This knife legal in California?

C

CuriousGeorge

Joined
Dec 23, 2009
Messages
12
I recently ordered a KA-BAR Black Full Length Tanto.

Blade Length: 8.34"

Overall Length: 12 3/4 "

I viewed a California knife law carry code and it said the knife may be carried openly and there is no length limit. But then, a guy on another forum said there is a 3" limit. I'm not bringing the knife outside of my house alot so will it be fine?
 
There's a difference between state laws and local laws. I believe the 3" rule is an LA County rule, not a state rule. Read more here:

BEWARE: a lot of this info is dated, and he also stretches some of the rules by suggesting what you can get away with as opposed to what is actually legal carry.

http://www.ninehundred.net/~equalccw/knifelaw.html
 
First, welcome to Bladeforums!

Under CA state law, it's generally OK to carry an exposed fixed blade of any length---although exceptions apply for gov. bldgs., schools, etc.

In LA and some other counties/cities there are local ordinances that set forth additional restrictions beyond state law. In LA we may not openly carry a knife with a blade of 3 or more inches. There are exceptions for vocational and recreational use.

There are a lot of prior discussions of this topic in this forum, with links to the local laws, etc.

DancesWithKnives
 
DWK2 said:
First, welcome to Bladeforums!

Under CA state law, it's generally OK to carry an exposed fixed blade of any length---although exceptions apply for gov. bldgs., schools, etc.

In LA and some other counties/cities there are local ordinances that set forth additional restrictions beyond state law. In LA we may not openly carry a knife with a blade of 3 or more inches. There are exceptions for vocational and recreational use.

There are a lot of prior discussions of this topic in this forum, with links to the local laws, etc.

DancesWithKnives
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Thankyou. Just wanted to make sure. When you say "openly carry a knife with a blade of 3 or more inches", I've read from many people that openly carrying a fixed blade knife has no restrictions.

I will be bike riding from my home to the beach in a while and I need to make sure I can carry it openly. Is there any direct source as to the laws? I've googled California Knife Laws, but to find only 3rd source information.
 
CuriousGeorge said:
Thankyou. Just wanted to make sure. When you say "openly carry a knife with a blade of 3 or more inches", I've read from many people that openly carrying a fixed blade knife has no restrictions.

I will be bike riding from my home to the beach in a while and I need to make sure I can carry it openly. Is there any direct source as to the laws? I've googled California Knife Laws, but to find only 3rd source information.
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What he was saying was that in LA, the law is 3 inches or less for openly carried knives.

You are right there is no state law about the length of an openly carried fixed blade, however local laws can be more strict, and I'd check up on your local ordinances before strapping anything too large to your belt...
 
 
Any FIXED BLADE over 3" carried CONCEALED is a feloney in CA. If you open carry or have a folding blade you are good to go. Illegal knives aka can not own are knives with a double edge blade, butterfly knives, switch blades and blades with brass knuckles aka WWI trench knife.
 
It is my understanding that any fixed blade is illegal to carry concealed in CA, including those under 3 inches.

I am not aware of any prohibition against ownership of double-edged knives in CA.

As I read the law, switch blades under 2" are legal to buy and carry within CA.

You might want to ask in the balisong forum, but I believe that you can own a "butterfly" in CA but can't buy/sell/carry them.

I agree that knives with brass knuckles are prohibited.

DancesWithKnives
 
Regardless of what the laws are I think you will garner a lot of unwelcomed attention if you ride your bike with a big fixed blade knife strapped to your backpack. I don't know why you want to carry it. If for S/D against man or beast I think you'd be DOA before you could get to it. A nice folder clipped IWB would probably be a better choice. Save the big fixed blade for camping and hiking.
 
cgmblade said:
Regardless of what the laws are I think you will garner a lot of unwelcomed attention if you ride your bike with a big fixed blade knife strapped to your backpack. I don't know why you want to carry it. If for S/D against man or beast I think you'd be DOA before you could get to it. A nice folder clipped IWB would probably be a better choice. Save the big fixed blade for camping and hiking.
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+1 :thumbup: either that or get a sub 3" fixed blade and carry it on your belt. 8.34" is a big knife to carry around. maybe MORIMOTOM will chime in. he is a LEO and is insightful into CA knife laws.
 
ekaphoto said:
Any FIXED BLADE over 3" carried CONCEALED is a feloney in CA. If you open carry or have a folding blade you are good to go. Illegal knives aka can not own are knives with a double edge blade, butterfly knives, switch blades and blades with brass knuckles aka WWI trench knife.
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incorrect on nearly all points.

there is no length restriction in the ca penal code for any knife other than autos. concealed carry of a fixed blade is somewhat vague, but it is generally not a good idea. to be a violation, the knife must be readily available, and i would argue that there are many modes of carry which do not fit this criteria.

there is nothing in the ca penal code prohibiting double edged knives.

balis and autos are legal to own/carry if the blade is under 2". if larger, they are legal to own, but not carry.

simple possession of metal knuckles is illegal, though, and this would certainly include the trench and similar knives.
 
You're right---I should have noted that to be unlawful a concealed fixed blade must be readily available/accessible. I presume a person could probably legally carry a concealed fixed blade in a locked briefcase.

Thanks for the clarification.

DancesWithKnives
 
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The confusion regarding double edge knives comes from the wording "dirk or dagger." Which many of us would consider a double edged knife, but apparently it isn't..

In California you can legally carry:
a fixed blade as long as it isn't concealed
a locking folder of any size concealed or openly.
an automatic knife with a blade less than 2" concealed or openly. MORIMOTOM is correct that the only blade length stipulation in CA law is for autos.


Here are the parts of the penal code(s) which support the above:


12020. (a) Any person in this state who does any of the following
is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year
or in the state prison:
...
(4) Carries concealed upon his or her person any dirk or dagger.
see (32)(e)(24) below, for definitions.

......
(24)(d) Knives carried in sheaths which are worn openly suspended from
the waist of the wearer are not concealed within the meaning of this
section.
.....
653k. Every person who possesses in the passenger's or driver's
area of any motor vehicle in any public place or place open to the
public, carries upon his or her person, and every person who sells,
offers for sale, exposes for sale, loans, transfers, or gives to any
other person a switchblade knife having a blade two or more inches in
length is guilty of a misdemeanor.
-end-

If your shirt or jacket momentarily hides the fixed blade hanging from your belt, then you're breaking the law. Cops, especially in LA and other metropolitan CA cities, will probably mess with you if they see a big sheathed fixed blade hanging from your belt. Best bet (in my opinion) is to carry a big concealed folder.
 
Good advice. Cold Steel 6" X2 Voyager in my pocket as I type this!

DancesWithKnives
 
Assuming it is fully exposed (if it is a fixed blade), assuming it's not a 2-2.9" bali/auto, and assuming that you aren't on a campus, in a gov. building, etc.*, then I would say "yes".

The LA County and City ordinances also contain exceptions for exposed carry of blades 3" and longer, based upon religion or legitimate vocational/recreational use. I personally wouldn't want to rely on one of those exceptions but if you were up in the hills doing some volunteer trail clearing or if you worked on a landscaping crew, those exceptions MIGHT work for you.

Still, if you are going to open carry in LA County, sticking with an otherwise legal <3" blade is the safest way to go.

DancesWithKnives

*There are a number of rules concerning campuses, courthouses/other gov. buildings, airports, etc. and I'm not trying to cover them here. I merely want to allude to their existence so that people don't assume they can open carry a <3" blade absolutely everywhere in LA County.
 
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DWK2 said:
Assuming it is fully exposed (if it is a fixed blade), assuming it's not a 2.9" bali/auto, and assuming that you aren't on a campus, in a gov. building, etc., then I would say "yes".

The LA County and City ordinances also contain exceptions for exposed carry of blades 3" and longer, based upon religion or legitimate vocational/recreational use. I personally wouldn't want to rely on one of those exceptions but if you were up in the hills doing some volunteer trail clearing or if you worked on a landscaping crew, those exceptions MIGHT work for you.

Still, if you are going to open carry, sticking with an otherwise legal <3" blade is the safest way to go.

DancesWithKnives
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oops i meant to say sun 3" fixed blade, specifically a RAT izula, just wasn't sure if you could EDC fixed blades in LA county
 
Yes: What I wrote would apply to a sub 3" fixed blade (as well as a <3" folder). Perhaps Morimotom will confirm that but I'm pretty certain that my post is accurate on open carry of <3" fixed blades in LA County.

I don't own an Izula but assuming that the blade measures less than 3", you ought to be able to legally openly carry it in LA County so long as it is fully exposed and you stay away from courthouses and a few other such locations with especially restrictive knife rules. Belt carry is probably the safest place to openly carry it.

DancesWithKnives
 
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