California 4" Public Place limitation

Joined
Jul 14, 2011
Messages
687
Sorry to be bothering, but this is the one part I don't understand. The law states it's illegal to have a knife over 4" in buildings open to the public. Doesn't that mean every single store, gas station, library, parks, and all that? And also, where is the 4" measured? Along the cutting edge? From the handle to the blade tip? Would a hawkbill be penalized, or would a knife with a 50/50 choil be counted for the extra length?
 
Sorry to be bothering, but this is the one part I don't understand. The law states it's illegal to have a knife over 4" in buildings open to the public. Doesn't that mean every single store, gas station, library, parks, and all that? And also, where is the 4" measured? Along the cutting edge? From the handle to the blade tip? Would a hawkbill be penalized, or would a knife with a 50/50 choil be counted for the extra length?

What law says that where exactly? Link? This doesn't sound a like California state law.
 
Last edited:
Looks like and outdated version of Penal Code 171c. The newer law is much clearer in its meaning: This retriction only applies to certain government buildings, not all buildings open to the public.

The updated text reads

171c. (a) (1) Any person who brings a loaded firearm into, or possesses a loaded firearm within, the State Capitol, any legislative office, any office of the Governor or other constitutional officer, or any hearing room in which any committee of the Senate or Assembly is conducting a hearing, or upon the grounds of the State Capitol, which is bounded by 10th, L, 15th, and N Streets in the City of Sacramento, shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for a period of not more than one year, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both such imprisonment and fine, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
(2) Any person who brings or possesses, within the State Capitol, any legislative office, any hearing room in which any committee of the Senate or Assembly is conducting a hearing, the Legislative Office Building at 1020 N Street in the City of Sacramento, or upon the grounds of the State Capitol, which is bounded by 10th, L, 15th, and N Streets in the City of Sacramento, any of the following, isguilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period not to exceed one year, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, if the area is posted with a statement providing reasonable notice that prosecution may result from possession of any of these items:
(A) Any firearm.
(B) Any deadly weapon described in Section 653k or 12020.
(C) 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.
 
Last edited:
...And also, where is the 4" measured? Along the cutting edge? From the handle to the blade tip? Would a hawkbill be penalized, or would a knife with a 50/50 choil be counted for the extra length?

I recall case law stating that in CA, blade length must be measured in the manner most beneficial to the defendant. I don't have the citation, I haven't seen it since it was posted on James Mattis' site.
 
There are so many different ways to measure, the best bet is to take a conservative approach and measure from the point to the front of the handle -- sort of a stabbing depth measurement. If the local law allows for less, great, but this is actually a common definition: point to bolster.
 
Back
Top