CA open carry

Charlie Mike

Charlie Mike

Sober since 1-7-14 (still a Paranoid Nutjob)
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Nov 1, 2000
Messages
28,365
I got a custom fixed blade last Friday. I started open carrying it yesterday. I live in a county (City of Fresno) with a population of approx .5 million. I don't drive, so if I need to get groceries or pick up my wife's prescriptions, a walk down a heavily traveled street is required. I started open carrying on dog walks and this morning, I went to the grocer. I make sure to have my T-shirt tucked into my jeans and that my vest does not cover any part of the knife or rig. I belt carry in the small of back. So far so good. I haven't noticed any strange looks and I'm very alert to other people.

This is the knife I'm carrying (see vid). While open carrying in public, I don't carry any knives other than a Case blue bone small toothpick.

[youtube]rn7aLRifOZ0[/youtube]
(pardon my wife yelling in the background)
 
Charlie Mike said:
I got a custom fixed blade last Friday. I started open carrying it yesterday. I live in a county (City of Fresno) with a population of approx .5 million. I don't drive, so if I need to get groceries or pick up my wife's prescriptions, a walk down a heavily traveled street is required. I started open carrying on dog walks and this morning, I went to the grocer. I make sure to have my T-shirt tucked into my jeans and that my vest does not cover any part of the knife or rig. I belt carry in the small of back. So far so good. I haven't noticed any strange looks and I'm very alert to other people.

This is the knife I'm carrying (see vid). While open carrying in public, I don't carry any knives other than a Case blue bone small toothpick.

[youtube]rn7aLRifOZ0[/youtube]
(pardon my wife yelling in the background)
Click to expand...
A good rule of thumb is not to carry in public any knife that you cannot afford to lose, ditch or have confiscated.
 
Point taken. I'm not too worried though. The laws are on my side. My in-laws know an excellent lawyer who would love to sue anyone who deprives me of my freedom or property when no crime has been committed.
 
I'm not too up on the carry laws in our state outside of firearms, but do we have a concealed carry law that pertains to knives? I know that there are no size limits, and I always carry when on hunting trips and have a BM griptillian as my EDC on belt. I didn't think it mattered (legally, anyways).
 
Fixed blades CANNOT be concealed. There is no blade length limit unless you are visiting certain places like schools and post offices and such.
 
perfectly legal per the ca penal code to open carry.

it could, however, be reasonable suspicion to detain.
 
No blade length limit in CA? How about swords?

Also, do most cities have their own limits?
 
Cool! I don't have any wants or warrents. Haven't had any (negative) contact with the law since my DUI in 11-08.
 
MORIMOTOM said:
perfectly legal per the ca penal code to open carry.

it could, however, be reasonable suspicion to detain.
Click to expand...

Could you explain this? It just confuses me that a perfectly legal act could end up being reasonable suspicion to detain someone. I'm not trying to stir up any poop...I'm genuinely curious.
 
Well... if you look like me... sleeved arms and letters on your knuckles, I can see how somebody could assume that I could be a parolee or some kind of biker trash with outstanding warrants.
 
morrowj_98 said:
Could you explain this? It just confuses me that a perfectly legal act could end up being reasonable suspicion to detain someone. I'm not trying to stir up any poop...I'm genuinely curious.
Click to expand...


in and of itself, the open carry is not illegal.

but it may be a contributing factor when considering additional facts (as they are present).

eg, it is legal to open carry an unloaded firearm. in this case, the open carry is reasonable suspicion, in and of itself, to detain for inspection of the firearm.

i don't like to play the "what if" game, but if cm had committed another violation (traffic, for instance), the knife would create reasonable suspicion to conduct a terry search.

or if some citizen decided to call 911 re an "armed" pedestrian, the open carry could create reasonable suspicion to detain and search.


not saying he is going to be stopped, but it is a realistic possibility.
 
MORIMOTOM said:
in and of itself, the open carry is not illegal.

but it may be a contributing factor when considering additional facts (as they are present).

eg, it is legal to open carry an unloaded firearm. in this case, the open carry is reasonable suspicion, in and of itself, to detain for inspection of the firearm.

i don't like to play the "what if" game, but if cm had committed another violation (traffic, for instance), the knife would create reasonable suspicion to conduct a terry search.

or if some citizen decided to call 911 re an "armed" pedestrian, the open carry could create reasonable suspicion to detain and search.


not saying he is going to be stopped, but it is a realistic possibility.
Click to expand...


That makes sense. Thank you.
 
morrowj_98 said:
That makes sense. Thank you.
Click to expand...

it can, and usually is, a grey area.

reasonable suspicion is not a concept that is absolute. rather it is based on the facts present, and the training and experience of the officer/deputy. in short, it is subjective by definition.
 
I don't get it??? I can legally carry a 4" tactical folder (either concealed or unconcealed) most places I go, except for the occasional locality that has a 3" rule. My prefered EDC in town is two Emerson Combat Karambits, one on each side. I wear my shirts long and outside my pants, so nobody is even going to see one clipped to my pocket. I can wave them out....faster than I could even draw a fixed blade.

Just get yourself a waved folder and be done with it!
 
First, I have no clue about anything waved. What are you supposed to do with it?
 
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