"Pocketknives to Broadswords "

Summary:

Carrying of the weapon is subject to the law listed below.

The carry limit for any knife is four inches.

Check your local laws.

revised EXCERPTS 7/14/05

The full text CA state Penal Code can be found online at:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html

12020.  (a) Any person in this state who does any of the following

is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year

or in the state prison:

   (1) Manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the

state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives,

lends, or possesses... any ballistic knife, any nunchaku, any metal

knuckles, any belt buckle knife, any leaded cane, any shuriken,

any lipstick case knife, any cane sword, any shobi-zue, any air gauge

knife, any writing pen knife, or any instrument or weapon

of the kind commonly known as a blackjack, slungshot, billy,

sandclub, sap, or sandbag... [see below for definitions]

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

       see (32)(e)(24) below, for definitions.

   (b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any of the following:

   (3) The possession of a nunchaku on the premises of a school which

holds a regulatory or business license and teaches the arts of

self-defense.

   (4) The manufacture of a nunchaku for sale to, or the sale of a

nunchaku to, a school which holds a regulatory or business license

and teaches the arts of self-defense.

(32)(e)(3) As used in this section, a "nunchaku" means an instrument

consisting of two or more sticks, clubs, bars or rods to be used as

handles, connected by a rope, cord, wire, or chain, in the design of

a weapon used in connection with the practice of a system of

self-defense such as karate.

   (7) As used in this section, "metal knuckles" means any device

or instrument made wholly or partially of metal which is worn for

purposes of offense or defense in or on the hand and which either

protects the wearer's hand while striking a blow or increases the

force of impact from the blow or injury to the individual receiving

the blow.  The metal contained in the device may help support the

hand or fist, provide a shield to protect it, or consist of

projections or studs which would contact the individual receiving a

blow.

   (8) As used in this section, a "ballistic knife" means a device

that propels a knifelike blade as a projectile by means of a coil

spring, elastic material, or compressed gas.  Ballistic knife does

not include any device which propels an arrow or a bolt by means of

any common bow, compound bow, crossbow, or underwater speargun.

   (11) As used in this section, a "shuriken" means any instrument,

without handles, consisting of a metal plate having three or more

radiating points with one or more sharp edges and designed in the

shape of a polygon, trefoil, cross, star, diamond, or other geometric

shape for use as a weapon for throwing.

   (13) As used in this section, a "belt buckle knife" is a knife

which is made an integral part of a belt buckle and consists of a

blade with a length of at least 21/2 inches.

   (14) As used in this section, a "lipstick case knife" means a

knife enclosed within and made an integral part of a lipstick case.

   (15) As used in this section, a "cane sword" means a cane, swagger

stick, stick, staff, rod, pole, umbrella, or similar device, having

concealed within it a blade that may be used as a sword or stiletto.

   (16) As used in this section, a "shobi-zue" means a staff, crutch,

stick, rod, or pole concealing a knife or blade within it which may

be exposed by a flip of the wrist or by a mechanical action.

   (17) As used in this section, a "leaded cane" means a staff,

crutch, stick, rod, pole, or similar device, unnaturally weighted

with lead.

   (18) As used in this section, an "air gauge knife" means a device

that appears to be an air gauge but has concealed within it a

pointed, metallic shaft that is designed to be a stabbing instrument

which is exposed by mechanical action or gravity which locks into

place when extended.

   (19) As used in this section, a "writing pen knife" means a device

that appears to be a writing pen but has concealed within it a

pointed, metallic shaft that is designed to be a stabbing instrument

which is exposed by mechanical action or gravity which locks into

place when extended or the pointed, metallic shaft is exposed by the

removal of the cap or cover on the device.

   (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.

   (24)(d) Knives carried in sheaths which are worn openly suspended from

the waist of the wearer are not concealed within the meaning of this

section.

* * * * * * *

Plastic Knuckles

12020.1.  Any person in this state who commercially manufactures or

causes to be commercially manufactured, or who knowingly imports into

the state for commercial sale, keeps for commercial sale, or offers

or exposes for commercial sale, any hard plastic knuckles is guilty

of a misdemeanor.  As used in this section, "hard plastic knuckles"

means any device or instrument made wholly or partially of plastic

that is not a metal knuckle as defined in paragraph (7) of

subdivision (c) of Section 12020, that is worn for purposes of

offense or defense in or on the hand, and that either protects the

wearer's hand while striking a blow or increases the force of impact

from the blow or injury to the individual receiving the blow.  The

plastic contained in the device may help support the hand or fist,

provide a shield to protect it, or consist of projections or studs

that would contact the individual receiving a blow.

* * * * * *

Switchblades

653k.  Every person who possesses in the passenger's or driver's

area of any motor vehicle in any public place or place open to the

public, carries upon his or her person, and every person who sells,

offers for sale, exposes for sale, loans, transfers, or gives to any

other person a switchblade knife having a blade two or more inches in

length is guilty of a misdemeanor.

   For the purposes of this section, "switchblade knife" means a

knife having the appearance of a pocketknife and includes a

spring-blade knife, snap-blade knife, gravity knife or any other

similar type knife, the blade or blades of which are two or more

inches in length and which can be released automatically by a flick

of a button, pressure on the handle, flip of the wrist or other

mechanical device, or is released by the weight of the blade or by

any type of mechanism whatsoever.  "Switchblade knife" does not

include a knife that opens with one hand utilizing thumb pressure

applied solely to the blade of the knife or a thumb stud attached to

the blade, provided that the knife has a detent or other mechanism

that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade,

or that biases the blade back toward its closed position.

   For purposes of this section, "passenger's or driver's area" means

that part of a motor vehicle which is designed to carry the driver

and passengers, including any interior compartment or space therein.

  California case law:

Butterfly knife which has blade in excess of two inches is

   "switch-blade knife" within meaning of... 653k. [Attorney

   General's opinion 11-19-1985.]

* * * * * * * * * * *

Undetectable Knives

12001.1.  (a) Any person in this state who commercially manufactures

or causes to be commercially manufactured, or who knowingly imports

into the state for commercial sale, keeps for commercial sale, or

offers or exposes for commercial sale, any undetectable knife is

guilty of a misdemeanor.  As used in this section, an "undetectable

knife" means any 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 that is commercially

manufactured to be used as a weapon and is not detectable by a metal

detector or magnetometer, either handheld or otherwise, that is set

at standard calibration.

   (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, commencing January

1, 2000, all knives 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 that are commercially manufactured in

this state that utilize materials that are not detectable by a metal

detector or magnetometer, shall be manufactured to include materials

that will ensure they are detectable by a metal detector or

magnetometer, either handheld or otherwise, that is set at standard

calibration.

   (c) This section shall not apply to the manufacture or importation

of undetectable knives for sale to a law enforcement or military

entity nor shall this section apply to the subsequent sale of these

knives to a law enforcement or military entity.

   (d) This section shall not apply to the manufacture or importation

of undetectable knives for sale to federal, state, and local

historical societies, museums, and institutional collections which

are open to the public, provided that the undetectable knives are

properly housed and secured from unauthorized handling, nor shall

this section apply to the subsequent sale of the knives to these

societies, museums, and collections.

* * * * * * * * *

Knives in Schools

626.10.  (a) Any person, except a duly appointed peace officer as

defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of

Part 2, a full-time paid peace officer of another state or the

federal government who is carrying out official duties while in this

state, a person summoned by any officer to assist in making arrests

or preserving the peace while the person is actually engaged in

assisting any officer, or a member of the military forces of this

state or the United States who is engaged in the performance of his

or her duties, who brings or possesses any dirk, dagger, ice pick,

knife having a blade longer than 21/2 inches, folding knife with a

blade that locks into place, a razor with an unguarded blade, a

taser, or a stun gun, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 244.5,

any instrument that expels a metallic projectile such as a BB or a

pellet, through the force of air pressure, CO2 pressure, or spring

action, or any spot marker gun, upon the grounds of, or within, any

public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any

of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, is guilty of a public offense,

punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year,

or by imprisonment in the state prison.

   (b) Any person, except a duly appointed peace officer as defined

in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, a

full-time paid peace officer of another state or the federal

government who is carrying out official duties while in this state, a

person summoned by any officer to assist in making arrests or

preserving the peace while the person is actually engaged in

assisting any officer, or a member of the military forces of this

state or the United States who is engaged in the performance of his

or her duties, who brings or possesses any dirk, dagger, ice pick, or

knife having a fixed blade longer than 21/2 inches upon the grounds

of, or within, any private university, the University of California,

the California State University, or the California Community Colleges

is guilty of a public offense, punishable by imprisonment in a

county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment in the state

prison.

   (c) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to any person who brings

or possesses a knife having a blade longer than 21/2 inches or a

razor with an unguarded blade upon the grounds of, or within, a

public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any

of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or any private university, state

university, or community college at the direction of a faculty member

of the private university, state university, or community college,

or a certificated or classified employee of the school for use in a

private university, state university, community college, or

school-sponsored activity or class.

   (d) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to any person who brings

or possesses an ice pick, a knife having a blade longer than 21/2

inches, or a razor with an unguarded blade upon the grounds of, or

within, a public or private school providing instruction in

kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or any private

university, state university, or community college for a lawful

purpose within the scope of the person's employment.

   (e) Subdivision (b) does not apply to any person who brings or

possesses an ice pick or a knife having a fixed blade longer than

21/2 inches upon the grounds of, or within, any private university,

state university, or community college for lawful use in or around a

residence or residential facility located upon those grounds or for

lawful use in food preparation or consumption.

   (f) Subdivision (a) does  not apply to any person who brings an

instrument that expels a metallic projectile such as a BB or a

pellet, through the force of air pressure, CO2 pressure, or spring

action, or any spot marker gun upon the grounds of, or within, a

public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any

of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, if the person has the written

permission of the school principal or his or her designee.

   (g) Any certificated or classified employee or school peace

officer of a public or private school providing instruction in

kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, may seize any of

the weapons described in subdivision (a), and any certificated or

classified employee or school peace officer of any private

university, state university, or community college may seize any of

the weapons described in subdivision (b), from the possession of any

person upon the grounds of, or within, the school if he or she knows,

or has reasonable cause to know, the person is prohibited from

bringing or possessing the weapon upon the grounds of, or within, the

school.

   (h) As used in this section, "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.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Knives in Public Meetings

171b.  (a) Any person who brings or possesses within any state or

local public building or at any meeting required to be open to the

public pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 54950) of Part

1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of, or Article 9 (commencing with Section

11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of, the

Government Code, any of the following is guilty of a public offense

punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one

year, or in the state prison:

   (1) Any firearm.

   (2) Any deadly weapon described in Section 653k or 12020.

   (3) Any knife with a blade length in excess of four inches, the

blade of which is fixed or is capable of being fixed in an unguarded

position by the use of one or two hands.

   (4) Any unauthorized tear gas weapon.

   (5) Any taser or stun gun, as defined in Section 244.5.

   (6) Any instrument that expels a metallic projectile, such as a BB

or pellet, through the force of air pressure, CO2 pressure, or

spring action, or any spot marker gun or paint gun.

   (b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to, or affect, any of the

following:

   (1) A person who possesses weapons in, or transports weapons into,

a court of law to be used as evidence.

   (2) (A) A duly appointed peace officer as defined in Chapter 4.5

(commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, a retired peace

officer with authorization to carry concealed weapons as described in

subdivision (a) of Section 12027, a full-time paid peace officer of

another state or the federal government who is carrying out official

duties while in California, or any person summoned by any of these

officers to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace while he

or she is actually engaged in assisting the officer.

   (B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), subdivision (a) shall apply

to any person who brings or possesses any weapon specified therein

within any courtroom if he or she is a party to an action pending

before the court.

   (3) A person holding a valid license to carry the firearm pursuant

to Article 3 (commencing with Section 12050) of Chapter 1 of Title 2

of Part 4.

   (4) A person who has permission to possess that weapon granted in

writing by a duly authorized official who is in charge of the

security of the state or local government building.

   (5) A person who lawfully resides in, lawfully owns, or is in

lawful possession of, that building with respect to those portions of

the building that are not owned or leased by the state or local

government.

   (6) A person licensed or registered in accordance with, and acting

within the course and scope of, Chapter 11.5 (commencing with

Section 7512) or Chapter 11.6 (commencing with Section 7590) of

Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code who has been hired by

the owner or manager of the building if the person has permission

pursuant to paragraph (5).

   (7) (A) A person who, for the purpose of sale or trade, brings any

weapon that may otherwise be lawfully transferred, into a gun show

conducted pursuant to Sections 12071.1 and 12071.4.

   (B) A person who, for purposes of an authorized public exhibition,

brings any weapon that may otherwise be lawfully possessed, into a

gun show conducted pursuant to Sections 12071.1 and 12071.4.

   (c) As used in this section, "state or local public building"

means a building that meets all of the following criteria:

   (1) It is a building or part of a building owned or leased by the

state or local government, if state or local public employees are

regularly present for the purposes of performing their official

duties.  A state or local public building includes, but is not

limited to, a building that contains a courtroom.

   (2) It is not a building or facility, or a part thereof, that is

referred to in Section 171c, 171d, 626.9, 626.95, or 626.10 of this

code, or in Section 18544 of the Elections Code.

   (3) It is a building not regularly used, and not intended to be

used, by state or local employees as a place of residence.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Knives in Airports

171.5.  (a) For purposes of this section:

   (1) "Airport" means an airport, with a secured area, that

regularly serves an air carrier holding a certificate issued by the

United States Secretary of Transportation.

   (2) "Sterile area" means a portion of an airport defined in the

airport security program to which access generally is controlled

through the screening of persons and property, as specified in

Section 1540.5 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

   (b) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly possess within any

sterile area of an airport, any of the items listed in subdivision

(c).

   (c) The following items are unlawful to possess as provided in

subdivision (b):

   (1) Any firearm.

   (2) Any knife with a blade length in excess of four inches, the

blade of which is fixed, or is capable of being fixed, in an

unguarded position by the use of one or two hands.

   (3) Any box cutter or straight razor.

   (4) Any metal military practice hand grenade.

   (5) Any metal replica hand grenade.

   (6) Any plastic replica hand grenade.

   (7) Any imitation firearm as defined in Section 417.4.

   (8) Any frame, receiver, barrel, or magazine of a firearm.

   (9) Any unauthorized tear gas weapon.

   (10) Any taser or stun gun, as defined in Section 244.5.

   (11) Any instrument that expels a metallic projectile, such as a

BB or pellet, through the force of air pressure, CO2 pressure, or

spring action, or any spot marker gun or paint gun.

   (12) Any ammunition as defined in Section 12316.

   (d) Subdivision (b) shall not apply to, or affect, any of the

following:

   (1) A duly appointed peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5

(commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, a retired peace

officer with authorization to carry concealed weapons as described in

subdivision (a) of Section 12027, a full-time paid peace officer of

another state or the federal government who is carrying out official

duties while in California, or any person summoned by any of these

officers to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace while he

or she is actually engaged in assisting the officer.

   (2) A person who has authorization to possess a weapon specified

in subdivision (c), granted in writing by an airport security

coordinator who is designated as specified in Section 1542.3 of Title

49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and who is responsible for

the security of the airport.

   (e) A violation of this section is punishable by imprisonment in a

county jail for a period not exceeding six months, or by a fine not

exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and

imprisonment.

   (f) The provisions of this section are cumulative, and shall not

be construed as restricting the application of any other law.

However, an act or omission that is punishable in different ways by

this and any other provision of law shall not be punished under more

than one provision.

   (g) Nothing in this section is intended to affect existing state

or federal law regarding the transportation of firearms on airplanes

in checked luggage, or the possession of the items listed in

subdivision (c) in areas that are not "sterile areas."

* * * * * * * * * * *

Los Angeles Codes online

http://www.amlegal.com/los_angeles_ca/

Los Angeles Municipal Code

SEC. 55.10.  CARRY KNIVES OR DAGGERS IN PLAIN VIEW PROHIBITED.

     (Added by Ord. No. 162,995, Eff. 1/7/88.)

     (a)     As used in this section, the term knife or dagger shall include any knife, dirk or dagger having a blade 3 inches or more in length, any ice pick or similar sharp tool, any straight edge razor or any razor blade fitted to a handle.

     (b)     No person shall wear or carry in plain view any knife or dagger upon any public street or other public place or in any place open to the public.

     (c)     The prohibitions of this section shall not apply where a person is wearing or carrying a knife or dagger for use in a lawful occupation, for lawful recreational purposes, or as a recognized religious practice, or while the person is traveling to or returning from participation in such activity.

* * * * * * * *

Here are the 1996 statutes:

California - Penal Code Section 653k. Every person who

   possesses in the passenger's or driver's area of any motor

   vehicle in any public place or place open to the public,

   carries upon his or her person, and every person who

   sells, offers for sale, exposes for sale, loans,

   transfers, or gives to any other person a switchblade

   knife having a blade over two inches in length is guilty

   of a misdemeanor.

     For the purposes of this section a "switchblade knife"

   is a knife having the appearance of a pocketknife, and

   shall include a spring-blade knife, snap-blade knife,

   gravity knife or any other similar type knife, the blade

   or blades of which are two or more inches long and which

   can be released automatically by a flick of a button,

   pressure on the handle, flip of the wrist or other

   mechanical device, or is released by the weight of the

   blade or by any other type of mechanism whatsoever...

 - 626.10. Any person, except [listed officials] who brings

   or possesses any dirk, dagger, knife having a blade longer

   than 3-1/2 inches, folding knife with a blade that locks

   into place, a razor with an unguarded blade... upon the

   grounds of, or within any public school... is guilty of a

   misdemeanor.

 - 12020. (a) Any person in this state who manufactures or

   causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps

   for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives,

   lends, or possesses any... ballistic knife..., any

   nunchaku..., any metal knuckles, any belt buckle

   knife..., any shuriken..., any lipstick case knife, any

   cane sword, any shobe-zui, any air gauge knife, any

   writing pen knife... or who carries concealed upon his

   or her person any dirk or dagger, is guilty of a felony...

["Metal knuckles" includes knives with metal knuckle handles.

Most of the banned items are described in the statute in

excruciating detail, but "dirk or dagger" were not defined at

all until 1996, when the state legislature added the following

definition of "dirk or dagger."]

-  PC 12020(c)(24) "a knife or other instrument with or

   without a handguard that is primarily designed,

   constructed, or altered to be a stabbing instrument

   designed to inflict great bodily injury or death."]

[The original statute includes the following exemption.] 

   (23)(d) Knives carried in sheaths which are worn openly

   suspended from the waist of the wearer are not concealed

   within the meaning of this section.

 - 12028. (a) The unlawful concealed carrying... of any...

   dirk or dagger... is a nuisance... (c) Any weapon

   described in subdivision (a)... shall be surrendered to

   the sheriff... or the chief of police... for sale at

   public auction [unless it was stolen].

  California case law:

Butterfly knife which has blade in excess of two inches is

   "switch-blade knife" within meaning of... 653k. [Attorney

   General's opinion 11-19-1985.]

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