to almost an infraction for the first offense, unless certain other offenses were committed simultaneously at which point it became a felony. They were passed in the same era that mere possession of a "nunchaku" was made a felony. The difference between a nunchaku and a concealed gun (other than the obvious difference in lethal potential) was that at the time upstanding citizens (read white) commonly carried guns, while criminals (read minorities) carried clubs, daggers and, of course, the ninjas were going to invade the mainland with nunchaku after pearl harbor. These arbitrary laws are obviously used for other political purposes today, but there was a reason they were written the way they were written. Just a shame that California of all places has some of the country's last Jim Crow laws still on the books.

[B yond]

Just to clarify what eJack is saying;

It is my understanding (I'm not a lawyer) that if caught concealing a loaded handgun in the state of CA and it is registered to you and you are not committing any other crime and it is an otherwise legal gun, you will be charged with a misdemeanor.

If it's not registered, or you're doing something else that you shouldn't be doing, then it becomes a felony.

I wouldn't recommend doing it, because chances are any cop who catches you with it will find something else you're doing wrong (there's always something) and you'll end up losing your RKBA, paying a massive fine, and possible doing some time.

[ChaoSS]

So, a law which punishes the criminals, the gang bangers, who carry their guns to commit crimes, much more harshly than those who carry a gun to protect themselves is racist? Is it racist to make a law that "discriminates" against criminals?

If a law meant to go after criminals and gang bangers ends up being more applicable to one group than another, then the problem is with the group, not with the law.

I think it's sad that in this state, the most diverse state in the union, we still have people whining about how a law that applies equally to everyone is somehow "discriminatory".

[eJack]

So, a law which punishes the criminals, the gang bangers, who carry their guns to commit crimes, much more harshly than those who carry a gun to protect themselves is racist? Is it racist to make a law that "discriminates" against criminals?

If a law meant to go after criminals and gang bangers ends up being more applicable to one group than another, then the problem is with the group, not with the law.

I think it's sad that in this state, the most diverse state in the union, we still have people whining about how a law that applies equally to everyone is somehow "discriminatory".

I was simply pointing out a historical issue with the law. And yes, the laws which classify possesion of a club dagger or similar as a felony and a firearm as a misdomener were written (and openly publicized) to target armed minorities. There are newspaper archives to prove it. That said, you shouldn't use that statement of historical fact to make the assumption that I think discriminating against criminals is racial. I don't. They need all the discriminating the law can provide.

[B yond]

Jeez guys, we're getting off topic here.

These laws may have been written with racist intent. They may have just been received that way. It's kind of hard to prove one way or the other without the person(s) who drafted and passed them flat out saying they're designed to affect minorities.

Back on to the topic of knives in CA...

I used to see a lanky goth-looking guy walking around town with a trench coat and a katana on his back. It was a nice-looking sword. The cops didn't bother him, as you can OC a fixed blade knife legally in most parts of CA. Had it been under his trench coat, he'd have been committing a crime (a felony, IIRC).

A good friend of mine carries a neck knife in his cargo pocket for utilitarian purposes. I warned him that it's a crime and he'd probably be in hot water if a cop ever searched him. He just doesn't believe it, because it doesn't really make sense that he can't carry a small-ish fixed blade concealed but I can carry a large-ish spring-assisted folder concealed prefectly legally.

No one (on THR at least) ever said CA laws make sense. :cuss:

[hmphargh]

One option may be open carry. I'm not sure if it is legal or not for non-California residents, but California allows open carry an unloaded firearm and you can have a magazine or speed loader at hand. You can read up on it here: http://www.californiaopencarry.org/

[eJack]

One option may be open carry. I'm not sure if it is legal or not for non-California residents, but California allows open carry an unloaded firearm and you can have a magazine or speed loader at hand. You can read up on it here: http://www.californiaopencarry.org/

:what: While it is legal, and there is no residence requirement, I could not recommend against it more strongly for anybody other than an activist with more time and money than they know what to do with. Lawful or not you are almost guaranteed to get arrested, harassed and possibly even assaulted. And being out of town will only make things worse. Read some of the stories others have gone through, and the additional complication of being from out of state, then ask yourself if it is worth it.

[hmphargh]

Sure, I wasn't suggesting it, just an option depending on his reasons for carry.