Balisongs in CA?

[Atractaspis]

Can someone please enlighten me to what the legality of balisongs in CA are? Legal to own, but not carry, buy, sell, trade is what I've gathered so far, but want to be 100% on it. Thank you!

 

[knife2Agunfight]

Don't quote me on this...

But I'm pretty sure you can have Balisongs on California. I know I do. The laws are, that they can't be shipped over state lines, and they can't be concealed. But, recently a California judge deemed a butterfly knife to be a switchblade in a court case.

WeBeKnives in San Francisco on Pier 39 sells Bradley Kimura and Benchmade balisongs, but they will also sell Microtech OTF's to you. So I'm not sure on the legality...

 

[squints]

You can technically carry any kind of knife in CA as long as the blade is under two inches.

 

[NightMare Silverado]

It's legal for them to sell you a butterfly/auto but if a cop stops you 10ft away he can nail you on it.

 

[glistam]

I'll stick with the straight letter of the law for my post. First, for purposes of the state law, balisongs and switchblades are considered the same thing. Here is the definition part of the law:

17235. As used in this part, "switchblade knife" means a knife having the appearance of a pocketknife and includes a spring-blade
knife, snap-blade knife, gravity knife, or any other similar type knife, the blade or blades of which are two or more inches in length
and which can be released automatically by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle, flip of the wrist or other mechanical device,
or is released by the weight of the blade or by any type of mechanism whatsoever. "Switchblade knife" does not include a knife
that opens with one hand utilizing thumb pressure applied solely to the blade of the knife or a thumb stud attached to the blade,
provided that the knife has a detent or other mechanism that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade, or that
biases the blade back toward its closed position.

This phrasing has been ruled to exclude all common one-handed folders and assisted openers, but includes balisongs and switch-operated automatic knives.

The prohibition part of the law is:

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.

What this all boils down to is that if a balisong has a blade under 2 inches long, it is legal to carry, own, buy and sell under state law. If the blade is longer than 2 inches, it is legal to own in the home and buy, but illegal to sell or carry. Any person or business within the state offering balisongs with blades over 2 inches long is a criminal, no matter how long they have gotten away with it. I also notice that there is no special exception for police or military under this law.

Under federal law, technically balisongs also count as switchblades and are subject to the same ban on sale over state lines. By comparison however, this law is enforced far less often on balisongs, though it does happen. Like the state law, it is the seller, not the buyer who is guilty of a crime.

A person wanted to legally obtain a balisong without any laws being broken has to either buy one with a short blade, or travel to another state where they are legal to sell and bring it home.

 

[Atractaspis]

Thanks to all that replied.

So, I can buy balisongs and autos (no matter what length blade) for the purpose of collecting and keeping in the home and can carry, sell, trade, etc. them if they have a blade 2" or less. Buying or owing is not a crime.

 

[Charlie Mike]

Keep em at home. If you must transport them, get a locking box and store it in the trunk of your car.