There are restrictions on carrying knives when entering schools, universities and colleges, as well as public buildings open to the public, such as courts, town halls, police stations, etc. For K-12 schools, knives with blades larger than 2.5 inches are not allowed unless they are needed for specific tasks. Razor blades and cardboard cutters are also prohibited. Criminal Code, section 626.10. For colleges and universities, fixed blades larger than 2.5 inches are not allowed. However, there are no restrictions on folding knives as long as they do not fall into the category of shift blades. For national or local public buildings, it is illegal to carry a knife with a blade larger than 4 inches on the premises. California Penal Code, Section 171b. For additional advice or to discuss your case with a criminal defence lawyer, we invite you to contact us at Shouse Law Group. Our firm provides reliable legal advice and serves clients throughout the state of California, including the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas. I think at one point the law said three inches was the legal legitimation, but now it has dropped to a maximum of two inches.
It is illegal to wear or hide ANY OTF, Switchblade, or Balisong supported in California. Some laws allow for a larger blade, others have tolerances for the mechanism, but few do without obscuration and appearance. If a knife looks like a cell phone and instead opens to reveal a 12-inch sword, authorities would frown. No police officer will take a ticket or harass you for carrying a reasonable knife, as long as you are not in a sensitive area or marking or someone is bleeding in the back of your SUV. When a police officer makes a case from a three-inch long blade carried by a peaceful individual, we need to re-examine OUR Constitution. I used to think of these guys as rednecks, dirt, swamp water bathers, but the older I get, the more I think about their collective mindset. This country, in fact, was founded at a very different time in our history, and the laws in place are designed to do that – govern! Laws are not designed for the convenience of a political party for other programs, nor to encourage discussions related to specific groups of people. If we start using legislation as a tool to manage our backyards with difficulty, and become so short-sighted that we customize laws and elect leaders who suit our tastes as designers, we have failed as a nation of rebels, farmers, businessmen, artists, hunters and inventors. God save us???? So, if your knife has two sharp edges on the left and right side, is it considered a dagger and is it illegal? What if it is a sustained-opening knife with a safety mechanism to prevent accidental opening? I don`t care? If a folding knife is carried open in a taut and locked position (i.e. when unfolded), then it becomes a Dirk or dagger and must be carried in a sheath on the belt. California allows people to carry folding knives of all sizes, but switch blades must have a blade of 2 inches or less.
Yes, it is legal to own a Kerambit. You just have to wear it wrapped and hang it from your waist, you can`t hide it (because it`s technically a Dirk or a dagger). However, I am not a lawyer, and if you want a real answer, you pay for a lawyer. -FIXED BLADE KNIVES (DIRKS AND DAGGERS)Fixed blade knives do not have a folding mechanism. Kitchen knives are the most common examples. The category may also include ice axes, push knives, Bowie knives, and daggers. Then there are the more robust, military-grade shredders for surviving in the deep, unfamiliar forests, which are essential for survivalists, backcountry hikers, and hunters. For legal implications in California, dirks and daggers refer to knives that can easily be used as a dagger weapon. It is LEGAL to possess and carry these knives, BUT the wearer must carry them open. This means that they should NEVER BE HIDDEN as this makes them illegal.
-FOLDING KNIFEFolding knives can usually be opened by applying pressure or pulling on the blade(s). These types of knives ideally have a mechanism that provides resistance when opening the blade. Some of the most common knives in the category are pocket knives, Swiss army knives, cardboard knives and other all-purpose knives. Others are more robust and stunning combat records designed for survival and self-defense situations. As long as the public can see that you are carrying an object that is easily recognizable as a bladed weapon and that is not on the specific list of illegal weapons (i.e. longer than 2-inch switch blades), you`re fine. It depends on the state, city, or city you live in. When in doubt, I think you should send it to me, I will cover the shipping costs because I would hate if you were arrested. Where I live, it`s legal, the next district above me could be stopped because I carried it to every government building.
In California, some knives are illegal to carry, especially if they are misleading or undetectable. In general, illegal knives are the ones that are most commonly used to commit crimes and have no obvious use as a tool or resemble knives. In re: Luke W 88 Cal. App. 4th 650 A credit card multi-tool knife is not a hidden dagger or dirt knife in California. In light of these elements, an accused can avoid feelings of guilt by proving that he did not have this required knowledge. Perhaps, for example, he bought an illegal shabi-zue in an antique shop and had no idea it was forbidden by law. The situation is getting worse. The Los Angeles Code §55.01 also makes it illegal to carry hidden weapons on your own body. Therefore, you can`t carry an openly 3″ blade in Los Angeles, but you also can`t carry such a hidden weapon. This site seems to do more harm than good. It`s best to check the laws of your city and county, as well as the cities/counties where you travel regularly.
Example; My town doesn`t have a blade length restriction, but in a nearby town where my G/F lives, they have a limit of 3″ or more, so when I visit them, I wear a 2,875-inch Spyderco Byrd Hawkbill. But in my city, I can wear my old Cold Steel Vaquero Grandé model with the 6″ serrated VG-1 blade, which is about 13″ with the blade unfolded and longer than your forearm.