How can I legally carry a RAT cutlery knife in CA.

U

Uzumaki Ryu

Joined
Oct 8, 2007
Messages
5
I've been interested in a RC knife for some time now. I have a meager collection of folding knives (3 spydercos, a kershaw, and a benchmade) that I carry daily. I want to add a versatile fixed blade knife that I can carry daily. California law states that you can carry a folding blade of any length concealed or open. But you can only carry a fixed blade open. I want to abide by the law and was wondering if there is a sheeple friendly ie not super tactical or threatening, but still low profile, way to carry the RC knives that is not considered concealed. I would think IWB or on a belt but a t-shirt or jacket would probably cover it and it would be concealed. I want to carry a fixed blade knife for edc without getting hassled by leos for breaking the law and normal citizens for carrying a knife. In other words, im probably screwed right? (I'll probably get an RC-4 eventually for the woods, but am looking for a more urban friendly knife as that is where I spend most of my time.) Thanks in advance for your help. :yawn:

P.S.-sorry for that being wordy I guess I just didn't want there to be any confusion about my situation.:rolleyes:

P.S.S- I've allready looked at the picture of the manequin with all the tactical carry options but I normally dress casual ie jeans and t-shirt w/ jacket. Can't really go commando in my city lol
 
Last edited:
I would carry it in one of the leather sheaths sold by Knives Ship Free and it would look like a hunting knife to the masses.
 
My understanding of CA law (I am not a lawyer, but I have a friend in california) is that you can carry any fixed blade knife as long as it is not concealed.
 
A custom belt sheath that had a square bottom profile and a fold over flap top might look a little less threatening. Add a geeky little flashlight to the outside and it might soften the social impact.
 
I live in Los Angeles. Do you have use for such a knife? Because if you live in LA, and you don't have a good reason for carrying such a thing in the city, you're going to get into trouble no matter what you do. And even if you do have a good reason for carrying it, every cop who sees you will shake you down and you'll probably lose your knife anyway, and you will deserve it for even thinking of carrying it.
 
You might want to contact one of the custom sheathmakers about a horizontal sheath for it. Make it either black leather, or something close to the color of the belt you wear. YMMV, but I find people typically don't recognize a knife carried horizontally as a knife. I guess it's just because it isn't what they're looking for. I carry a knife that way all the time, and hardly get noticed. Carry the same knife vertically, and people ask about it.
 
I live in CA too, and I understand it must be unconcealed (re: in sheathe, on belt. Maybe a Mercharness?) I don't carry a fixed blade only because what I can get done with one in the city can be accomplished with a smaller and more discreet folder. Living in suburbia near L.A., I see a lot of bored cops.

I don't want to tempt fate by wearing an FB in plain sight. There's something about the open carry of a knife that makes people uneasy. I had a Buck 105 (a 5" blade) on my belt at a gas station when preparing for a hike up near Oxnard/Ventura. A gal on the pump next to mine kept eyeing me and my knife. She didn't say anything, but she was obviously a little panicked (I don't flatter myself in thinking she was checking me out :) )
 
shangchi108 said:
I live in Los Angeles. Do you have use for such a knife? Because if you live in LA, and you don't have a good reason for carrying such a thing in the city, you're going to get into trouble no matter what you do. And even if you do have a good reason for carrying it, every cop who sees you will shake you down and you'll probably lose your knife anyway, and you will deserve it for even thinking of carrying it.
Click to expand...
Why should he even need a reason other than he wants to carry it? He is not talking a machete or a sword but a 3" fixed blade.why should that be any different from a folder of similar or greater size.
 
Chiller2 said:
Why should he even need a reason other than he wants to carry it? He is not talking a machete or a sword but a 3" fixed blade.why should that be any different from a folder of similar or greater size.
Click to expand...

Why? Simply because it will be seen. Because there is a difference between legality and reality. Because perception IS reality. Carrying a straight knife openly in an urban area is provocative in our society. "Legal" or "illegal" has nothing to do with it. It's just the way it is.

He certainly doesn't need to give me a reason to carry it, but he's going to need a reason to give to the cops who will do whatever they think is right to keep the streets safe, and that includes harassing people who carry knives legally. If you don't like it, you're free to challenge them in court, if you can afford to take time off work and can afford a lawyer. You are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, but that's not how it works on the street. They will judge you by appearances and circumstances, and you are guilty until you give them some reason to think you're innocent, or you can tell it to the judge.

Just because something is "legal" and doesn't frighten you doesn't mean people won't be afraid. It doesn't mean the cops won't harass you. It doesn't mean you're free to go about your life and exercise your freedoms as you see fit. That may be what we think it means. That may be what we want it to mean, and that may be what it should mean, but it just doesn't always work that way, especially when people are afraid.
 
shangchi108 said:
Why? Simply because it will be seen. Because there is a difference between legality and reality. Because perception IS reality. Carrying a straight knife openly in an urban area is provocative in our society. "Legal" or "illegal" has nothing to do with it. It's just the way it is.

He certainly doesn't need to give me a reason to carry it, but he's going to need a reason to give to the cops who will do whatever they think is right to keep the streets safe, and that includes harassing people who carry knives legally. If you don't like it, you're free to challenge them in court, if you can afford to take time off work and can afford a lawyer. You are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, but that's not how it works on the street. They will judge you by appearances and circumstances, and you are guilty until you give them some reason to think you're innocent, or you can tell it to the judge.

Just because something is "legal" and doesn't frighten you doesn't mean people won't be afraid. It doesn't mean the cops won't harass you. It doesn't mean you're free to go about your life and exercise your freedoms as you see fit. That may be what we think it means. That may be what we want it to mean, and that may be what it should mean, but it just doesn't always work that way, especially when people are afraid.
Click to expand...

I agree with your sentiment and your reasoning, but saying a person deserves the harrassment they might get for even thinking of carrying a knife is no better than the sillyness of being afraid of someone for carrying a knife smaller than those in 99.9% of the kitchens and households in the world.

If a person is willing to accept the harrassment and possible confiscation, I'm behind them 100% as should anyone here.
 
I live in Encinitas near San Diego. I want to carry a small fixed blade for its strength, simplicity, and respect/appreciation for its design. But I can't justify buying one of this quality and price if I would never carry it. I like the idea of carrying it horizontally on a belt but it can't be concealed, and I think it would be considered concealed if it was covered by a shirt or jacket as would probably be the case as i don't tuck in t-shirts. Is it considered concealed if it is not visible even if it is carried legally on a belt as allowed in the knife law sec six five something? I've carried folders for a long time everyday, everywhere, they just stay clipped in my jeans so its kind of automatic when I don't have school as I am in a private christian school and we have to wear uniforms. Through all this carrying of folders I have never been hassled by anyone, I have run into some cops once and calmly stated I had a folding knife in my pocket and they said it wasn't a problem. But I can easily see how the public would frown upon open fixed blade carry. I don't want to conceal it and break the law, but I don't want to raise too much attention or be a target for suspicion. I'm really just looking for an unconcealed but inconspicuous carry method. Sound too good to be true, but I'm open for ideas and opinions.
 
Uzumaki Ryu said:
I live in Encinitas near San Diego.
Click to expand...

And I lived in O'side for 18 years.

Encinitas is a nice town, and the cops like to keep it that way. Now that I know where you are, I can tell you with certainty that you WILL be hassled if you carry that knife in public. The RC-3 is a really nice knife, and you need to keep it for hiking at Mt. Palomar, or the Anza-Borrego, or hiking around Lake Arrowhead or Idyllwild. There's lots of places where such a knife is perfectly appropriate, but downtown Encinitas isn't one of them.

I love El Callejon and Roxy's, by the way. Encinitas is one of my favorite beach towns.
 
shangchi108 said:
There's lots of places where such a knife is perfectly appropriate, but downtown Encinitas isn't one of them.
Click to expand...

+10000 Having just surfed at swamis this morning I can guarantee you that there is absolutely no way that you will be able to carry a fixed blade around here.

Most police are woefully deficient about laws regarding firearms and knives and thus if it "looks illegal" they are going to harass you for it. Even if they know its legal they are going to know what you are doing carrying such a knife because its just not normal for the area.

Save yourself the trouble and by a folder. I can guarantee you that you aren't going to run into anything in north county that a quality folder won't take care of. That way you can save the RAT you are going to buy for the high desert and other interesting misadventures.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top