california Knife Laws--Dagger

A

ASBOB

Joined
Feb 8, 2008
Messages
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I'm pretty sure two sided dagger blades are no-nos in this state, but are they okay if I don't take it out of the house. In other words, is it traveling or is it flat possession?

Just deciding whether to sharpen one side or two.

My thanks.
 
Carrying concealed is the No-No, if it is carried openly on the belt you are safe, by state law. The way the law is written any knife can be considered a dirk or dagger, hand guard or not. If it can be readily used as a stabbing Weapon. Possession by state law is not a crime. Even for a switchblade. However individual city's and county's can have stiffer municipal codes. Check the local ordinances in your area first.
 
I'm not aware of any law in California that prohibits flat possession of a dagger. Come to think of it, in all my years reading case law and haunting this forum, I've never seen such a restrictive law anywhere in the US. Only place I've seen that prohibits flat possession of a dagger is in Italy, and even there you can get government permits for them (for collection purposes).

Carry of course is another matter, and Ossa1970 nailed that already.
 
I know you asked about California but I have to complain about Michigan law. A dagger or any bladed weapon that is sharpened on two sides is illegal to transport, even though I could lock a pistol in my trunk and transport that. There is an exception for a hunting knife, adapted AND carried as such. Grr. I use daggers for martial arts.
 
no where in the california penal code is a dagger defined as a double edged knife.
 
Anything pointy can be considered a "dagger" according to California law. Since basically every citizen owns, uses, and often carries something pointy, this makes the entire population criminals subject to arrest at the whim of the police. Good luck with that.
 
You can carry any kind of dagger in california. You can't CONCEAL it. The law is not anti-dagger, it's anti-concealed carry.

Further, if it folds, and it's not a switchblade or gravity knife, it's not a dirk or dagger (so long as it is closed on your person). This type of thing you can conceal.

Double edged blades are just fine in California. I have several and show them off to my LEO buddies any chance I get.
 
dougshoe said:
Anything pointy can be considered a "dagger" according to California law. Since basically every citizen owns, uses, and often carries something pointy, this makes the entire population criminals subject to arrest at the whim of the police. Good luck with that.
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ok. you really have no idea what you are talking about.
 
Alrighty then. Please show me exactly how "dagger" is defined according to said law. Please show exactly what is, and is not, defined as a dagger.
Thank you!
 
Sec. 12020(a) CA Penal Code
(24) As used in this section, a "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 653k, 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.

There's no excuse for ignorance if you have Internet access.
 
Hallucinosis said:
Icepicks are included in that. A sharpened stick would be included in that.
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If carried "concealed upon his or her person," yes it could, subject to officer and prosecutorial discretion of course.
It would not be the only law in CA's books that overreaches and heavily relies on discretion. By the letter of the law two 17 year olds consensually knockin' boots is a double misdemeanor with two perps and two vics.
 
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