California Folding Knife Laws
- California has a number of laws pertaining to folding knives.pocket knife image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com
California has several laws that apply to the type of knife people may possess or carry and where they may carry it. Generally, knives that appear to be something else, but have a concealed blade, are illegal. Knives that open using a mechanism, such as a spring, are illegal to carry in public. Ordinary pocketknives are completely legal to carry under California law. - Folding knives, or pocketknives, are common items, and many people carry them for various purposes. The state of California has no law restricting pocketknives, including any law about how long the blade of a folding knife can be. If a folding knife does not fall into one of the categories of forbidden knives, it is legal and can be possessed anywhere in California, as long as it is carried in a folded position.
- California Penal Code Section 653k makes it a misdemeanor to possess a switchblade knife with a blade of 2 or more inches in length in a motor vehicle or in a public place. A switchblade knife is a folding knife with some kind of automatic opening system, such as a spring-blade, snap-blade, a gravity knife, or a similar mechanism. The statute exempts knives that open with one hand with pressure to the blade, so it makes sense to read the law carefully before carrying a folding knife that can be opened with one hand.
- California law also forbids people to possess weapons that the law classifies as dangerous. Those include several forms of knives that might have folding blades. Belt buckle knives with a concealed blade at least 2-1/2 inches in length and lipstick cases with concealed blades are considered dangerous weapons. Items that appear to be air gauges or writing pens, but that actually conceal a blade, are also considered dangerous weapons. Any kind of a swordstick (cane, swagger stick, staff, umbrella, etc. with a concealed blade) is forbidden as well all shobi-zue (stick with concealed blade that is exposed by mechanical action or the flick of a wrist). California law also considers dirks or daggers dangerous weapons. A regular folding knife can be considered a dirk or dagger if it is carried while the blade is exposed and locked into an open position.
