So the family is talking about moving us to Oakland, CA...(Edit: Now San Fran)

Noctis3880

Noctis3880

Joined
Jul 22, 2009
Messages
11,409
Is it true that you can't carry ANY type of knife over 3"? Even in your own house? I've heard it said, but I couldn't find any specific reference to the law in question. I was grudgingly willing to accept not being able to carry my $1,000 custom made Nirk Tighe(after all the little things added on it) outside, so long as I didn't have to sell the thing. As well, 99% of my knives are over 3" in blade length, including a lot of my customs.

But beyond all that, it seems utterly retarded in that I wouldn't even be able to cook my own food. My Tojiro Flash Paring Knife is about the smallest knife I'd acceptably use in the kitchen, and that's still illegal! I don't think my family fully considered the full implications of moving there since we mostly cook our own food. Does anyone even cook in Oakland? Are there any meat cutters or even restaurants?

I take it gun ownership and even self-defense related laws are pretty stupid as well? Am I even allowed to own pepper spray? The kubaton on my keys? My custom made Surefire 6P with a crenellated bezel?

The prospect of living here alone in Hawaii using up all my wages to pay for rent has considerable appeal when I consider living as a boy without his toys:barf::thumbdn:.

Also, the entire state of California doesn't have much appeal to me. It sounds like I'd have to worry about whatever I have on me instantly becoming illegal the second I take a wrong turn into the next city/county if I'm in a car or riding on the train.
 
Last edited:
California knife laws are actually pretty good. You can carry and length folder as long as it isn't concealed and and length fixed blade as long as its out in the open. No length limit. The only place where knives are really limited is in the LA area I believe. You can even carry autos and balis if they are under 2 inches.

Gun laws are a different story. Its almost impossible to get a carry permit in san Francisco. Not sure about Alameda county where Oakland is in. Pepper spray is legal. I would advise carrying some form of self defense if your going to live in Oakland.
 
Last edited:
Dude.

I've lived in Cali off and on for over 40 years (around the SF Bay area for 10) and there's no way I'd move to Oakland. It's a shithole. It takes six figures to get me even considering moving back to CA, and I still wouldn't go near Oakland. Vallejo - maybe, Concord - maybe, the chance grows as you get further away from Oakland.

And yes, the laws are very restrictive. What you use in the kitchen won't be a problem, but just about everything else you mention will get you arrested in public.
 
Huh, sounds like crime is an issue there? I only visited the area once while I was on vacation in San Fran. Did NOT like the look of the people there:thumbdn:. Probably cut my hand from my arm if they saw any watch with a metallic strap on my wrist, much less my Traser or GMT Master.
 
as dunny153 said, you can carry any length fixed or folder as long as it's not concealed. the key word IS concealed. i live in alameda county, about 30 mins from oakland and i've never had a problem. of course, i just carry a folder clipped to my pocket. i've only sported a fixed a few times on my belt. bay area is city area and people tend to look at you funny if you have a 5" fixed on your leg. so i just stick to the folders...
i carry/use everything else i have freely on hikes and camping. here's a link that might help you out:
http://zknives.com/knives/articles/law/caknifelaws.shtml

safe travels.
 
Parts of Oakland are very nice--Montclair, Avenue Terrace, virtually anything above the Warren Fwy is good. The flatlands are the 'killing
fields" --International Blvd from downtown all the way to the San Leandro border is pretty much the area for thugs of all description. I
grew up in Oakland and it was the same 50 years ago; not a bad place if you remember who you are and where you
shouldn't be. Oakland gets a lot of bad press that isn't all deserved.
 
The zknives link does mention a 3" limit for the San Fran and Oakland areas. But my concern is with crime, 3 shootings in a day? I don't have a death wish and would sooner sell all my knives than move there with THAT kind of a crime statistic. I'd also imagine gun laws aren't doing jack over there.

Admittedly I would think the cost of living and job opportunities are much improved on the mainland, but I feel like it would be much less risky to let someone play russian roulette with my head for money:thumbup:. I'd need to take two jobs if I want to make enough money to continue living here on my own, and I'm not sure I'm old enough for it at 24. I just finished a graveyard shift and I'm already dozing off now. Hard to imagine going at it for another 4 hours without ever getting a day completely off from work. I'd love to sleep when I'm dead, but trying to work when you're sleep deprived tends to lead to a lot of screwups. Feel pretty glad already that I don't drive.
 
CARRERA50 said:
Parts of Oakland are very nice--Montclair, Avenue Terrace, virtually anything above the Warren Fwy is good. The flatlands are the 'killing
fields" --International Blvd from downtown all the way to the San Leandro border is pretty much the area for thugs of all description. I
grew up in Oakland and it was the same 50 years ago; not a bad place if you remember who you are and where you
shouldn't be. Oakland gets a lot of bad press that isn't all deserved.
Click to expand...
Hmm, don't suppose Chinatown is in that general area? I'm Chinese and my family will probably insist upon being in the general area for it. And did the blade length limit ever become problematic in the kitchen? I'd imagine it would be easy to sneak an oversized knife in the area, though I'm not sure if this might affect sales to the area from online dealers. But I suspect it would get awkward if Mr. Officer stops in your house for whatever reason(especially if you called him there).
 
Do alot of research. CA is not weapons friendly. State law permits any length folder concealed as long as it is not in the blade open position but not on K-12 and university properties. Municipal codes will vary. Handguns in a locked container and unloaded. Long guns open carried but unloaded. Anything that can be considered a weapon can get you arrested. Example: baseball bat in the car on the way to a baseball game is fine, on the way to a friend's house not ok. A 3 or 4 cell Maglight can actually get you in to trouble if questioned by an officer.
 
spareparts said:
Do alot of research. CA is not weapons friendly. State law permits any length folder concealed as long as it is not in the blade open position but not on K-12 and university properties. Municipal codes will vary. Handguns in a locked container and unloaded. Long guns open carried but unloaded. Anything that can be considered a weapon can get you arrested. Example: baseball bat in the car on the way to a baseball game is fine, on the way to a friend's house not ok. A 3 or 4 cell Maglight can actually get you in to trouble if questioned by an officer.
Click to expand...
I'm confused, does that mean my John W. Smith SD-3 4.5" is legal when it's closed but illegal if I open it? I know fixed blades can't be concealed. I'm not quite fanatical about owning a gun, though it would be nice if I could conceal carry. If the general area is decent enough I'd be fine with pepper spray.

It does sound like my custom Surefire is going to have to be put to retirement though. Even if I replace the crowned head with a plain head, I suspect an officer could still hassle me since it CAN be used as an impact weapon, and the solid copper heatsink would not help my case.
 
The 3in limit in SF only applies if your "illegally" loitering. Honestly, I wouldn't worry to much about it. If you don't do anything that will draw attention to yourself, you shouldn't have to worry about what you carry on you. Don't worry about what you keep in your house either. Why would there ever be a length limit on a kitchen knife you leave at home? If you're family wants to be in the general vicinity of Chinatown, that's in SF
 
Noctis3880 said:
Hmm, don't suppose Chinatown is in that general area? I'm Chinese and my family will probably insist upon being in the general area for it. And did the blade length limit ever become problematic in the kitchen? I'd imagine it would be easy to sneak an oversized knife in the area, though I'm not sure if this might affect sales to the area from online dealers. But I suspect it would get awkward if Mr. Officer stops in your house for whatever reason(especially if you called him there).
Click to expand...

The heart of Oakland's Chinatown is in the very center of the downtown area not far from Jack London Square. It is one of the oldest
parts of the city and is close to the civic center and conference hotels. I wouldn't be too concerned about the knife you carry; Oakland
cops have way more to worry about than someone who isn't stealing, occupying ore causing some other kind of trouble.
 
I deeply urge you to re-consider moving anywhere near Oakland, CA. It is a crime-ridden, gang infested shit-hole and always ranks in the top #3 most dangerous cities in CA(currently #1). I commuted to Oakland 2 days a week for 3 years, my father was a cop in Richmond and Oakland for 10+ years, an ex-gf of mine attended college there for 4 years. There is nothing good about the Oakland area. I have had the pleasure TWICE to listen in horror over the phone with that ex-gf, as a police vs gang shootout raged just outside the college walls.
There are so much better, safer, cleaner, and nicer areas to live that are also affordable with great job opt's. The Roseville/Rocklin(Placer County) area is growing rapidly, and Santa Cruz, Eldorado County all have much better living to offer.

BAD: Oakland, Richmond, San Fransisco, Stockon, Modesto, Most of LA, Yuba City, Marysville, Lincoln, Oroville #2 MDC in CA(METH METH METH).

Most of CA is already a pit(IMO) and due to the states debt($30billion+), cops are being layed off en masse, prisoners are being realeased early en masse, unemployment is horrible in most of the state let alone the bay area, and the housing market is virtually dead. So thing are most likely going to get much worse in the next few years. Have you considered Oregon or Washington. Hope this info can help you in some way.
 
Ohhh man, moving to Oakland from Hawaii...I hope you are ready for a huge shock!

I work on construction sites throughout the east bay, getting ready to head to Oakland within the hour. Not very excited :grumpy:

Moving to Oakland is not something to be taken lightly, especially if you are not familiar with the city. Your right to carry a knife will be the last thing you are concerned about. And if you carry a knife for SD reasons, I would abandon that thought right now. Oakland is a place where the phrase "dont bring a knife to a gun fight" really applies.

Oakland is a rough place if you are not familiar with the situation. I would strongly recommend looking in other areas nearby if possible. When I go to Oakland to work, I treat it as a combat mission (like i know what that is like :p). I have had more confrontations on my one site in Oakland then I have on all the other sites I work combined (not counting Stockton, haha). When we leave equipment out we have to lock everything up like fort knox or it will be stripped to the frame the next morning. Not a nice place to be a lot of the time.

With that being said...if you have loads of money, go live in the Oakland hills. That area can hardly be considered part of Oakland.

In terms of carrying a knife...
If you are a law abiding citizen who does not engage in reckless, attention seeking behavior, I would not be worried about carrying a folder clipped in your pocket. I carry and I am in contact with leo's daily, never had a problem. They have much bigger fish to fry than joe shmo carrying a folding knife.

Good luck!
 
FFF Oakland. Head to Oregon!!!! Weather may not be the best, but at least we offer concealed carry, and have entertaining hippies and hipsters!!!!!
 
Great news! Turns out that it's just my dumb brother who wants to move there. Whereas my mother wants to move to San Fran where my aunt lives. Sounds like I'll get to keep my life and my knives:thumbup:!
 
Good to hear!
Now you have a whole new set of things to worry about ;)
If you have any questions let me know, born, raised and live in SF
I am moving out this month tho, come move in to my place!
 
Keep in mind that California is an absolute mess when it comes to knife laws. Not only is there city ordinances, but county ones as well. State law isn't that bad, but getting a preemption law passed would be nothing short of a miracle. To read the individual laws, search the city or county name + ordinances. I've been able to easily find up to date info for every one I've looked up. Pretty much no police officer actually knows what the knife laws are. I know guys who've had their 4" folder handed back to them when a lot of the local laws say anything that is 3" or more is illegal. Good luck on your move to the big city!
 
Knife laws in CA are pretty wishy-washy. You have state law, then county, then city, then cop having a bad day etc. That aside don't forget that even if you use your knife in a legitimate SD situation you may not face criminal charges(HA!!) but you could(and in CA very likely) be opening up yourself to severe letigious consequences on the side of the "victim", in layman, you stab/cut somone and they/their family sue your ass broke. Contrary to popular media CCW permits are not always difficult to obtain, it can vary greatly from county to county. (Paraphrasing) Placer cty grants a good amount, El Dorado cty grants as long as you don't have a criminal record, Sacramento not very likely(actually they just suspended their CCW program), Bay area not likely w/ out "justified" reason. AND in TECHNICAL LEGAL TERMS California IS an OPEN CARRY state, that being said no way in hell you would be allowed to open carry a firearm in ANY city, county etc.

Oh and regarding your OP:
Pepper spray - legal under 3oz.
Kubaton - open to interp. depends if the leo or DA want to put it into the slap,knuckle,baton category
Baton(nightstick, expandable) - Felony if carried concealed, illegal to own. Even a walking cane is illegal unless you have a signed authorized cane licence from your doctor

Basically if you are involved in a SD situation outside of your home(sometimes even in your home) you will face criminal charges, letigious action, or both.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top