Can anybody point me in the direction of a good website regarding California knife laws, specifically for Ventura?

I'm just wondering what the laws are regarding assisted opening knives...

Thanks...

Ms Nox...

Here's a pretty good summary:
http://zknives.com/knives/articles/law/caknifelaws.shtml
It's updated as of 10/31/10. I recommend reading for yourself the sections of the Penal Code that are cited. You can find the updated Penal Code here:
http://law.onecle.com/california/penal/index.html
It's important to read an updated Penal Code. Many sources out there don't update.

Below is another summary, but it's old and has at least one mistake that I found:
http://www.ninehundred.com/~equalccw/knifelaw.html

As a Californian, I counsel great caution in knife ownership and ten times that caution in knife carrying.

As a general rule, there are zero-tolerance policies for carrying for public transit, school grounds, state and federal government offices, court buildings, many counties and cities, etcetera. This theoretically makes travel with a knife almost impossible.

Couple this with a very widely diverging blade length maximum in the different California jurisdictions that do allow knives, and it almost seems impossible to own more than a 1" bladed knife.

Discreet, packed out of sight carrying - which in practice usually means not easily accessible - can get you by. Limiting use to places way-out-of-town and in the context of traditional camping, fishing, hunting, wood crafting works.

Just don't flaunt it and be prepared to disclose and even forfeit your stuff in any law enforcement encounter. Call ahead and use the internet to check on specific places of concern.

Ain't California grand!

Must be a city to city thing. No issues in San Diego -- that I know of . . .

"15-YEAR-OLD FACES FELONY ARRAIGNMENT SEPT. 28 FOR CARRYING A HUNTING KNIFE WHILE JOGGING WITH 2 YOUNGER CHILDREN IN RURAL AREA WHERE KIDS WERE STALKED BY MOUNTAIN LION"

San Diego 11-8-10

http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/4341

"Officers informed her that carrying a four-inch blade, even a straight-blade, is a felony if it’s concealed in a pocket. . ." That's state law if I'm not mistaken. I keep a folder visibly clipped to my right front pocket and have had no issues.

Other than that, the story is very disturbing. Normally in rural areas, there is a lot more leniency wrt enforcing those laws. Wonder how it turned out? . . .

The laws for fixed blades are different than the laws for folders. Folding knives (including assisted folders) may be legally carried concealed, with some minor restrictions. I provided the links for people to inform themselves of the law directly, rather than swaying with the forever changing Internet rumors.

By the way, I have been carrying a folder for about 25 years in California, have been stopped by cops and have informed them of my little knife. One or two times, the cops seemed a little annoyed as to why I even brought it up. You should also notice that Walmart, Big5 and many other sporting goods stores prominently sell a large variety of folding knifes, including assisted folders. They would have stopped doing so long ago if people were getting arrested merely for carrying folders in public.

For self-defense in California, it would actually be easier for you in the legal aftermath if you use a knife instead of a blunt object (e.g., baseball bat, golf club, hammer, kubaton, etc.). No, I'm not exaggerating. The laws are that strange in California and are too complex to discuss coherently here.

What others carry for self-defense is their own business, but I will always carry something besides my bare hands. Do yourself a favor by considering all the viable candidates for self-defense tools. Then, go to Calguns.net to discuss their legalities. Calguns.net has many threads discussing knife carry in California, and many knowledgeable people are there.

Ventura city
http://www.cityofventura.net/cm/municipal-code

Ventura county
http://www.municode.com/library/clientCodePage.aspx?clientID=10165

California
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/

California is Grand,3rd Largest State in The Union!I've carried a Knife,Most of My Life!I presently carry a S&W-Tactical Folder,& A Leatherman-Crunch,No Problem's for me,Ever!I've had Cops/Deputies ask what type of Leatherman,I'm carrying,& I'll hand it to them,They seem to Marvel at it's Utility/Unique Design,I've even had a deputy ask me if I wanted to sell it!None have asked whether I had another knife!Personally,I don't worry about it,I've Alway's liked that Passage:Carried by 6,or Tried by 12,Your Choice!

Ms_V_Nox,
Look at Californis Penal Code 12020 (also refered to as P.C 12020) as a starting point. If you can get to a local law library (ie. the county court house) you can ellicit the aid of one of the library clerks to help you find the other information related to this topic. If you do go to the court house leave any knives/weapons in your vehicle or at home.

There are some other reffrences to knives in the California penal code in section 653k. (tited) Switchblade Knives. You may want to photocopy this section and carry it, if you carry a spring assisted opening knife.

You will also want to find your local ordances for city(s) and county(s) you work, live or tend to travel through or plan a trip to. Additionally you may want to look at the federal laws on knives.

I am not a Lawyer and do not play one on Television so it is up to you to do your own research on this subject.

-Joe

P.S.- I know several people who lived in Ventura when I did that carried 5.5inch blade folders that were spring assisted. This was 8-10 years ago and the laws may have changed on this subject. You may also want to go to American Flag and Cutlery on Main St in Ventura as they have a fair kowledg of what is legal to carry (again they are not lawyers either so take their advice as more information to research.)

Thank you very much everybody for your great replies.... I will check it all out... It's a lot to take in...

I am so sorry that it took me this long to get back to the thread, life kind of took over...

I am very appreciative...


Ms. Nox

V Nox, the law library at the County Government Center is very accommodating and helpful. Just don't bring a knife within, it is part of the Hall of Justice, which has "no weapons"signs and metal detectors.

I have carried any number of folders in my pockets ("concealed." as it were) and occasionally a fixed blade on my belt with no hassles from the constabulary. This includes working at the Gov't Center. My boss agreed that my Wave was a tool, not a weapon.

Yeah, I wonder how many bad actors carry Waves... Heh heh...

Thank you!

Ms. Nox

Read up on the Penal Code first and foremost.

Absolutely illegal in CA PC 12020(a)(1): any ballistic knife, belt buckle knife, lipstick case knife, cane knife, air gauge knife and pen knife.

PC 653k: cannot carry any "switchblade" knife with a blade longer than two inches. "Switchblade" covers everything from spring loaded to being able to open it with a flick of your wrist.

PC 12020 also says you cannot carry concealed a dirk or dagger.

Knives have even become common in CA and most of us coppers don't bat an eyelash when a law-abiding citizen is carrying one. We mostly use these laws to get those not so law-abiding citizens. There are however always exceptions so CYA.

OK, be careful with that underlined part. Assisted folders are generally legal to carry concealed in California. Also, almost all folders can be opened with a "flip of the wrist" after you get the blade out a little bit. To be precise, a folder is illegal if the only thing it takes is a flip of the wrist to open it (e.g., a butterfly knife). There is a difference. All the assisted folders that I've seen for sale at Walmart and Big5 may be carried concealed legally.

Each person should read the Penal Code on their own and/or discuss the Code with a lawyer. Also, visit Calguns.net.

Thank you again for your replies... They are very much appreciated...

California is a confusing place for people who want to carry a knife. I think that reader dweste summarized it best when he said "just don't flaunt it".

We have found that many peace officers in CA don't have a really clear idea of the specific knife laws themselves, and so their enforcement actions tend to be based on individual choices/bias. Bottom line is ... don't carry a knife around town, unless it has a really small blade. And definitely not in sensitive locations like schools and public buildings.

I always wear my knife so that the clip is easily visible on the outside of a pocket - if it is carried in my pocket.

Ms Nox - about your specific question. First, take a look at the Cold Steel Web site (www.coldsteel.com) because I think they have an assisted-opening knife that they sell. And you can be pretty sure it's CA-legal, in the sense that the mechanism doesn't violate CA knife laws. Cold Steel is a CA company. BUT also remember what I said above ... regardless of what the law says in black and white, if a police officer does not "like" the design of the knife being carried, you are likely to get some kind of response (warning, confiscation or arrest). In general, you can accomplish anything you need to do with a knife using either a fixed-blade knife or a folding knife. In my opinion, assisted opening knives are not necessary for survival or defense (they are interesting, but not essential).

I thought the arrest of the 15-year old for carrying a hunting knife in lion country was absolutely ridiculous. But the greater truth is that it would be hard to defend against a hungry mountain lion using just a knife with a fairly short (4 to 6 inch) blade. Not impossible, but hard for a teenager to do. Still, if that kid was mine i would give him a big congratulations for having some decent common sense, and I'd take him out to dinner. At least he thought about protecting his younger siblings.

Pete #2

Thats nuts. I remember when I was 14 or 15 and was running around the local neighborhood dressed in camouflage carrying a Bren Gun.