Angel R., the Court of Appeals examined a conviction over a pocketknife that, as originally manufactured, had a hole in the back of the blade that prevented it from flicking open. For example, in the 2008 case of People v. It should also be noted that a pocketknife that was legal when manufactured, but is broken or modified so that it will open freely, is a switchblade within the meaning of the statute. Spring-Assisted Knives are Illegal in California if they exceed 2″ in length. Are Spring-Assisted Knives Legal in California? A. This unfortunately makes butterfly knives illegal to carry in the State of California. However, the California Courts have determined that butterfly knives fit within the definition of switchblades. The laws concerning butterfly knives are not specifically detailed in the California Statutes. Butterfly Knives are Illegal to carry in California Are Butterfly Knives Legal in California? A. 2502 for California jury instruction regarding switchblades.īutterfly Knife Laws California Q. Code, § 21510 for exact statutory language of this misdemeanor infraction. Included in the legal definition of switchblade is “ knife having the appearance of a pocketknife and includes a spring-blade knife, snap-blade knife, gravity knife or any other similar type knife, the blade or blades of which are two or more inches in length and which can be released automatically by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle, flip of the wrist or other mechanical device, or is released by the weight of the blade or by any type of mechanism whatsoever.” The statute expressly excludes pocket knives that can be opened with one hand by pushing the blade open with one’s thumb, as long as the knife “has a detent or other mechanism that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade, or that biases the blade back toward its closed position.” see Cal Pen. Switchblades and other spring-loaded knives in excess of 2″ length are illegal to possess on your person or in your vehicle in California, and are also not legal to sell, loan, or give away. Switchblades 2″ and larger are Illegal to carry on your person or in your vehicle and are illegal to sell, loan, or give away in California. In Los Angeles, for example, it’s illegal to openly carry any knife with a blade longer than 3″.Įach of the above issues is discussed in greater detail below. Also, certain municipalities have their own laws that may affect the legality of carrying a knife. In California, the following are illegal: (1) It is illegal to possess any switchblade knife with a blade of 2″ or longer, that can be opened with a button or the flick of your wrist (2) concealed possession of any “dirk” or “dagger,” i.e., any stabbing device with a fixed blade, regardless of blade length (3) possession or sale of any disguised blades, i.e., cane swords, writing pen knives, lipstick knives, etc., or any knife that is undetectable to metal detectors (4) possession of a knife with a blade longer than 2 1/2″ on any school grounds (5) possession of a fixed-blade knife with a blade longer than 2 1/2″ on any college or university grounds and (6) flashing or waiving any knife or weapon in a threatening manner. Additionally, it is illegal to carry daggers or dirks concealed, and also illegal to carry many types of knives which are designed for concealment.įor those of you with a short attention span, here is the summary: However, the maximum legal length for a switchblade knife is 2 inches. In the State of California, there is no maximum length for knives in general. How Long Can a Knife Be in California? A. With those warnings out of the way, California laws covering many types of knives including switchblades, daggers, and disguised blades are discussed below. Local ordinances may also impact the legality of your knife. State laws can vary greatly, and taking a knife that is legal in California over state lines may get you into trouble with federal laws or laws of other states. Also, this article only covers California law. Being found “not guilty” will not make up for the time and aggravation of getting arrested and missing work - not to mention the cost of hiring an attorney. Cops routinely write tickets and make arrests for things they incorrectly think is illegal. Hopefully, this article will shed some light on the rules and inconsistencies in California knife laws.Ī few caveats, however: First, remember that carrying any weapon, even one that’s legal, can cause you a lot of grief with law enforcement. After researching the law, we certainly understand why confusion exists as to what is legal to carry and what isn’t: there are over a dozen statutes on the subject, as well as numerous municipal codes, and inconsistent court decisions that further muddy the water. California Knife Laws 2020 – Is It Legal to Carry One?īikers always seem to inquire about the knife carry laws in California.
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