Revised versions of the California statutes,
furnished to me 12/6/2000 by Jason Davidoff.
PC 12020 updated 5/4/03
PC 653k updated with 2002 revisions 11/13/02.
The CA state Penal Code can be found online at:
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html
Here are the relevant sections cut and pasted
by Mr. Davidoff from the site linked above:
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:
(a)(4) Carries concealed upon his or her person any
dirk or dagger.
(c)(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 [switchblade], 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.
(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
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.]
[626.10 (a) not printed here, covers K-12 schools,
and prohibits fixed blades and folders over ??2.5"]
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.
626.10 (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 2 1/2 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.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Here is a newly enacted statute furnished to me by the
office of a California State Senator; signed 10/10/1999:
SECTION 1. Section 12001.1 is added to the Penal Code, to
read:
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 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 shall be
manufactured to include materials that will ensure they are
detectable by a metal detector 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.
* * * * * * * *
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.]
* * * * * * * * * * *
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.
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