CA Knife Laws

[slosurfer]

Does anyone know anything about the CA knife carry laws? Specifically, I'm interested in knifes in a sheath worn on a belt. What's legal/what isn't? I'm fairly certain what they are for pocket knifes, but feel free to post anything about that too.

I used to wear a sheathed knife whenever camping but haven't really done that since having a good EDC pocket knife. I never really cared or worried about it while camping or out in the wilderness, but I'm interested to see what the laws are concerning haveing them just around town.

[Robinhood4x4]

According to my "Travelers gun and knife law book", published in 2010, open carry of fixed blades are legal, but concealed carry is not. There is no length limit, except for automatics and balisongs. Carry of knives onto school grounds is generally prohibited, unless you have a concealed carry permit.

However, blade length is limited in some local areas like LA county, LA, oakland, and SF. In those areas, the limit is 3 inches. They also have more restrictions for things like automatics.

Blade length is also limited in certain buildings like state or local public buildings or public meetings. The limit in these areas is 4 inches. penal code 171b (2009)

[slosurfer]

Thanks Steve, that's pretty much what I was finding. I just wanted to double check. :thumbup:

[Obi..]

Cool, Steve replied with what I basically was gonna say, although I thought the length was supposed to be more like 4" out here?? Crap, so much for my edc..I also remember there being something at some point about the mil-spec fixies..single face only above a certain length or something to that effect, no Rambo schizz. I can't even carry at work now, even with a permit, corporate policy. :( Have to go get me one of those box-cutter deals like Corax has.

[slosurfer]

So, if I'm wearing a fixed blade on my belt and my coat or shirt hangs down over it, is that considered concealed? Or do I basically have to tuck my shirt/coat up and over the knife handle so that it's fully out in the open?

[Obi..]

Tuck it in, trust me, I almost lost my benchmade in that type of situation b/c I was off-shift and had my shop shirt untucked.

IMHO ultimately if you're doing something stupid (like I had happen) you're asking to be hassled. In my case I was open and honest with the officers and EMT's so all they did was "..temporarily assume custody of it..". Know what I mean here? Plenty of people carry bali's and auto's without even a hint of a permit or whatever and you'd never know it unless they were being searched, just like a small handgun in a belt in downtown Oakland or Richmond these days.

I don't forsee you carrying around what stuff you posted in the blade thread in a major urban area in hidden fashion or (hopefully) not walking into someplace and going all P.T.S.D.-Wig-Out on folks. Just exercise good/diligent judgement and you should be fine.

BTW, why you asking about this anyhow? Get yourself an office gig?? (You mentioned you and fam are moving soon in another post.)

[Robinhood4x4]

So, if I'm wearing a fixed blade on my belt and my coat or shirt hangs down over it, is that considered concealed? Or do I basically have to tuck my shirt/coat up and over the knife handle so that it's fully out in the open?


In the firearms world, a police officer would likely consider it concealed, but it is somewhat open to interpretation. You don't want to be the test case, so I would advise to not even risk it.

[slosurfer]

In the firearms world, a police officer would likely consider it concealed, but it is somewhat open to interpretation. You don't want to be the test case, so I would advise to not even risk it.


That's about what I figured and why I asked. I found my cheap old fixed blade from when I was a kid and strapped it on while cleaning the garage. I discovered that even my tshirt was pretty much covering up the whole knife, which got me thinking about the laws and such.

It also got me thinking that I'd like to get a good fixed blade for wearing more. All my fixed blades I have now wouldn't work well for that. (too bulky and needs either 2 hands or a leg strap to get the knife out 1 handed)

[slosurfer]

I'm thinking of just going old school (and back to my roots) and getting a KA-BAR fighting knife (http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camping/Knives-Tools/Fixed-Blade-Knives%7C/pc/104795280/c/104740380/sc/104330880/KA-BAR-Leather-Handled-USA-FightingUtility-Knife/732399.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fcampi ng-knives-tools-fixed-blade-knives%2F_%2FN-1100724%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104330880%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253Bcat104795 280%253Bcat104740380&WTz_l=SBC%3Bcat104795280%3Bcat104740380%3Bcat10433 0880), and then again, this Gerber Epic Knife (http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camping/Knives-Tools/Fixed-Blade-Knives%7C/pc/104795280/c/104740380/sc/104330880/Gerber174-Epic-Knife/1087828.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fcamp ing-knives-tools-fixed-blade-knives%2F_%2FN-1100724%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104330880%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253Bcat104795 280%253Bcat104740380&WTz_l=SBC%3Bcat104795280%3Bcat104740380%3Bcat10433 0880) really intrigues me. I like its price and its versatility. I like that it has a bottle opener :) and I like that the clip can be switched and that I could remove the whole thing easily from my belt without undoing my belt.... So, if I go to pick up Jack from school it will be easy to unclip from my belt while I'm still in the 4runner. I do like the Ka-Bar though...

[CJM]

Theres much better stuff than the ka-bar out there. Gerber LMF series is my pick, rugged, HD and great steel.

[Robinhood4x4]

I think that you don't have enough hobbies and you should consider making your own knife. I've been looking into it and it looks pretty fun, but I just haven't had much time.

[slosurfer]

LOL!!!! I've actually researched some of that :) I found a cool site on how to make some sweet neck knives using hack saw blades and I think we've all seen the sites on how to make knives out of leaf springs....

Really, what I want would be something like the Ka-Bar and have the sheath have a long top so that it hangs low on my hip and thus isn't hidden by my untucked tshirt. :)

[Robinhood4x4]

Kydex is really easy to work with.

[slosurfer]

Theres much better stuff than the ka-bar out there. Gerber LMF series is my pick, rugged, HD and great steel.


I have a Gerber LMF and it's an awesome knife. However, it's too heavy and bulky for EDC and the sheath isn't great for EDC either. In order to remove the knife with one hand, you have to wear a leg strap with it. Otherwise, it takes one hand on the sheath and one hand to remove the knife. I don't mind wearing it with the leg strap out in the wilderness, but I don't feel like wearing a leg strap and a big black knife and sheath for EDC. I have mine strapped to the back of my bug out bag in the 4runner.

[DHC6twinotter]

Guy I used to know had a little black smith shop set up in his yard. He made knives out of leaf springs. Pretty cool stuff.

I've got a leaf spring machete that was made by a guy in the Philippines. Works well. :D