California Restrictions

K

Kugashira

Joined
Jul 9, 2007
Messages
3
Well, I was planning to move to California in the next couple years for a job, so I wanted to look up some handgun/knife laws. I knew they were pretty strict, but not to this extent. That search brought me here: http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/ca.txt

For the purposes of this section, "switchblade knife" means a
knife having the appearance of a pocketknife and includes a
spring-blade knife, snap-blade knife, gravity knife or any other
similar type knife, the blade or blades of which are two or more
inches in length and which can be released automatically by a flick
of a button, pressure on the handle, flip of the wrist or other
mechanical device, or is released by the weight of the blade or by
any type of mechanism whatsoever.
Click to expand...

So, the dumbasses in Cali seem to consider my Spec Elite and other SOG folders as switchblades. Thank you, SOG, for reaffirming my decision to steer clear of California forever.
 
I think that the Arc-Lock knives (like the Spec Eltie) might be in the gray area of the law, but from what I remember (and keep in mind I am no lawyer) assisted knives are perfectly okay there. AKTI worked very hard to ensure that assisted knives were okay under California law. I'll try and do a little digging and find info about that.

But yes you are right CA seems to be a little strict in some of their laws. Although they can have switch blade knives as long as they are under 2". In Washington I can't even look at one.
 
See this press release from AKTI...

“Switchblade knife” does not include a knife that is designed to open with one hand utilizing thumb pressure applied solely to the blade of the knife or a thumb stud attached to the blade, provided that the knife utilizes a detent or other mechanism that (a) provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade, or (b) biases the blade back toward its closed position.​

This seems to specifically exempt assisted opening knives and may also cover our Arc-Lock knives. But once again I am not a lawyer and do not take this as legal advice.
 
Thanks for the reply, Chris.

I was wondering if the thumb stud might exempt them since it is listed in the section of allowed knives, however, it still states that knives that you can open with the flick of the wrist are considered switchblades. That's where I'm confused. I open my Spec Elite I with my wrist rather than the stud. The law doesn't really specify if this simple feature outlaws the knife considering that it has an alternate, legal way to open the blade.

In any case, I'll still try to avoid CA as a place of residence. I just can't trust the ever-increasing laws there which are probably in no small part due to all the anti-gun lobbyists in Hollywood. They don't even honor other states' CCWs. Also heard that they don't allow double-bladed knives, and I plan on purchasing the Daggert soon.
 
those of us "fortunate" enough to exist in Kali thank you for your decision not to move here and displace another illegal.

Cheers,

Carl

p.s. you do understand I am being sarcastic, of course.
 
Being a long-time resident of California (or as some call it Mexifornia), I can attest to the fact that as long as one is not doing something stupid with most any knife, fixed blade or folder, assisted or not, there is not a problem. Now, if one gets pulled over for some infraction of the law, ie., DUI, and that person has a knife in his possession, he may have some explaining to do. Simply put, as long as you are not carrying a knife with the blade exposed, in any sort of threatening manner, you are OK. I have carried a multitude of knives, large and small folders, assisted and not, and even wore a fixed blade knife while returning from an off-road trip and was never hassled. The only proviso here is that part of the knive handle/clip must be exposed, no "hidden" knives (unless one is licensed to do so). The only blades that are not legal in California are butterfly or balisong type knives and autos w/blades longer than 2.5". There are some other technical aspects of the California weapons laws that might come into play if you are already in trouble, but for the most part, at least in SoCal, where I have resided for the past 40+ years, no problem.
 
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