Monkey Fist in CA?

A

ASBOB

Joined
Feb 8, 2008
Messages
1,304
I posted this in Knife Laws but no response, so I figured I'd try here.

Here's the inquiry:



This is an interesting idea:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...british+monkey

With a cord attached it might make a great stand off device.

Would it be legal in CA? To carry? If, heaven forbid, you had to use it? Or would you be booked for a felony?

I seem to recall a thread discussing heavy blunt objects on a chain, with negative results, but I'm not sure.

So in SoCal, is this a violation?
 
Link doesn't work. I googled monkey fist and it just looks like a lanyard decoration of some sort. :confused:
 
Please reserve this forum for knife discussion.
Moved to Knife Laws. Hope there is an answer there this time.
 
It would likely be interpreted as a SAP or sand filled bludgeon if an Officer felt like it was or wanted to call it one. So keep in mind what you could use it for, and decide whether to carry it. 2008 Dangerous Weapons Control Act, section 12020(a)(1)
 
Any place they make reference to "slung shots" being illegal these will be to as that is what they are. I would be really surprised if California of all places didn't have that in their laws someplace. They certainly do in the state I live in.
 
Sidehill Gouger said:
Any place they make reference to "slung shots" being illegal these will be to as that is what they are. I would be really surprised if California of all places didn't have that in their laws someplace. They certainly do in the state I live in.
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I guess they aren't considered slung shots, because every place I've seen sell them has no problem shipping them to California.
 
Plasmio said:
I guess they aren't considered slung shots, because every place I've seen sell them has no problem shipping them to California.
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Plasimo, what is legal to own, may not be legal to carry on your person.
 
Monkey Fists have always been considered 'slung shot' as long as they have a weight of any kind in it. If it has a wooden or foam ball would be the only time it is not. Sailors during the time of wooden ships started the practice of carrying monkey's fist with lead shot from the muskets as self defense in ports-of-call and most countries consider them illegal, and that includes the socialist state of Kalifornia. Use of a weight attached to a chain (''manriki" in Japanese) is also considered to be a weapon in Kalifornia. I suggest, if something in the line of self defense is in your mind, to take a heavy split key ring, add one foot of 5/32 blue steel (1500# test strength) and make a loop on each end. connect your keys to one end and a mini carabiner to the other. Clip the 'biner to your belt/belt loop and put the keys in your pocket. Unclip the keys when needed. Warning: this creates a flexible weapon and as such you can hurt yourself badly without training....

Now the question needed to be answered is that if you defend yourself with this will you get arrested anyway....
 
A Monkey's fist in and of itself is not considered a de jure weapon in any state. It is, after all, nothing more than rope with a knot in it. Furthermore, very few police I have spoken with know anything about it's history. It would only be an issue if it was sufficiently large, was weighted, and there was clear intent evidence by how it was carried that it was intended to be used as a weapon.

It's all about impressions. If the knot is 1/2 inch diameter, filled with paper, and it's on your keys by a 3" loop, nobody is going to care. If it's tennis-ball sized, filled with a solid lead weight and carried in the pocket of a thug with a known gang history, that's going to get confiscated or result in an arrest.

It pays to make or buy one where it's purpose is not evident. The item below is one of my own making, which I have dubbed a "Sailor's Amulet."
Untitled.jpg

It's a solid 1.25" solid copper sphere held by a 5-bight Turk's Head knot, topped with a diamond not, then a lanyard is formed using a simple daisy chain. It's worn around the neck, and nobody has never thought it was anything more than a quirky accessory. I designed it to make sure I had something when I was at work, as we have very tight weapon restrictions.
 
Word of warning, by interpretation the monkeyfist "could" easily fall under the category of sap or blackjack (in the same manner as a billard ball in the toe of a long sock or some other homemade manrikigusari or suruchin--something like a big 25-33mm nut tied on a rope). Yeah, I'm in California and have all sorts of them in the process of tying my own. Too many experiences with aggro dogs (and their idiotic thug owners) at the local dog park has prompted me to carry a heavy one discretely attached as a counter-balance to my own dog's chuckit stick. I hope to never have to use it in self-defense (and if doing so would direct an aggressive dog's attention off of my dog and onto me...I'm accept that.)

For more proof, try to order one as part of your next BladeHQ order. They will not ship their monkeyfists to CA, and the item must be removed before you can complete your knife order.
 
The Logical One said:
Link doesn't work. I googled monkey fist and it just looks like a lanyard decoration of some sort. :confused:
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I never even heard of one until a lady that I work with showed up one day with a "monkey fist" attached to the handle of her handbag. Being young, she thought it looked cool! So...I guess the question is: effective weapon or just another accessory for fashionistas like her?
 
Sorry for resurrecting an old thread but I've been looking for a solid answer to this. Found a good one with People vs Golden. From what I read he had a monkeys fist under his car seat and was arrested...the case was dismissed because a monkeys fist didn't fall under the prohibited weapons definition of black jack, slungshit etc.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
A very good case law to read on this matter is People of California v Fannin (2001).

In that case Mr. Fannin was waiting at a bus stop. A cop thought he looked suspicious, approached Mr. Fannin, asked him some questions, and asked him if he would consent to a search. Mr. Fannin did consent to the search (his first mistake).

Upon searching Mr. Fannin the cop found a length of chain with a padlock attached. Mr. Fannin originally told the officer that it was for his bicycle back home, but he eventually told the officer that he was carrying the item for self-defense (his second mistake). Mr. Fannin was arrested and charged with carrying a slungshot.

Mr. Fannin was convicted of that charge and appealed his conviction arguing that the item did not qualify as a weapon because it had a legitimate purpose (locking his bicycle, which was at home), and that the item was neither designed nor modified in any way to make it a weapon.

But since Mr. Fannin said that he was carrying the chain and padlock for self-defense, that statement was seen by the court as an admission that the item was being carried as a weapon, and Mr. Fannin's conviction was upheld.

Mr. Fannin convicted himself with his own words by saying that he was carrying the item for self-defense. Unlike Mr. Golden in People v Golden, where Mr. Golden was originally convicted of possessing a "slungshot", but his conviction was overturned on appeal because he made no mention of the item being a weapon. Instead he said that he merely found the item in question and put it in his car.

Although an item may have ordinary, legitimate, and innocent uses, the state of mind of the person carrying/possessing the item can cause that item to be regarded as a "weapon" in court. To say "I'm carrying it for self-defense" indicates ones state of mind. Likewise, if an LEO asks you "Are you carrying any weapons?", and if in your attempt to be honest and forthright you say "Yes, I have this right here", then whatever this is WILL be regarded as a "weapon" in court. And if that "weapon" falls under the definition or description of an "illegal" weapon, then you are screwed.

Mr. Fannin also screwed himself by waiving his 4th Amendment rights and consenting to a search.

There are many cases in California where people were carrying ordinary items, but were convicted of weapons offenses because they admitted that they were carrying/possessing them for "self-defense".

This is why many people, like myself, advise others to NEVER tell an LEO that you are carrying an item for "protection" or "self-defense". Carrying a "monkey's fist" is not illegal in and of itself in California, but if you were to tell an LEO that you were carrying it for self-defense, you would be confessing to a felony, and you could wind up in prison.
 
glistam said:
A Monkey's fist in and of itself is not considered a de jure weapon in any state. It is, after all, nothing more than rope with a knot in it. Furthermore, very few police I have spoken with know anything about it's history. It would only be an issue if it was sufficiently large, was weighted, and there was clear intent evidence by how it was carried that it was intended to be used as a weapon.

It's all about impressions. If the knot is 1/2 inch diameter, filled with paper, and it's on your keys by a 3" loop, nobody is going to care. If it's tennis-ball sized, filled with a solid lead weight and carried in the pocket of a thug with a known gang history, that's going to get confiscated or result in an arrest.

It pays to make or buy one where it's purpose is not evident. The item below is one of my own making, which I have dubbed a "Sailor's Amulet."
Untitled.jpg

It's a solid 1.25" solid copper sphere held by a 5-bight Turk's Head knot, topped with a diamond not, then a lanyard is formed using a simple daisy chain. It's worn around the neck, and nobody has never thought it was anything more than a quirky accessory. I designed it to make sure I had something when I was at work, as we have very tight weapon restrictions.
Click to expand...

Glistam,

Any chance you could repost this pic? Looks like the link died sometime during the last 4 years :D I'd like to see what you rigged up. TY.
 
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