Question for LAPD or LA County Sheriff Department

[DailyEDC]

I've exhausted google in search of this answer so I'm resorting to this forum in hopes that a LEO who knows Los Angeles County law can provide the definitive answer to this question.

Is it legal to own an automatic (switch blade) knife with a blade length over 2 inches? Everything I've read makes it pretty clear that it is illegal to carry a switch blade/automatic knife if the blade length is over 2 inches but I can't find anything that says anything about owning one for collection purposes.

This resource http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov which isn't specific to Los Angeles, says for switch blades with blade length greater than 2":

1. You can't carry it in public
2. You can't have one in the front seat area of your car in public
3. You can't sell/loan/give one to anyone at anytime for any reason.

But this makes me then ask the following:

1. Can I at least own one in my collection?
2. Can I carry it inside my home or while working at my business which is a retail environment?
3. Is it legal for me to buy one online from a seller in another state and have it shipped to my house in LA?
4. Is it legal to carry a gun concealed or open, when I'm in my own house or in my business at something like a convenience store?

[ronlglock]

Question for LAPD or LA County Sheriff Department

State law that you cannot legally acquire or import it. Kinda like hicaps.

https://mdcreekmore.com/california-knife-laws-3/

Buy an assisted open. Some are very close in speed.

[Samuelx]

I've exhausted google in search of this answer so I'm resorting to this forum in hopes that a LEO who knows Los Angeles County law can provide the definitive answer to this question.

Is it legal to own an automatic (switch blade) knife with a blade length over 2 inches? Everything I've read makes it pretty clear that it is illegal to carry a switch blade/automatic knife if the blade length is over 2 inches but I can't find anything that says anything about owning one for collection purposes.

This resource http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov which isn't specific to Los Angeles, says for switch blades with blade length greater than 2":

1. You can't carry it in public
2. You can't have one in the front seat area of your car in public
3. You can't sell/loan/give one to anyone at anytime for any reason.

But this makes me then ask the following:

1. Can I at least own one in my collection?
2. Can I carry it inside my home or while working at my business which is a retail environment?
3. Is it legal for me to buy one online from a seller in another state and have it shipped to my house in LA?
4. Is it legal to carry a gun concealed or open, when I'm in my own house or in my business at something like a convenience store?

Actually, it is this:

Penal Code - PEN

PART 6. CONTROL OF DEADLY WEAPONS [16000 - 34370] ( Part 6 added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6. )

TITLE 3. WEAPONS AND DEVICES OTHER THAN FIREARMS [19910 - 23025] ( Title 3 added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6. )

DIVISION 5. KNIVES AND SIMILAR WEAPONS [20200 - 21590] ( Division 5 added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6. )

CHAPTER 5. Switchblade Knife [21510 - 21590] ( Chapter 5 added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6. )

21510.

Every person who does any of the following with a switchblade knife having a blade two or more inches in length is guilty of a misdemeanor:

(a) Possesses the knife in the passenger’s or driver’s area of any motor vehicle in any public place or place open to the public.

(b) Carries the knife upon the person.

(c) Sells, offers for sale, exposes for sale, loans, transfers, or gives the knife to any other person.

(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6. (SB 1080) Effective January 1, 2011. Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.)

Codes you need to be aware of include State (above), County and Municipal:

https://library.municode.com/ca/los_angeles_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT13PUPEMOWE_DIV8WE

https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/los_angeles/latest/lamc/0-0-0-137866

+ whatever other cities you may find yourself in

[DailyEDC]

State law that you cannot legally acquire or import it. Kinda like hicaps.

https://mdcreekmore.com/california-knife-laws-3/

Buy an assisted open. Some are very close in speed.

I've read this...this is very similar to lots of others lawyers who have paraphrased or interpreted the law in their own words but it still doesn't answer the question of whether or not a switchblade can be owned if it has a larger than 2" blade. If I buy one from out of state and have it shipped to me, and then never carry it, none of the rules mentioned are being broken.

And I'm not asking because I want to get an automatic knife, I'm asking because I've been searching for this answer for years. I prefer manual folders that don't have as many moving parts to break or accidentally get hurt trying to close it or it opening in your pocket.

[hermosabeach]

There are federal rules on switchblades... they prohibit interstate commerce - by US mail
Never updated for autos or fed ex

https://www.akti.org/federal-switchblade-act/

Then you have CA law

https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/knife-laws.735/

I’m not LEO but bladeforums would be a great place to read all sorts of things about both buying knives and owning knives.


The is or was a shop off of the tourist pier in San Francisco that sold switchblades. They did not care about the law and the local PD did not seem to worry about it either.

Several shops in SF China town stock fireworks year round.


I post that as many places don’t worry about small laws...

Ca knife laws

https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/california/

Once you have a switchblade at home in California, I don’t see any legal way to dispose of it.

Laws say what you cannot do... not what can you can legally do...

A retail business - to me- is open to the public.
It’s all up to an officer if they would charge you... and a DA is they want to prosecute and you to spend $5k-$100k for your lawyers.
CHAPTER 5. Switchblade Knife [21510 - 21590] ( Chapter 5 added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6. )

21510.
Every person who does any of the following with a switchblade knife having a blade two or more inches in length is guilty of a misdemeanor:
(a) Possesses the knife in the passenger’s or driver’s area of any motor vehicle in any public place or place open to the public.
(b) Carries the knife upon the person.
(c) Sells, offers for sale, exposes for sale, loans, transfers, or gives the knife to any other person.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6. (SB 1080) Effective

[Featureless]

Check out a Benchmade 590 Boost. Pretty sure it's legal in CA

[DolphinFan]

Yes you can own a switchblade knife.