Need Info On California Fixed Blade Concealed Carry

H

HITMAN2107

Joined
Mar 23, 2013
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Hi guys, I am still new to this forum and have a question for you, I have been carrying pocket knives my whole life pretty much and haven't really been into the fixed blade knives until a couple of years ago, I recently bought the ESEE Izula 2 for my EDC and want to carry it concealed but I don't know if that would be legal here in California, the blade is under 3", 2.88" to be exact but is a fixed blade with a sheath so my question would be is it legal in California to conceal carry a fixed blade knife under 3". Thank you in advance.
 
Short answer: Any fixed blade must be carried openly in a belt sheath, no matter how small. Your clothing cannot cover it.

I can provide legal citations supporting this if you would like.
 
California state. I just noticed this is your first thread so let me go into a bit more detail. There is no fed law on carrying. The only federal law that exist in the prohibition on importing or selling switchblade over state lines, but it doesn't do anything else. In Cali, folders are legal to carry completely concealed, while fixed have to be openly carried. You can also carry a switchblade or butterfly knife if it's got a dinky little 2 inch blade or less. Of course in certain places like LA they have tighter rules, like no open carry either unless the blade is under 3 inches, which you have to comply with while also following state law.
 
Glistam is correct. I will add that California state law has no limitations on the length of fixed-blade you can carry nor does it prohibit double-edged knives.

I live in California and have been carrying a fixed-blade openly for several years. I used to carry my fixed-blade in a back-pocket sheath with only the handle exposed. And although several cops saw it like that and said nothing about it, in order to follow the letter of the law (and for other reasons) I now will only openly carry a fixed-blade in a sheath hanging from my belt (unless I'm at home, then I use my pocket sheaths).

Carrying a knife openly it's also important to remember that it's illegal to carry such knives on public school property no matter how you carry it. So if you are going to be on public school property for any reason, remember to leave the knife in your car or at home.

It's always a good idea to read the state law for yourself and know every knife law that might ever apply to you. And if your local city or county has it's own knife statutes it's a good idea to know those as well. State law can easily be found online. Local laws should also be easy to find online.
 
Are there any exceptions if you have a medical reason for the knife and prefer to carry concealed?

Also, where can I find the actual citation?
 
al g blenny said:
I have never read the actual laws but I'm pretty sure double-edged are illegal in Cali. The knife manufacturers I know of wont sell double edged knives here.
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A knife manufacturer or distributor refusing to sell should never be confused with actual statutory law. There is no such law anywhere in the penal code. See for yourself: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/.html/pen_table_of_contents.html
In my experience, a seller refusing to ship to certain states is usually the result of that seller being a moron who listens to idle rumor and is too cheap to consult a practicing lawyer from the state in question.
ASBOB said:
Are there any exceptions if you have a medical reason for the knife and prefer to carry concealed?
Also, where can I find the actual citation?
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No, the law provides no exceptions for medical reasons. This is a very common myth that likely is derived from the federal switchblade law that provides an exception for carry and possession of a switchblade by people with one arm in Non-State US Territories (like Puerto Rico or Guam) where mere possession is illegal. This legal exception has no effect on carry or possession within the 50 states, which have their own state governments to decide.

My theory why no medical exception is allowed would be the government does not consider medical necessity as a reason a fixed blade knife must be carried concealed considering the fact that it is perfectly legal to carry them openly or carry a one-handed-opening folding knife that uses a thumb-stud. To quote from People v Mitchell, 2008:

The statute does not apply to the open carrying of a dirk or dagger, and it excludes from its coverage an openly suspended sheathed knife, as well as non-switchblade folding and pocketknives kept in a closed or unlocked position. Thus, the statute provides other means of carrying a dirk or dagger for self-defense. The statute does not run afoul of U.S. Const., 2nd Amend.*, because it is narrowly tailored to serve the important governmental interest of preventing exposure to the risk of surprise attacks and does not burden the right to bear arms in self-defense beyond what is reasonably necessary to serve that interest.
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The relevant citations are California Penal Code 21310 and 20200
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=21001-22000&file=21310-21390
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=20001-21000&file=20200

*Bull$#@ it doesn't run afoul of the 2nd Amendment because said amendment provides no such exception for "important governmental interest," but like so many cases the judge get's to use the "because I say so" logic and get away with it. :barf: OK done editorializing.
 
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