CA knife carry laws: what's legal?

[MudCamper]

I had idiot probationers walk in to my office carrying illegal double edged knives in a sheath with a parent,when I pointed out it was a felony to be in possession the parent countered she bought it for him,when I seized it they got huffy so I called in a police officer & booked the jerk for PC 12020 Felony Possession of A Dangerous Weapon.Some just have to learn the hard way.

"Double edged" knives are not illegal. He didn't violate 12020 if it wasn't concealed. Was the probationer prohibited from possessing knives as a condition of his probation?

[Decoligny]

I had idiot probationers walk in to my office carrying illegal double edged knives in a sheath with a parent,when I pointed out it was a felony to be in possession the parent countered she bought it for him,when I seized it they got huffy so I called in a police officer & booked the jerk for PC 12020 Felony Possession of A Dangerous Weapon.Some just have to learn the hard way.

Most people simply assume that the word "DAGGER" = "DOUBLE EDGED".

Not according to the PC 12020 definition.

(24) As used in this section, a "dirk" or "dagger" means a knife
or other instrument with or without a handguard that is capable of
ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury
or death. A nonlocking folding knife, a folding knife that is not
prohibited by Section 653k, or a pocketknife is capable of ready use
as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death
only if the blade of the knife is exposed and locked into position.

NOWHERE in California Penal Code is "Double Edged" even addressed.

[MudCamper]

Most people simply assume that the word "DAGGER" = "DOUBLE EDGED".

Not according to the PC 12020 definition.

NOWHERE in California Penal Code is "Double Edged" even addressed.

Plus a "dagger or dirk" has to be concealed to be a violation:

12020 (4) Carries concealed upon his or her person any dirk or dagger.

[tombinghamthegreat]

I had idiot probationers walk in to my office carrying illegal double edged knives in a sheath with a parent,when I pointed out it was a felony to be in possession the parent countered she bought it for him,when I seized it they got huffy so I called in a police officer & booked the jerk for PC 12020 Felony Possession of A Dangerous Weapon.Some just have to learn the hard way.

Double edged knives are not illegal, alot of people on the forum have those type of knives. Why does this double edge FUD keep appearing on this forum?

[Librarian]

Double edged knives are not illegal, alot of people on the forum have those type of knives. Why does this double edge FUD keep appearing on this forum?

Most folks here ought to know better, but it appears everywhere; several of our Least Favorite catalog retailers who Shall Remain Un-Named have tagged anything double-edged as 'unable to ship to CA' - even things I can buy at Big 5.

FUD works.

[N6ATF]

As was mentioned earlier, there's no distinction between single- or double-edge. Just if you conceal a fixed-blade, it's illegal. Sure, Big 5 can sell these neck chain knives, but how many people are going to be wearing them outside their clothing? On COPS a few weeks ago, a SDSD deputy arrested a guy wearing one of these just a few doors down from Big 5 in Spring Valley. How ironic is it that they are advertised for sale there a few months later?

[gunsmith]

I saw that episode of cops too

the cop said "you're getting charged for concealed carry of the knife"
The surprised tweaker asked "if you can see it, how does that make it concealed"

[dreyna14]

"if you can see it, how does that make it concealed"

Exactly. It shouldn't be difficult to get off those charges. There's nothing in the law that states that the blade has to be visible. As long as it looks like a knife, not a blade in a cane or something similar, and it's outside of clothing the necklace should be perfectly legal.

[N6ATF]

The cop only saw it once he removed it from under the shirt. It was concealed. The necklace beads peeking over his neckline did not mean the knife dangling in front of his sternum was openly carried.

Another criminal pretending the peek-a-boo game means something exists only once it is uncovered.

[GuyW]

take it from my advise. do-not-use-this-knife-for-self-defense

i have had several extreme-ops models where the blade refused to stay open. bearing pressure on the blade vertically can cause it to suddenly close and WILL eventually cause injury to your fingers.

ive had this happen on my tanto AND serrated model. they are good cheap knives.

Hmmm. Do you know any websites where folks have tested and reported the various locking-blade knives for this defect?
.

[HowardW56]

One CPC section to watch out for is the prohibition on lock blade knivers on K-12 school grounds. Its a misdemeanor and applies on all areas of the school campus and even when school is not in session.

I see adults using school grounds to walk their dogs, or shoot hoops after hours all the time. I wonder how many of them are unknowingly breaking the law buy having a Spyderco clipped to their pockets.

I would guess there are a lot of tradesmen who work on school campuses carrying lockblade knives...

[Liberty1]

Would it? I don't think the firearms situation is analogous because of the specific preemption involved:

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/dwcl/53701.php

Preemption applies to other laws too. I've often wondered why the following logic (from the California Peace Officer's Association's attorney) discussing local ordinances against UOC doesn't apply to knifes as well?

http://www.hoffmang.com/firearms/carry/CPOA-Client-Alert-12042008.pdf

[DDT]

I was browsing the firearms PCs just now (exciting life, I know) and thought the same thing. I specifically saw the sections on Nunchaku and wondered why they could be banned except by self-defense schools. If you can learn to defend yourself with then but aren't allowed to ACTUALLY defend yourself with them what's the point? It would seem that the "Right to keep and bear arms" shouldn't apply to firearms only.

I know several police officers who carry knives (yes multiple) on their person at all times, yes concealed both fixed and folding. One says he's never without at least 4 knives secreted on his person. Are there exemptions to the knife sections for LEOs?

[N6ATF]

OT, but nunchaku seem so easy to injure yourself with. To strike out, you have 50% of the strike coming back at you, right? Anecdotally, I had a former cop as a teacher and he was actually issued them by his department (and under a psuedonym), and when he had to use them on a combative suspect, he ended up whacking himself in the head. He said he never left his baton in the car again.

At least guns are only effective in one direction.