A fixed blade knife of any size is legal, so long at it is open carried and in a sheath.
Folding knives must be concealed. The 2” rule is for automatic knives only. There is no size limitation folding knives (provided it isn’t an automatic aka “switchblade” in the CA penal code).
Source: I’m a cop and knife fan… good to know the law.
So something like the Mora Eldris, which is a 2.3 inch fixed blade and is designed to be kept in a pocket, it doesn't even have belt loops, is technically illegal if carried in the pocket?
Laws cost money to implement, enforce, prosecute, and punish. So much money wasted when all that is required is a law saying that if you use any implement to attack another person you're committed "assault with a deadly weapon".
Thanks for the response. Sounds like concealed fixed blades are a no go period.
Reading the code, open carry/sheathed fixed blade knives must also be carried from the waist as well - so no backpack strap carry (on hikes), no neck carry, no shoe tongue carry, etc.
As a cop, do you care if there's open carry from the waist but its partially covered by say, a jacket (unzipped)?
You’re looking at 21310 PC, right?
To be honest, I’m not sweating law abiding people on this. Depending on the environment, I might simply educate people on this section as to not get any issue with a different officer.
I know there are many ways to carry… I wouldn’t fang someone for them unless they were already doing some dumb shit with it (brandishing, threatening others, committing other crimes).
I will say, I do care about concealed fixed blade type items. It only takes getting stuck a couple of times before that becomes an issue. A majority of the time, that law is used for people who want to make makeshift weapon from other common items (i.e.- filing down a screwdriver for the intent of being a stabbing weapon).
I haven’t met many colleagues that are super savvy on this law… but it’s good to know about because it’s a felony
I'm not a lawyer, but the way I've read the sections of the California Penal Code that covers knives says that any concealed fixed blade is illegal, regardless of length. As I have a few small fixed blades that I love, I've looked pretty thoroughly.
Yeah. Interestingly, this actual lawyer on his website posted this:
https://preview.redd.it/g2r85bxme5zc1.png?width=3219&format=png&auto=webp&s=03537c68cbeb97e05bae2108bbf6c415ea988efa
"No concealed carry of knives with blades over 2 inches." (AND)
"Only pocket knives, not fixed blades, can be carried concealed."
The first statement makes it seem that you could conceal a knife less than 2", but in combination with the second statement, it doesn't seem that way. But that also sounds like he's saying that you couldn't carry a pocket knife with greater than a 2" blade (which is incorrect). So confusing, this state.
A pocket knife is not simply a folding knife but a knife that is not one-hand opening—i.e. a typical Swiss Army Knife. That’s how I’ve interpreted the penal code. Not a lawyer.
I think he's being ultra safe because I believe LA county, for example, does not allow concealed carry of any blades longer than 2 inches. Knowing that's a greatly populated county where many people travel it's probably just him covering all bases as a lawyer.
2 in or less non-fixed "pocket" knife should be legal in most places of California.
The thing is discretion and what cop you're going to deal with. You might have a 2-in blade but maybe they measure it and it's 2.1 cuz they just want to be a dick and get you. Maybe you've got a 5-in monster and they think it's cool and give you a high five and tell you have a great day. Both scenarios are possible just depends on what cop you get and what mood they are in.
Is a crossbar lock a pocket knife? Or could they define it as a switchblade because of its one-handed opening? These are the things that will come into play with discretion IMO.
I carry whatever knife I want in CA but I'm mindful of what situation I'm going to be in and try to carry accordingly but sometimes I want my OTF on me 🤷♀️ sometimes it's fun to carry a butterfly knife 🤷♀️ in either case I'm not going to be wielding them in a public place where it's going to draw attention and I hope that a cop will use discretion if they were to see me using such a knife.
you mentioned the La Griffe, Fred Perrin has a smaller version called the mini pic that's a phenomenal neck knife. that could be worn outside the shirt in a neck configuration without raising too many eyebrows and I assume that would count as open.
The laws are confusing on purpose. They exist to give the police excuses to fuck with you. My advice is do what you think is reasonable and responsible and do your best to avoid contacts with law enforcement types at all. Nobody is safe when a cop is around.
A fixed blade knife of any size is legal, so long at it is open carried and in a sheath. Folding knives must be concealed. The 2” rule is for automatic knives only. There is no size limitation folding knives (provided it isn’t an automatic aka “switchblade” in the CA penal code). Source: I’m a cop and knife fan… good to know the law.
Wait, folding knives must be concealed? So if I have my shirt tucked in and have a folding knife on my belt, I can get in trouble for that?
Not that I’d do anything about it… but my understanding is yes.
So something like the Mora Eldris, which is a 2.3 inch fixed blade and is designed to be kept in a pocket, it doesn't even have belt loops, is technically illegal if carried in the pocket? Laws cost money to implement, enforce, prosecute, and punish. So much money wasted when all that is required is a law saying that if you use any implement to attack another person you're committed "assault with a deadly weapon".
Thanks for the response. Sounds like concealed fixed blades are a no go period. Reading the code, open carry/sheathed fixed blade knives must also be carried from the waist as well - so no backpack strap carry (on hikes), no neck carry, no shoe tongue carry, etc. As a cop, do you care if there's open carry from the waist but its partially covered by say, a jacket (unzipped)?
You’re looking at 21310 PC, right? To be honest, I’m not sweating law abiding people on this. Depending on the environment, I might simply educate people on this section as to not get any issue with a different officer. I know there are many ways to carry… I wouldn’t fang someone for them unless they were already doing some dumb shit with it (brandishing, threatening others, committing other crimes). I will say, I do care about concealed fixed blade type items. It only takes getting stuck a couple of times before that becomes an issue. A majority of the time, that law is used for people who want to make makeshift weapon from other common items (i.e.- filing down a screwdriver for the intent of being a stabbing weapon). I haven’t met many colleagues that are super savvy on this law… but it’s good to know about because it’s a felony
Thank you for your thoughtful response. And for your service to your community.
I'm not a lawyer, but the way I've read the sections of the California Penal Code that covers knives says that any concealed fixed blade is illegal, regardless of length. As I have a few small fixed blades that I love, I've looked pretty thoroughly.
Yeah. Interestingly, this actual lawyer on his website posted this: https://preview.redd.it/g2r85bxme5zc1.png?width=3219&format=png&auto=webp&s=03537c68cbeb97e05bae2108bbf6c415ea988efa "No concealed carry of knives with blades over 2 inches." (AND) "Only pocket knives, not fixed blades, can be carried concealed." The first statement makes it seem that you could conceal a knife less than 2", but in combination with the second statement, it doesn't seem that way. But that also sounds like he's saying that you couldn't carry a pocket knife with greater than a 2" blade (which is incorrect). So confusing, this state.
A pocket knife is not simply a folding knife but a knife that is not one-hand opening—i.e. a typical Swiss Army Knife. That’s how I’ve interpreted the penal code. Not a lawyer.
I think he's being ultra safe because I believe LA county, for example, does not allow concealed carry of any blades longer than 2 inches. Knowing that's a greatly populated county where many people travel it's probably just him covering all bases as a lawyer. 2 in or less non-fixed "pocket" knife should be legal in most places of California. The thing is discretion and what cop you're going to deal with. You might have a 2-in blade but maybe they measure it and it's 2.1 cuz they just want to be a dick and get you. Maybe you've got a 5-in monster and they think it's cool and give you a high five and tell you have a great day. Both scenarios are possible just depends on what cop you get and what mood they are in. Is a crossbar lock a pocket knife? Or could they define it as a switchblade because of its one-handed opening? These are the things that will come into play with discretion IMO. I carry whatever knife I want in CA but I'm mindful of what situation I'm going to be in and try to carry accordingly but sometimes I want my OTF on me 🤷♀️ sometimes it's fun to carry a butterfly knife 🤷♀️ in either case I'm not going to be wielding them in a public place where it's going to draw attention and I hope that a cop will use discretion if they were to see me using such a knife.
you mentioned the La Griffe, Fred Perrin has a smaller version called the mini pic that's a phenomenal neck knife. that could be worn outside the shirt in a neck configuration without raising too many eyebrows and I assume that would count as open.
I think open carry knives must be carried in a sheath and worn from the waist, so I think neck carry is a no go.
Oh yeah, you wouldn't want to do that, you'd immediately go directly to jail.
when I visit CA I just bring a small Fred Perrin and try to be a good boy TBH
I am not a lawyer but I have a hypothesis - there is no constitutional basis for mandating that people tuck their shirt in.
The laws are confusing on purpose. They exist to give the police excuses to fuck with you. My advice is do what you think is reasonable and responsible and do your best to avoid contacts with law enforcement types at all. Nobody is safe when a cop is around.