Knife carry at California schools, recommendations?

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longun

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I work at a high school in California. And the way I read the California PC 626.10 I cannot legally carry a locking knife. Or a knife with a blade longer than 2.5 inches. I currently own and have carried a Spyderco Squeak and really like the knife. But I would like some other carry options. Any suggestions on non locking knives, under 2.5 inches with blade shapes different than the Squeak? Preferrably one hand openers, but I am open (pun) to all suggestions.
 
I'm pretty sure you would get more recommendations for such a knife in the General Discussion forum. That forum gets a lot more traffic than this one. Discussion on this forum is more about legal issues than knife recommendations. Good luck in your search.
 
How about a Spyderco UKPK.
 
impreza515 said:
Small fixed blade is ok?
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No. The statute (PC 626.10) states:
brings or possesses any dirk, dagger, ice pick, knife having a blade longer than 2 1/2 inches, folding knife with a blade that locks into place, razor with an unguarded blade
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"Dirk" and "dagger," lacking any type of definition under state law and appearing other statutes, can be applied to any fixed blade knife at the discretion of the arresting officer.

It is also worth noting that employees of the school (not students) fall within several clear exceptions to the above law, depending on their duties at the school.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=626-626.11
 
The way I read the law is I can't carry a lock blade knife on a Kalifornia High School campus at all. And any slip joint I carry must be under 2.5 inches. I like the UKPN and was carrying one until I realized I was breaking the law because of the blade length. (Did I just admit I'm a criminal?) I've thought about reshaping a UKPN to shorten the blade, or first trying it on a Byrd Tern. But I haven't resorted to that yet.
 
longun said:
The way I read the law is I can't carry a lock blade knife on a Kalifornia High School campus at all. And any slip joint I carry must be under 2.5 inches.
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Read the later paragraphs of the law:
(c) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to any person who brings or possesses a knife having a blade longer than 2 1/2 inches, a razor with an unguarded blade, a razor blade, or a box cutter upon the grounds of, or within, a public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or any private university, state university, or community college at the direction of a faculty member of the private university, state university, or community college, or a certificated or classified employee of the school for use in a private university, state university, community college, or school-sponsored activity or class.

(d) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to any person who brings or possesses an ice pick, a knife having a blade longer than 2 1/2 inches, a razor with an unguarded blade, a razor blade, or a box cutter upon the grounds of, or within, a public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or any private university, state university, or community college for a lawful purpose within the scope of the person's employment.
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Thanks glistam! That does make it seem as if I would be within the law if I were to carry a blade longer than 2.5 inches. During my employment, and as long as I use it for a lawful purpose.
I do not see any exceptions for a locking blade though. But at least I can carry my UKPK and feel OK about it.
 
When I worked at a school in California I carried a Victorinox Super Tinker. If anybody questioned me I said I carried it for the scissors and screw drivers.

The benefit is looks, its only like $20.00, weighs 3 ounces, has a 2.3 inch blade and is non locking. This fulfills all of the requirements.
 
Don't worry about it a teacher at my High school Carries a locking Blade of at least 10 cm (4 inches) and just keeps it in his right front pocket and it is technically illegal to have any knives at a Canadian public school and yet all the staff know and don't care and one of the staff is a police officer who patrols the school area so i am sure that the other teachers at your school will give you the same consideration as the staff gave this teacher.
 
Cadfan said:
Don't worry about it a teacher at my High school Carries a locking Blade of at least 10 cm (4 inches) and just keeps it in his right front pocket and it is technically illegal to have any knives at a Canadian public school and yet all the staff know and don't care and one of the staff is a police officer who patrols the school area so i am sure that the other teachers at your school will give you the same consideration as the staff gave this teacher.
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No offense but I wouldn't suggest that a teacher (or anyone else for that matter) risk their job or their freedom by carrying a knife onto school grounds that is specifically forbidden by school regulations and illegal under state law.

While your co-workers may be "cool", it only takes one staff member, or one student, that doesn't like you and would like to see you fired, to report you for having a knife if they should happen to see it. And even if a person keeps it hidden in their pocket or briefcase, are you ABSOLUTELY sure that no one will ever see it on campus? Are you sure it won't accidentally fall out of your pocket? Sounds like an unneccessarily high risk to take in my opinion.
 
killgar wrote:

"No offense but I wouldn't suggest that a teacher (or anyone else for that matter) risk their job or their freedom by carrying a knife onto school grounds that is specifically forbidden by school regulations and illegal under state law.

While your co-workers may be "cool", it only takes one staff member, or one student, that doesn't like you and would like to see you fired, to report you for having a knife if they should happen to see it. And even if a person keeps it hidden in their pocket or briefcase, are you ABSOLUTELY sure that no one will ever see it on campus? Are you sure it won't accidentally fall out of your pocket? Sounds like an unneccessarily high risk to take in my opinion."

This. All it takes is one numbnut (and when it comes to knives, their numbers are legion) and you are out of a job. Ask yourself: is carrying a knife worth your job? That's your call.
 
Cali sounds terrible. I live in Oregon and had a leatherman wave on me most days. It was fine since they were tools used in shop class, Administration and teachers knew about it and gave us the ok. This wasn't that long ago either since I graduated in 2007. I wonder if that was just my school.
 
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