CA law, copied from the PC
16470. As used in this part, “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 21510, 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.
CHAPTER 1. General Provisions [20200- 20200.]
20200. A knife carried in a sheath that is worn openly suspended from the waist of the wearer is not concealed within the meaning of Section 16140, 16340, 17350, or 21310.
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Overview of completely outlawed knife variants:
CHAPTER 2. Disguised or Misleading Appearance20310-20990
ARTICLE 1. Air Gauge Knife20310-20390
ARTICLE 2. Belt Buckle Knife20410-20490
ARTICLE 3. Cane Sword20510-20590
ARTICLE 4. Lipstick Case Knife20610-20690
ARTICLE 5. Shobi-zue20710-20790
ARTICLE 6. Undetectable Knife20810-20820
ARTICLE 7. Writing Pen Knife20910-
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CHAPTER 3. Ballistic Knife [21110 - 21190]
21110. Except as provided in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division 2 of Title 2, any person in this state who manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses any ballistic knife is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
21190. Except as provided in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division 2 of Title 2, any ballistic knife is a nuisance and is subject to Section 18010.
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CHAPTER 4. Dirk or Dagger [21310 - 21390]
21310. Except as provided in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division 2 of Title 2, any person in this state who carries concealed upon the person any dirk or dagger is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
21390. The unlawful concealed carrying upon the person of any dirk or dagger, as provided in Section 21310, is a nuisance and is subject to Sections 18000 and 18005.
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CHAPTER 5. Switchblade Knife [21510 - 21590]
21510. Every person who does any of the following with a switchblade knife having a blade two or more inches in length is guilty of a misdemeanor:
(a) Possesses the knife in the passenger’s or driver’s area of any motor vehicle in any public place or place open to the public.
(b) Carries the knife upon the person.
(c) Sells, offers for sale, exposes for sale, loans, transfers, or gives the knife to any other person.
21590. The unlawful possession or carrying of any switchblade knife, as provided in Section 21510, is a nuisance and is subject to Sections 18000 and 18005.
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CHAPTER 1. Schools [626 - 626.11] ( Chapter 1 added by Stats. 1969, Ch. 1424. )
626.10.
(a) (1) Any person, except a duly appointed peace officer as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, a full-time paid peace officer of another state or the federal government who is carrying out official duties while in this state, a person summoned by any officer to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace while the person is actually engaged in assisting any officer, or a member of the military forces of this state or the United States who is engaged in the performance of his or her duties, who brings or possesses any dirk, dagger, ice pick, knife having a blade longer than 21/2 inches, folding knife with a blade that locks into place, razor with an unguarded blade, taser, or stun gun, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 244.5, any instrument that expels a metallic projectile, such as a BB or a pellet, through the force of air pressure, CO2 pressure, or spring action, or any spot marker gun, upon the grounds of, or within, any public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, is guilty of a public offense, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
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CHAPTER 7. Other Offenses Against Public Justice [142 - 181] ( Chapter 7 enacted 1872. )
171b.
(a) Any person who brings or possesses within any state or local public building or at any meeting required to be open to the public pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of, or Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of, the Government Code, any of the following is guilty of a public offense punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or in the state prison:
(3) Any knife with a blade length in excess of four inches, the blade of which is fixed or is capable of being fixed in an unguarded position by the use of one or two hands.
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What does all of this mumbo jumbo mean?
Chapter 1 - self explanatory. BTW, I have heard stores of people getting into trouble when the knife was attached to another part of their body as opposed to the 'waist'.
Chapter 2 - It is illegal to carry any of these!!
Chapter 3 - It is illegal to carry a ballistic knife!
Chapter 4 - it is illegal to carry a folding knife with the blade in the open position, or a fixed blade, concealed.
Chapter 5 - It is illegal to carry a switchblade with a blade 2" or more. Butterfly knives and gravity knives are considered switchblades.
Schools - It is illegal to carry any knife with a blade 2.5" or longer. Folding knives must be non-locking.
Govt. Buildings - it is illegal to carry any knife with a blade 4" or longer.
This is State law. IF there are local laws, they will be much more stringent. Many of them make it illegal to carry a knife with a blade 3" or longer and some of them outlaw switchblades altogether.
