This knife legal in California?

I won't speak for Morimotom but he is a LEO in the jurisdiction and I believe that he has previously opined that if you want to be assured of no legal problems, the knife and the clip must be completely concealed. No part of the knife can be in plain view. Hopefully he'll see the question and either confirm or correct my recollection.

DancesWithKnives
 
DWK2 said:
I won't speak for Morimotom but he is a LEO in the jurisdiction and I believe that he has previously opined that if you want to be assured of no legal problems, the knife and the clip must be completely concealed. No part of the knife can be in plain view. Hopefully he'll see the question and either confirm or correct my recollection.

DancesWithKnives
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yes, i agree with this statement about my opinion. ;)

if any portion of the item is visible, it is no longer concealed.
 
So it looks to me like if you're going to carry a knife in LA, it has to be folding, have a sub-3 inch blade and carried concealed.

Is that correct?
 
sircantaloupe said:
So it looks to me like if you're going to carry a knife in LA, it has to be folding, have a sub-3 inch blade and carried concealed.

Is that correct?
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Even though I live 3000 miles away I've been following this and similar threads and I believe your understanding of the law is correct. Unless, of course, you are carrying for a legitimate work or recreational use in which case I don't believe the 3" limit applies.
 
sircantaloupe said:
So it looks to me like if you're going to carry a knife in LA, it has to be folding, have a sub-3 inch blade and carried concealed.

Is that correct?
Click to expand...

I could be mistaken but the way I read the law is that you can:

In the State:

- Carry a fixed blade (no length limit) openly.
- Carry a folding blade (no length limit) concealed.

In LA city/county:

- Carry a fixed or folding blade (sub 3") openly.
- Carry a folding blade (no length limit) concealed.

LA county 13.62.020 says that you cannot carry any knife in plain view and 13.62.010 defines knife in that context as anything with a blade >= 3".
 
I agree that you can carry any size folder completely concealed (not clipped) in LA county/city (with the usual exceptions for courthouses, etc.). If the folder is openly carried in plain view in LA county/city, the blade must be less than 3 inches. It seems like an odd rule but I gave my recollection of the history toward the end of the really long thread with a title something like "Calif. knife laws WTH".

DancesWithKnives
 
Generally speaking, I understand the answer to be yes.

I read that one of the purported justifications for that legal distinction was that some fixed blades could be simply pulled out of their sheath and immediately used to stab. A folder, on the other hand, required at least one further manipulation (opening) to make it readily capable of being used as a stabbing weapon. In the old days, many folks would reach down into their pocket to retrieve their folder, then employ two hands to open it using a fingernail groove in the top of the blade. You can see how legislators might have thought the folder was not as readily available as a weapon. Now days, with waved folders, assisted openers, pocket clips, wider use of locking mechanisms, etc., the distinction may be much less significant.

DancesWithKnives
 
Oh boy. This state does have a complicated set of ordinances, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. Thanks for your effort at clarification, everyone. I think I might print out the relevant sections and keep them in my wallet.

Arizona is moving toward uniform, statewide knife laws. I wonder if California will get a clue? One can hope.


I've been going through my local municipal codes using http://california.lp.findlaw.com/ca01_codes/municode.html
Interestingly, most cities have little or nothing to say about knives other than in relation to food prep. But I'm glad I checked, because now I know the city of Anaheim is very harsh on anyone who carries a knife "of any description with a blade the sharpened or cutting portion of which is two and one-half inches or more in length."

Moral? Know your state AND local ordinances. Maybe I'm a bit phobic about this. I respect and appreciate police officers, but having a few years of sordid deeds in my past, close encounters with the law still set off my flight-or-flight response. Not very easy to try and speak calmly and not raise alarm while your adrenals are dumping norepinephrine like a mofo.
 
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Actually, as you've undoubtedly noticed, the statewide CA laws aren't that bad. If the state decided to fully occupy the field of knife law and preempt all local ordinances with the present state laws, we would not be in bad shape. However, a total re-write of state knife law could be a disaster under the powers that be. I'll leave it at that since we aren't supposed to discuss politics outside of the forum bearing that description.

DancesWithKnives
 
L.A. and south especialy San Diego anything over 3" fixed or folder if a cop see's it youll loose it. Northern CA. Bakerfield to Sacramento 5 1/2" folder 7" fixed if it's in asheath on your side. North of Sacramento to Oragon border 9" fixed if its in a sheath on your side no problem. Any folder if your not walking around with it in your hand flipping it around no problem.
 
Morimotom: I'm saving this one for you, my man! You can probably just modify your Post #13.

DancesWithKnives
 
DWK2 said:
Morimotom: I'm saving this one for you, my man! You can probably just modify your Post #13.

DancesWithKnives
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not sure how to respond.

since the penal code does not address the issues in that post, i must assume he is referencing county laws. but that is not really clear either, since multiple counties cover the mentioned areas.

if the poster would like to cite the specific sections he is referencing, i would be happy to try and clear up any ambiguities or questions.

otherwise....:confused:
 
bladetradder said:
L.A. and south especialy San Diego anything over 3" fixed or folder if a cop see's it youll loose it. Northern CA. Bakerfield to Sacramento 5 1/2" folder 7" fixed if it's in asheath on your side. North of Sacramento to Oragon border 9" fixed if its in a sheath on your side no problem. Any folder if your not walking around with it in your hand flipping it around no problem.
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Can you tell us upon what you base your post? That would help a great deal.

Thanks,

DancesWithKnives
 
My guess is that the post contained bladetradder's "impressions". For what it's worth, my experiences have been quite different.

DancesWithKnives
 
CuriousGeorge said:
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?
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:mad:
 
Can anyone say that a Buck 112 or 110 can be carried in a belt sheath ( visible ) in LA?
Thanks
thinfinn
 
If either knife has a blade length of 3" or more (which I know the 110 does), then the LA county and city ordinances prohibit openly carrying them in plain view. If the belt sheath truly covered and concealed the ENTIRE knife such that NO part of the knife is visible at all, you might have an argument that you are carrying concealed and are legal. As a matter of caution, I still wouldn't do it.

Again, this would be a great Morimotom question since he's a LEO in the LA area.

DancesWithKnives
 
DWK2 said:
If either knife has a blade length of 3" or more (which I know the 110 does), then the LA county and city ordinances prohibit openly carrying them in plain view. If the belt sheath truly covered and concealed the ENTIRE knife such that NO part of the knife is visible at all, you might have an argument that you are carrying concealed and are legal. As a matter of caution, I still wouldn't do it.

Again, this would be a great Morimotom question since he's a LEO in the LA area.

DancesWithKnives
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Agreed - but I believe the state prohibits concealed carry of a fixed blade so that's out.
 
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