Bikers always seem to be learning about measurement performance laws in California. After researching the law, we certainly understand why there is confusion about what is legal to carry and what is not: there are more than a dozen laws on the subject, as well as many municipal codes and inconsistent court decisions that further obscure the waters. Hopefully, this article sheds light on the rules and inconsistencies of California`s knife laws. Balisong knives are legal in the state of California if they have a blade length of less than 2 inches. If the blade is larger than 2 inches, it is illegal to carry, sell or buy, but it is legal to own one if it is kept in your home. This means they must be bought out of state and kept at home. It is not illegal to possess a knife larger than 2 inches in your home. My father always had a gun at home in case of an emergency, plus there`s a kitchen knife that`s over 2 inches tall and isn`t illegal. Owning switch blades in CA Technologies is legal. You simply cannot wear or buy them on you or in your vehicle in the cabin. sell, exchange, give, etc. So yes, you can legally have one in your home. Yes, it is indeed legal to wear any type of power-opening knife as long as there is resistance when opening the knife and it is opened by the user applying DIRECT pressure on the blade (thumb bolt or fin) to open it.
These types of knives are NOT considered a switch blade as defined by the CA knife laws, although many confuse them with it. It`s quite confusing and frustrating to find out what`s legal in your area and then find out it`s illegal just a mile across the city/county borders. A lot, if I remember correctly, a *hidden* pocket knife with a 3″ folding blade is legal everywhere in California, so go ahead and don`t be cute: opening mechanism or open transport. Don`t you break the law in general, you know? And then you don`t have to worry. A non-lockable folding knife, a folding knife not prohibited by section 21510 or a pocket knife may only be used as a stabbing weapon that is likely to cause serious bodily injury or death if the knife blade is exposed and placed in position. 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? California imposed a switch blade restriction in 1957. The original definition has changed. The current legal definition in § 17235 for “knife blade knives” is as follows: If you carry a knife, you run an increased risk of law enforcement problems, and if you are arrested, a knife can potentially make the situation worse, unless you have a very specific reason why you are carrying the knife and you can easily explain it to the arresting officer. Spring Assisted is 100% legal in California as long as it has “derast to open” where BLAD regains control just before closing. In Los Angeles, it`s illegal to carry a knife unless you`re going to or coming from a job that requires a knife, I think Los Angeles County is the only one with such a restriction, but IDK California`s knife laws can be confusing and sometimes inconsistent.
If you plan to own or carry certain types of knives, a better understanding of the laws can help you avoid the aggravation and cost of a firearm load. If you`ve been accused of breaking a knife, a knowledgeable attorney who understands the ins and outs of California`s knife laws can evaluate your case and find the best defense strategy for you. If the knife is longer than five inches, even in the closed position, there is no California code that prohibits you from carrying it. If the blade is larger than four inches, it can stay in your pocket as long as it is folded. Blade knives longer than four inches, which are not already a prohibited category and are of the fixed blade type or a folding knife that remains in the open position, must be transported in a sheath within sight of your person. Folding knives with a blade larger than 4 inches can be legally transported in the closed position in the bag, as long as it is not already a prohibited class. I own a 6-inch single-edged foldable blade Cold Steel Ti-Lite. The blade is long and thin like a stiletto, but since it is single-edged and foldable, is it still forbidden by law to wear hidden/hidden? according to state law? Thank you very much. California has no length law. It is a folder so that you can hide it, carry it (put it in your pocket).
Spring Assisted is very good. The easiest way to determine if a folder is legal or not is whether you should touch the panel when you open it. If you press a pinball machine, pull a nail slot, press a thumb button on the blade or simply pull on the blunt part to open it, everything is fine. If you flip a switch or press a button and it comes out, it`s a home-only item and you`re not allowed to wear it. Almost sure it`s just the city of L.A. When I go to SoCal, I use a rule of thumb not to wear anything that immediately scares liberals. Since I live in Sacramento County, I can walk around with a knife around my neck, but I wouldn`t dare try that if I went to Los Angeles. Kamala Harris — then attorney general of California, now vice president of the United States — was upset and appealed to the California Supreme Court to reinstate Castillolopez`s conviction. AKTI submitted an amicus curiae letter on behalf of Mr. Castillolopez. The California Supreme Court ruled that his conviction should be overturned.
In People v. Castillolopez, it is found that a non-lockable folding knife such as a sliding joint is not “locked” when opened and is excluded from the category of daggers and daggers. Whether a knife can be used as a stabbing weapon is a question for the jury. California jurors are tried by a judge using CALCRIM No. 2501, a standard formulation developed by a committee that includes: For example, in the city of Los Angeles, it is illegal to publicly carry a knife, dirk or dagger with a blade 3″ or longer in length, an ice ax or a similar sharp tool. Any straight-edged razor or razor blade attached to a handle. (There are some exceptions, for example: if the knife is intended for use in a “legal profession, for legal recreational purposes, or as a recognized religious practice.”) Los Angeles County has a similar rule that makes it illegal to “openly carry a knife with a blade three inches or longer in length; any pen knife, switch knife knife or pressure blade knife; any knife whose blade is automatically released by a spring-loaded mechanism or other mechanical device; any ice axe or similar sharp stabbing tool; Any straight-edged razor or razor blade attached to a handle. In other words, it is illegal in Los Angeles County to carry a knife with a blade of 3” or more open.