Carrying a Knife

[Jimmybacon43]

I have a question for the LEO's out there.

I regularly carry folding knives and I want to know:
- What do you guys do if you observe someone carrying a knife? If you see it clipped to their pocket or something do you confront them and ask them what it's about/make sure it's legal? Is it something you even notice unless you are already searching that person?

The knives I carry are 100% CA legal, and I've been carrying them for a long time and never had any problems, I've also never been in any legal trouble whatsoever, I'm just curious as to how that interaction would go if it did occur.

I understand that this is sort of an unusual question, and that's why I'm asking it on a forum and not in person. Any and all input is appreciated, thanks.

[1Fastrider]

no police have ever said anything to me but I'm curious to see what LEO think also.

[Caddis]

Folding knifes can be concealed. Fixed blade knives must be exposed such as in a belt sheath.

If a person hasn't violated the law, I don't have a legal reason to detain him/her or question him/her about a knife.

[IrishJoe3]

I do not care in the slightest bit if someone has a knife. It is business as usual. If that person is being detained, or is part of an investigation that has the potential to get ugly, I will typically remove the knife, and return it when I am done. Other than that, as long as you don't try to stab me with it, I don't care.

[CSACANNONEER]

The ONLY time I was detained, my knives where removed from my person and, upon returning them to me, the officer commented "nice knife" as he handed one of them back to me.

BTW, I was only detained because, I INSISTED on it. I didn't want to let the 4 (14-15 year old) run-a-ways I was "helping" know that I had helped return them to their parents.

[P5Ret]

The knives I carry are 100% CA legal,

First off, be careful with that statement, what state law defines as legal, local ordinance may not. Now that being said I can say I have never had any issue with people legally carrying a knife, as damn near everyone does these days. It is just not a big deal, until something happens that makes it a big deal.

[ElvenSoul]

This thread needs sticky!

[ronrichards64]

Was going in to the Honda center ,Left my Case XX at home , Saw the pile of knives at the Metal detector ,Mostly crap but still prohibited .

[CSACANNONEER]

First off, be careful with that statement, what state law defines as legal, local ordinance may not. Now that being said I can say I have never had any issue with people legally carrying a knife, as damn near everyone does these days. It is just not a big deal, until something happens that makes it a big deal.

Yep, I watched 10 LAPD officers surround a guy in a Mc Donalds because, he had a knife in his backpack that he pulled out and used to cut his burger with. I can only assume he was a European of some sort. Someone panicked and called the police. The sergeant on scene heard me tell another customer that I witnessed the entire event and started to interview me. The interview came to a quick end as soon as he realized that I didn't see anything wrong with what the guy did and didn't think the LA City ordinance in question was realistic or logical. He refused to even take down my personal info.

[nickbackouris]

In my experience, I've never had problems with decent folks carrying knives. It's a tool, I was a Boy Scout, and it's just not a big deal.

That being said, be careful with "my knives are 100% legal" and "folding knives can be concealed.

I'll use the gangster example. As a general rule (read People v Plumlee) a switchblade completely concealed can be found to be a "dirk or dagger." Case and point, and old crappy knife that just opens by gravity, or has been modified to be loose and open easily. The case reads "a simple flick of the wrist" that causes the knife to open can make it a switchblade, and a concealed switchblade can be a felony (21310 pc) if you cite the Plumlee case. The case has many fine points and I won't go over them now, you can read it in your own. Also, familiarize yourself with 21510 pc, the new 653k pc. Just know if your the guy who has a knife you like to pull out and flick open with your wrist all high speed, and you keep it in your pocket, you should do some reading. As long as you're flicking it open to open a box and not a person, I'm likely not concerned.

Now, there's a difference between normal folks and gangsters, but you asked for some law, and there you have it. There's a whole other dissertation on pocket clips, blade attachments, thumb studs, spring assisted, etc. Any other questions, feel free to ask.

[CBR_rider]

I regularly carry folding knives and I want to know:
- What do you guys do if you observe someone carrying a knife? If you see it clipped to their pocket or something do you confront them and ask them what it's about/make sure it's legal? Is it something you even notice unless you are already searching that person?

As has already been stated, simply carrying what appears to be a legal knife (and I certainly don't know how to tell an illegal switchblade from any other, legal knife by the clip on the outside of your pocket...) is not grounds for a detention and certainly doesn't cause me to do anything more than watch you as you walk by (yes, I have had someone try to stab me with a knife before and I have had friends get stabbed at work as well...). I see no reason to "confront" anyone about a pocket knife in such circumstances.

Now if you are walking down the main drag with a Scottish claymore across your back, I may at least say "hello" and see what you are doing. I've run into people open carrying various types of edged weapons and I'm always curious as to what they are up to. Those contacts are frequently NOT detentions and usually end with both of us saying "hasta luego" and going our separate ways.

[StephenByrd96]

I normally carry a Spyderco para2, Zero tolerance 560, or a benchmade SOCP. When in public I'm wary of a Leo spazzing about the ZT as it's on bearings but has a very powerful detention. I've never been hassled though and wouldn't worry too much about it as long as you don't regularly carry an auto above 1.9 inches or and double sided knives.

[Librarian]

double sided knives.

Nothing in CA law worries about double-edged knives.

[WyattandDoc]

I do not care in the slightest bit if someone has a knife. It is business as usual. If that person is being detained, or is part of an investigation that has the potential to get ugly, I will typically remove the knife, and return it when I am done. Other than that, as long as you don't try to stab me with it, I don't care.

This^^^^

[StephenByrd96]

Nothing in CA law worries about double-edged knives.

It would not be a far stretch to call double bladed fixed blades daggers/dirks so there's that. Small neck knives and pocketable fixed blades can quickly become a unnecessary problem if you wear them wrong.