California knife laws?

How about blades under 3 inches that have a thumb stud? I've heard that the thumb stud makes the knife illegal.
 
Thumb studs play no part in the LA city muni code.


Los Angeles Codes online

http://www.amlegal.com/los_angeles_ca/

Los Angeles Municipal Code

SEC. 55.10. CARRY KNIVES OR DAGGERS IN PLAIN VIEW PROHIBITED.
(Added by Ord. No. 162,995, Eff. 1/7/88.)

(a) As used in this section, the term knife or dagger shall include any knife, dirk or dagger having a blade 3 inches or more in length, any ice pick or similar sharp tool, any straight edge razor or any razor blade fitted to a handle.

(b) No person shall wear or carry in plain view any knife or dagger upon any public street or other public place or in any place open to the public.

(c) The prohibitions of this section shall not apply where a person is wearing or carrying a knife or dagger for use in a lawful occupation, for lawful recreational purposes, or as a recognized religious practice, or while the person is traveling to or returning from participation in such activity.
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I have been told in the past, there is no defined way "law enforcement" is to measure a "blade". I was curious if any one knows if this is true, or if I have been misinformed on this. I ask because there are several knives I like, but the CA law against concealed carry of blades longer than 2.5 reduces my choices of blades. I was wondering if I was to dull down the bottom half of a blade (stupid, I know just a metal exercise) would a 5 inch blade be legal? Because technically the “blade” would then be less than the 2.5, just wondering.
 
Dokumoto said:
...the CA law against concealed carry of blades longer than 2.5 reduces my choices of blades.
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There is no such CA state law. It may be city or county law specificly for your location.
 
There are many referances to blade length in CA penal codes. For instance in 12020 in is illegal to carry a belt buckle knife with a blade over 2.5". So to say that there is no such state law in not acurate. Without further details of the exact law he is asking about, it is just safer to give the info he asked for then to give extra info that may be half true at best.

Concealed carry of fixed blades is acceptable for blades under 2" in CA as they are not classified as deadly weapons capable of producing great harm. Some would argue 2.5" due to the 12020 referance. That is where he is getting 2.5". This is referanced in passing in People v Luke and in People v Quattrone as well as many other cases. I have also had it confirmed by the Orange County District Attornys Office.
 
can someone tell me about california laws concerning balisong (butterfly) knives? i have tried to ask various knife dealers and such, but all they can say is that they're illegal, but in what way, they have no clue
 
Guys, this forum is really helpful. Thanks. But i am wondering, when it says local or public buildings, does is just mean places like libraries and town hall, or does it mean streets, sidewalks, and basically anything except private property? I am outside LA and Oakland. I think it does not mean streets, because it articulates streets in the LA code, but i want to be sure BEFORE i am arrested, as i am a minor. Also, i saw nothing about concealed knives in the CA laws, but did i miss something? I have a blade, with a guard, in excess of 21 inches.
 
geotsai said:
can someone tell me about california laws concerning balisong (butterfly) knives? i have tried to ask various knife dealers and such, but all they can say is that they're illegal, but in what way, they have no clue
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Don't have the case cite in front of me, but butterfly knives are considered switchblades under California law, and all the same rules apply.

Best regards,

Argyll
 
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