california legal folders???

does LA have a 3 inch blade limit?? here in northern california we dont have any limits on the size of folders.

good 3 inch blades are..

spyderco delica
spyderco native
benchmade mini griptilian
benchmade 530 (3.25 inch)
kershaw leek
 
i agree with 3mptin3ss. i haven't heard of LA having a limit. as strict as many CA laws are, i don't think that they have a limit anywhere on folders. i could easily be wrong though, as i don't live in LA.

i would agree with the ones posted above, but i'd also like to recommend any of the CRKT M16 series knives. they are a great design, and are not too expensive to boot.

i just ordered the SOG Flash II because of the clip design. you can clip it to your pocket and the knife won't even show. it's a really nice design, and the knife looks great!
 
Here's an article.

http://www.kuntaosilat.com/California.htm#SECTION 3.5

Jim March said:
Los Angeles and a few other SoCal cities have a town ordinance banning the carry of knives over 3". In SOME cases, it's phrased as a ban on big stuff of any sort carried openly, so that excludes fixed-blades and the open-carry of big folders, but you can still conceal (and LEAVE concealed until needed to save a life) a large folding knife.

San Francisco has an ordinance on knife carry, but it's only linked to simultaneous "illegal loitering". Clearly, this was meant as a "homeless control measure" of sorts, God only knows how old. Berkeley has a knife ordinance too.

But the reality is, local knife ordinances cannot be applied to people passing through on a major road, enforcement of all local ordinances is spotty unless you fit a "juvenile offender profile", and most cops don't even know their local knife ordinances.

If you're scrupulous about not violating state law, which I'd highly recommend, and you don't come across as a slimeball, the odds are vastly against your having problems. I've had a lot of cops see my street-carry pieces, and I've not had a confiscation or harassment yet.
Click to expand...
 
Los Angeles is rumored to have a 3" limit. Depending on your price range, these all qualify as good choices:

Spyderco Delica
Spyderco Native
Benchmade mini-Griptilian (choose from regular 154CM, Cabelas D2, or Ritter S30V)
Spyderco UKPK
Spyderco Caly 3
Benchmade 14210
Benchmade 707
Benchmade 525
Buck Waimea (you don't hear much about this one, but it is a great knife)
Small Sebenza

And if you like slipjoints, there are plenty of choices.
 
Last edited:
munky000527 said:
does anyone have a good idea for a edc knife to use in los angeles?
Click to expand...

Lived there for ~45 years. Never had a problem.

3" max blade length. No autos. Assisted open is OK. No double edge.
Not sure on the legality of any fixed blade if not hunting, etc. Better make it a folder.

Lots of knives fit that description. In what other attributes are you interested?
 
Emerson CQC-14 is an awesome blade under 3"
I live in Southern Cal and work in La
I carry over 3" folder most of the time and have no problems ever
but I don't act stupid and don't have a criminal record:D
 
LA does *not* have a blade length limit for folders. It does however have a limit on fixed blades. You can't carry a fixed of any of any length, unless it is sports or work related. A LAPD member was kind enough to answer this very question for me on this forum a few years back.
 
bammann45 said:
LA does *not* have a blade length limit for folders. It does however have a limit on fixed blades. You can't carry a fixed of any of any length, unless it is sports or work related. A LAPD member was kind enough to answer this very question for me on this forum a few years back.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected, though as Morimotom points out in the post below, to carry a folder with a blade longer than 3", it must be fully concealed, which may mean no pocket clip if you are to be fully legal. I have found Morimotom's information to be most reliable.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4743573&postcount=11
 
no length limit on concealed folders. unless you are a juvenile, then pretty much any knife will be in violation of 45.02 LAMC.

and there is no prohibition on double edged knives. state law prohibits "daggers", but they are not defined as a double edged knife.
 
knarfeng said:
I stand corrected, though as Morimotom points out in the post below, to carry a folder with a blade longer than 3", it must be fully concealed, which may mean no pocket clip if you are to be fully legal. I have found Morimotom's information to be most reliable.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4743573&postcount=11
Click to expand...

why, thank you sir. :thumbup:

not everyone may agree with my opinions, but i do my best to interpret the various laws as best as i can.
 
wow i got a lot more answers than i thought i would. thanks for all the suggestions guys!!! i have a lot of research to do now. :)
 
While the LA City laws may only apply to fixed blades, you also need to check out the LA County laws as well!

While you may be fine in one jurisdicion, you can quickly and unknowingly pass to another jurisdicion and not even know it. My EDC "city" knives are the Emerson Combat Karambit, so I am OK in any case.

There is a we sit that list cities with 3" laws. I will post it when I find it again.
 
reconranger said:
While the LA City laws may only apply to fixed blades, you also need to check out the LA County laws as well!

While you may be fine in one jurisdicion, you can quickly and unknowingly pass to another jurisdicion and not even know it. My EDC "city" knives are the Emerson Combat Karambit, so I am OK in any case.

There is a we sit that list cities with 3" laws. I will post it when I find it again.
Click to expand...

los angeles county code is virtually identical to the city municipal code.
 
I'm looking forward to how they deal with the "shall not be abridged" thing now that they confirmed people have a right to keep and bear arms.
 
I live 40 miles east of you in Irvine, CA

I carry a waved Spyderco Delica 4 everyday and have never had any problems.

And for the knife knuts who noticed, yes it is a custom Delica 4 waved with "Black FRN", not the typical blue color that all the emerson's have.

delicawave.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top