knife clipped to pocket considered concealed in L.A. County??

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spy2501

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Sep 29, 2009
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I've searched everywhere and haven't been able to find a definite legal answer on whether a folding knife clipped to the pocket is considered concealed or not. In particular, I'd like to know what is applicable in Los Angeles County, California. I've seen several people on a few forums debating that when the clip and end of the knife is visible, this would/would not be considered concealed. Now what about if a shirt not tucked was to cover the clip? Would this then be considered concealed?

I really prefer to carry my knife on the pocket clip, since it's so much more secure when doing things such as mountain biking. I just know that in L.A. County at least, my knife can't be in plain view. I just want to make sure it's concealed by the county's definition. I usually clip it to my pocket with an untucked shirt covering most if not all of the pocket clip.
 
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Thanks for the links. Unfortunately I've been to a couple of those already, and the other had incorrect information about California. But thanks for the try :)
 
as long as your folding knife does not exceed the length limit and assuming you are an adult, it must be carried concealed.

fixed blades are tricky, as the laws are a bit "muddled" imo.

if it is for work or lawful recreation, the method of carry is irrelevant.
 
Thanks Morimotom! Your posts in that other thread helped too. By the way, are you in Law Enforcement? I've actually walked around many times with a short t-shirt, clearly with the clip and end of my knife visible, passing by Police officers many times and never had any problem at all. But I suppose it's also easy to infer that I'm not the type to cause any sort of trouble anyway.
 
If it is a folder, it can be carried concealed in California...so that issue is moot. LA county has a weird law that is hard to interpret. If it is a folder and under 3", you will be just fine almost everywhere in the state, concealed or not. I carried 4" folders in LA for many years, where LEO's could clearly see it on my pocket and nobody has ever flagged me (but everybody says I look like I am a LEO anyway, so maybe they figure I am a brother at arms?). These days I carry an Emerson Karambit clipped on my pocket, and being just under 3" it is legal in localities that also have 3" rules....so I never worry.

If it is fixed blade, it must be carried openly....a state law. Unfortunately, this incluses the nifty little Emerson LaGriffe. LA's law seems to apply to large folders carried openly, so not applicable to you.
 
spy2501 said:
Thanks Morimotom! Your posts in that other thread helped too. By the way, are you in Law Enforcement? I've actually walked around many times with a short t-shirt, clearly with the clip and end of my knife visible, passing by Police officers many times and never had any problem at all. But I suppose it's also easy to infer that I'm not the type to cause any sort of trouble anyway.
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yes, i am.

it is important to remember that most laws are open to some interpretation.

i cant say whether or not the other officers even noticed your clipped knife, but under most conditions it is legal for you to carry.

it would, however, generate reasonable suspicion to detain and search under some cirucumstances. based on your appearance and conduct, officers may determine a detention pointless, but i would not recommend that you consider this a guarantee of any sort. and contrary to what you may read here, most officers aren't looking to arrest everyone they encounter.
 
Thanks again Morimotom, that makes sense.

Thanks Recongranger as well. I know what the statutes state as far as what I can carry and what I can't. I just didn't understand their interpretation of what was concealed.
 
MORIMOTOM said:
yes, i am.

it is important to remember that most laws are open to some interpretation.

i cant say whether or not the other officers even noticed your clipped knife, but under most conditions it is legal for you to carry.

it would, however, generate reasonable suspicion to detain and search under some cirucumstances. based on your appearance and conduct, officers may determine a detention pointless, but i would not recommend that you consider this a guarantee of any sort. and contrary to what you may read here, most officers aren't looking to arrest everyone they encounter.
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Appearance and conduct are the key words. I was taught from day one that "clothes makes the man". A well-dressed, well-groomed, polite man (or woman) garners respect from those (s)he meets. I still believe in good concealment, though. Advertising the fact that you are carrying serves no purpose whatsoever. Why take a chance on scaring the sheeple!:)
 
TOM1960 said:
Appearance and conduct are the key words. I was taught from day one that "clothes makes the man". A well-dressed, well-groomed, polite man (or woman) garners respect from those (s)he meets. I still believe in good concealment, though. Advertising the fact that you are carrying serves no purpose whatsoever. Why take a chance on scaring the sheeple!:)
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no question, i completely agree.

now ive seen construcion types with buck 110's or similar in belt pouches, and i dont care.

clean cut guy dressed decently with a visible folder clipped to his pocket, and i dont care.

gangster type wearing a 6xl white t-shirt and sagging extra baggy jeans, and quite honestly im looking for reasonable suspicion.
 
Having a portion of something visible does NOT necessarily mean it isn't concealed. It usually has to be readily identifiable as what it is for it to be considered not concealed. In other words, would a reasonable person instantly identify the top of the knife and the clip that is visible as being a knife? If so then you would theoretically be fine assuming of course you went to trial on this and let a jury decide the issue and they agreed with you that it was readily identifiable. Here is the thing though, the way the "justice" system works is to scare you into playing ball and plea bargaining so you never go to trial. This is a necessity here in the land of the free as we have so many laws (prohibitions on freedom) that we have to process such huge droves of accused people every day that the notion of truth and justice is simply not affordable anymore. Basically it is the very rare person who will risk it hundreds or thousands times the punishment by going to trial. They will likely charge you with a felony (or maybe ten felonies) at first which they will tell you could bring up to thirty years in prison if convicted at trial, but if you are willing to plea it out you can plea to one count and just get probation. They might even be in a real good mood and let you plead to one reduced misdemeanor count. Now who in their right mind is going to risk a felony conviction, and prison time, when you can just plea it out like that. Welcome to the American Justice System. My point is, in case you missed it, you don't want to assume that just because you are right in your logic and argument that you will ever make it to court to really present your case. Until someone has the balls to go to trial on this issue and you get a definitive precedent set either by a conviction that is upheld or by an acquittal then no one really can answer your question authoratively. And that person, if they lose, will do years in prison for daring to fight the charges. Maybe you get lucky and the legislature settles the issue without someone having to put their head on the block but what are the odds of that.
 
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