Balisongs in CA and MA

[krypticide]

Could someone give me a simple answer as to the legality of balisongs carried around in CA and MA? I'm having trouble figuring out, based on reading the actual laws, if the butterfly knife is a switchblade or a gravity knife. If there are some rules (such as blade length), I'd like to know that as well. Thanks for all your help!

 

[AASK]

If anyone knows the answer to this regarding New York please post that to!

 

[medusaoblongata]

In CA it is legal to own a balisong in your home or transport one in the trunk of your car, but it is illegal to carry on your person anywhere in public, or to manufacture, sell, etc. That goes for balisongs over 2", under that is legal to carry, sell, etc.

 

[krypticide]

Cool, thanks for the reply. Any ideas about MA and the areas around Boston in particular?

 

[medusaoblongata]

I seem to remember something about Boston passing a 2" limit, but I'm really not sure about that. Try doing a search for "Boston" and see what you come up with.

If you can find it, the best source of information will the the state's official website if their penal codes are listed online. Same thing for city municipal codes.

E.g., for CA laws, go to www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html then search the penal code for "knife." I'm sure most states and cities have a similar resource, and it really is more reliable than betting your ass on what anonymous people on the internet tell you, ya know? Once you find an official source for the laws, you can print up that code section and carry a copy with you, which may help you convince a LEO that your knife is legal. Printing up a BFC thread probably wouldn't do the trick.