I have lived and worked in So California for a long time, and have carried many different "cutlery" pieces including Balisongs for just as long. Obviously this area is known for somewhat unforgiving laws in regard to "knives".., and not much needs to be said about "specific" laws, or maximum charges that can be imposed by law enforcement folks.
Some of you have touched on what (in my opinion) is the key to the "what to carry" dilemma ~~>
COMMON SENSE !!
I have seen -in person-, two knives taken by the police. One was a folding tactical, a Crawford Shark to be exact, and it was confiscated by a plain clothes LAPD Officer from a less than scholarly 20-something year old guy that was shooting pool in a fairly nice bar, but displaying his "talents" by thumb-flicking it open, rolling it through his fingers...etc. He was not loud, and not threatening anyone or being confrontational.., simply being "dumb", and having a good time with his friends until he lost his $350 folder.
In this state.., this officer certainly could have arrested the guy, no doubt about it. No arrest was made..., and after the officer talked to the guy outside for about 10 minutes, he returned inside and finished his beer minus one fairly expensive knife.
The other knife I've seen taken...was a Dalton "Gypsy", and it was confiscated outside the entrance gate to the now defunct "Great Western Show" in Pomona. In this instance.., a guy was showing a female companion the knife, and cycled it automatically three or four times while waiting in line. This time it was a uniformed officer (County Sheriff).., but the antecendant and consequences were similar. The officer escorted the guy and his lady friend away, but I did see the guy in the show later, and asked what happened. He said the knife was confiscated and that the officer ran his ID from his car checking for "Wants & Warrants"..., explained that automatic knives over 2 inches are illegal to carry, and kept the knife.
I think it's also important to mention that this particular show probably had 12-15 vendors that openly sold illegal automatic knives. Of course they had a sign saying..."Automatic Knife Sales to Law Enforcement or Military Personnel Only"..., but they sold them to anyone that could heave the $$$ onto the counter. This was no secret to law enforcement people, and literally thousands of autos, Balisongs, and other similarly "illegal" items were sold daily at
this show. I never saw, or heard about, anyone being searched leaving the show, or asked to show any law enforcement agency what they purchased.
Since California law in regard to edged weapons is so stringent, these two examples may not be representative of "common practice" for many of you, but I do think it highlights the importance of employing your brain if you are carrying something for self-protection that may interest a police officer (which of course includes our beloved "flippers"). Even here, where knife and gun laws are considered absolutely rediculous, I have not seen (or heard of) "normal" looking people being searched while pursuing daily activities. If you are standing on a corner in East Los Angeles with a red headband, wearing a BalisongXtreme T-Shirt, have "Love" & "Hate" tattooed across your knuckles, a Rap-Sheet that reads like you are the "Bad Guy" in a "B Movie", and are enjoying some Columbian herb while flipping a BM 45.., you are going to prison for "Felony Possession", and anything else the District Attorney can think of while you await trial in County Jail.
Obviously the example above is "Xtreme" <~~ free concealex sheath for tag-line Clay
.., but how we "look" and conduct ourselves is an undeniable variable that increases or decreases how we are perceived and treated by law enforcement. Whether it's "fair" or not is for philosophers I suppose.., but it is ~~>
TRUE !! Age is also a factor that has to be taken seriously. I was much more careful about what I "possessed" when I was between 21-35. If you fit the profile and/or demographics of a group that leads the league in assaults and violent crime.., you will be "profiled", and risk a greater chance of getting searched for questionable reasons..., especially in urban areas.
As mentioned.., it is certainly wise to know the laws where you live, and also get a sense of how those laws are enforced. In the two cases I mentioned which fall under personal experience, it seems to me that California is fairly subjective about imposing maximum penalties on those found in possession of illegal knives. Could those guys I mentioned have been charged with Felony Possession?? I would say -YES-...., probably so. Would they have been convicted of a felony...??? I don't think so. After plea-bargaining, and with an absence of prior convictions, threatening or aggressive behavior, and "Bad-Dude-Attidtude", I think you basically lose whatever you were carrying, get a strong message about "THE LAW".., and donate a nice knife to your local law enforcement agency. In California..., going through this process a second time wouldn't be a good idea!!!
Sooooo....-yeah I'm almost done-
.., primary concerns are:
(1)Your local laws and how seriously they are enforced.
(2)Your age and how you conduct yourself while "carrying".
(3)Past involvement/convictions by law enforcement???
(4)Can your survival needs be met as well or better with something
"legal"?
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = COMMON SENSE!
"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
), and I was just told to put it back in my car. From the day I got both of my 42's, neither has been in a different room than I. I've even been into a couple of Cop Shops strapped with both of them. But then again, where I live, if you can't see a cow in front of you, you probably just need to turn around. 
It's hicksville, and cops are laid back.
