Thinking about open-carrying a dagger

[3000+]

From what I've been able to discern from my research, dirks and daggers are legal in California if they are worn exposed on the waist. I live in Santa Clara County if that makes a difference. I would not wear it in a school or government building.

I've been eyeing either this or this for my open carry. What are your thoughts on this and if you think it's okay, which one would you recommend I try out?

[omgwtfbbq]

Between the two, I would go with the first one, but mainly because I prefer plain edge blades to serrated or partial serrated.

I know your question is more about recommendation on the knife than about the action of open carrying a fixed blade, but be prepared to get hassled if you go this route. You're average Joe doesn't know it's legal to openly carry a fixed blade, and I'm sure you're more than aware of how some folks, particularly in the Bay Area, react to things that are black and scary.

[Librarian]

You may expect 'consensual contact' from PD in any urban area.

In other contexts, where an openly carried fixed-blade is not so strange-looking, probably will not raise any questions.

[AragornElessar86]

PLEASE be careful. CA DOES NOT have preemption laws for knives. Every county, city, or municipality has their own laws which can and do vary quite widely. For example, here in SD Co, dirks/daggers are legal to open carry, but many cities within SD Co have banned them totally. These bans tend to be quite severe.

Be careful. Study up.

[UberPatriot]

I just got the Smith and Wesson HRT boot knife pretty sweet inexpensive dagger.

[CAL.BAR]

PLEASE be careful. CA DOES NOT have preemption laws for knives. Every county, city, or municipality has their own laws which can and do vary quite widely. For example, here in SD Co, dirks/daggers are legal to open carry, but many cities within SD Co have banned them totally. These bans tend to be quite severe.

Be careful. Study up.

GREAT ADVICE. Better advice: DON'T DO IT! You are just begging for trouble. You WILL be stopped and harassed at best. At worse you may be arrested on any number of trumped up charges. Absolutely NO reason to carry a knife like that in county or city limits in public. Any cutting you need to do can be done better by a folding knife anyway.

Just because you CAN do something - doesn't mean you SHOULD.

[Python6357]

Ive been open carrying a 12" Kabar for 3 years now in SD. Never been talked to by police. Ive walked right by them and they don't seem to care. Laws do vary by city though so definitely check your local laws.

[FatCity67]

GREAT ADVICE. Better advice: DON'T DO IT! You are just begging for trouble. You WILL be stopped and harassed at best. At worse you may be arrested on any number of trumped up charges. Absolutely NO reason to carry a knife like that in county or city limits in public. Any cutting you need to do can be done better by a folding knife anyway.

Just because you CAN do something - doesn't mean you SHOULD.

[Dogbite]

Could someone please educate me - Show me a link to our current Laws for edged tools..
I was my understanding in Kalifornia that a Double edge Blade/Knife (Sharpened top and bottom - Both edges) was Illegal to carry - knife not an Axe or other tool. It may be owned for collector purpose but not carried on ones body even in an exposed sheath Thus making a dagger questionable.
Thanks in advance for your time.

[RickD427]

Could someone please educate me - Show me a link to our current Laws for edged tools..
I was my understanding in Kalifornia that a Double edge Blade/Knife (Sharpened top and bottom - Both edges) was Illegal to carry - knife not an Axe or other tool. It may be owned for collector purpose but not carried on ones body even in an exposed sheath Thus making a dagger questionable.
Thanks in advance for your time.

Dogbite,

You're close. In California, it is a felony to carry a concealed dagger. The offense does require the element of the dagger being concealed. Please refer to Penal Code section 21310. Here is the text

"Except as provided in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division 2 of Title 2, any person in this state who carries concealed upon the person any dirk or dagger is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170."

You should be aware of People v Hale, which was a concealed firearms case which essentially held that the concealment of any part of a firearm was illegal. The same rationale would apply to daggers. You could find yourself in trouble if any portion of the dagger were concealed.

You should also be aware, as prior posters have pointed out, that there is a plethora of local ordinances governing the carrying of knifes.

[Librarian]

Could someone please educate me - Show me a link to our current Laws for edged tools..
I was my understanding in Kalifornia that a Double edge Blade/Knife (Sharpened top and bottom - Both edges) was Illegal to carry - knife not an Axe or other tool. It may be owned for collector purpose but not carried on ones body even in an exposed sheath Thus making a dagger questionable.
Thanks in advance for your time.

Funny - there's a sticky in this forum that has what you seek: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=815906 But even there the post notes that local jurisdictions have Their Own Ways and there just is no way to maintain that many possible codes.

[Dogbite]

RickD427 & Librarian - Thank you

[USMCM16A2]

What bout this kind of dirk? http://www.dirkbenedictcentral.com/

[Dogbite]

Librarian or anyone else with links or knowledge-
What are the implied laws for carrying a Hatchet type tool Open carry or attached to my pack.
I carried one for years when I had to commute on the metro train in and out of Los Angeles quite a few years ago.
Are there Overall Length requirements, Head cutting surface length, ECT?
My tool is currently attached to my walking pack, which I carry in my car, if I ever needed to abandon my vehicle.

[Librarian]

Like an openly carried knife, I suspect an openly carried hatchet-type tool would be fine in contexts where expected, and might draw attention in cities.

Nothing in PC, SFAICT. Cities/counties, too many to check, but many have their ordinances online.