This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. It is legal to carry a dagger as long as it has a “common legitimate purpose.” A spring-loaded knife is legal in California as long as it “opens with one hand using thumb pressure applied only to the blade of the knife or a pin attached to the blade, provided the knife has a latch or other mechanism that provides resistance that must be overcome when the blade is opened. or the blade returns to its closed position. Penal Code 21510 PC, which is California law for blade knives. The following states do NOT prohibit automatic opening (also known as automatic opening, notch knife, or switch knife) for non-law enforcement citizens. Check state knife laws for specific details on ownership, transportation, manufacturer, or sale, as some restrictions may apply in a particular state. See the following list for blade length restrictions. Typically, you can tactfully carry a spring knife from Benchmade, Kershaw or Zero Tolerance. However, to avoid surprises, be sure to check local and national laws. While spring-loaded knives are not banned by the federal government, you cannot take knives with opening aids or the like to places where knives are generally prohibited, such as courthouses, federal buildings, schools, and airports. Shavers and can cutters are permitted as long as their blades are not “automatically exposed by switch, push button or spring mechanism.” In the simplest sense, an automatic knife or “switchblade” allows a person to open it without touching the blade itself. Usually, this is achieved by a button, lever or other type of “switch” in the handle (not part of the blade) that triggers a spring-loaded mechanism.
Possession of a butterfly knife, also known as a Balisong knife, is allowed in Pennsylvania. A gravimeter, as the name suggests, uses gravity to drop the blade from the handle. Under California law, certain knives are allowed to be legally carried in the state, openly or secretly. This is provided that the blade of the knife is not exposed and locked. Again, federal law does not prohibit assisted opening of knives, but states have interpreted the law differently and often have different restrictions. For example, in some states, any knife, including the opening knife, with a blade length of more than 2.5 inches is illegal to carry. You`ll need to refer to your state`s laws to determine if your knife meets state requirements, but rest assured that power-opening knives are legal in all 50 states. Butterfly knife laws are not specifically listed in California laws.
However, California courts have concluded that butterfly knives fall within the definition of switch blades. See Persons ex rel. Mautner v. Quattron, 211 Kal. App.3d 1389 (1989). Unfortunately, this makes carrying butterfly knives illegal in the state of California. Bowie knives can be transported to Pennsylvania. The state`s penal code does not limit the size of the blade that can be carried, as many states do. It is illegal for anyone “to bring or possess dirt, a dagger, an ice axe, a knife with a blade larger than 2 1/2 inches, a folding knife with a blade that engages or a razor with an unguarded blade.
on site or in a public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or in grades 1 to 12. The law regarding university campuses is similar, but less restrictive. Paragraph (b) of the Act states that it is illegal for any person to “bring or possess dirt, dagger, ice axe or knife with a fixed blade of more than 2 1/2 inches on the premises or in a [college or university].” Given this definition, a “spring knife” cannot fall within the definition of switch blade under California law. The situation is getting worse. The Los Angeles Code §55.01 also makes it illegal to carry hidden weapons on your own body. Therefore, you can`t carry an openly 3″ blade in Los Angeles, but you also can`t carry such a hidden weapon. Interestingly, the courts have ruled that the Los Angeles law prohibiting the carrying of a hidden weapon is invalid. In People v. 1968 Bass, a man was arrested and charged with carrying a hidden folding knife. The Court of Appeals overturned the conviction and ruled that the Los Angeles law was contrary to state law and therefore invalid. Nevertheless, the Los Angeles law is still in effect. Opening a spring knife involves touching part of the blade – a thumb bolt, thumb hole or “fin” – to initiate the insert. As soon as the blade passes a certain point in its arc (about 25% open), a spring takes over and finishes the job.
State and federal laws prohibit the possession of a switch blade, also known as an automatic knife. In California, it is illegal to wield lethal weapons, including knives. The law states that it is illegal for anyone to “draw or display a lethal weapon. in a rude, angry or threatening manner, or. unlawfully using a lethal weapon. This does not include the use of such a weapon for self-defence. The Pennsylvania Penal Code prohibits any “dagger, knife, razor or sharp instrument” whose blade is “automatically exposed by switch, push button or spring-loaded mechanism.” There are some places, mainly major cities and metropolitan areas, where possession of a spring-loaded knife is illegal. It`s silly, we know it, but thanks to people who don`t understand knives, it`s the law. In 2009, the Federal Switching Blade Act was revised and clarified so that power-opening knives would not fall under the law`s prohibition, which only prohibits switch blades. The amendment made the federal switching blade law not apply: Please note that, depending on the type of knife, it may also violate the law under Penal Code 21110 PC, California`s ballistic knife law.
Any knife or blade camouflaged so as not to look like a firearm is also illegal in California. These include tubular blades, belt buckle knives, lipstick ink, air knives, pen knives, etc. Blades that cannot be detected by metal detectors (e.g. ceramic slides) are also illegal. “A knife that contains a spring, bolt, or other mechanism that creates a tendency to close the blade and requires effort applied to the blade with the hand, wrist, or arm to overcome the polarization of the shutter to help open the knife.” (Source) When the blade is exposed and locked, an otherwise legal folding knife becomes a Dirk or dagger under California law. In such a case, it should be worn openly in a vagina hanging from the waist. A power-operated knife can be legally manufactured, sold and possessed under federal law. Although often confused with switch blades, power-opening knives differ from switch blades in many ways. One of the differences between the two knives is that while switch blades are prohibited, power-opening knives are completely legal.
When the above laws seem confusing, as the saying goes, “You haven`t seen anything yet.” Local ordinances vary from city to city and county to county. Even worse, California courts have not been consistent in their decision on the applicability of these local laws. Power opening knives, also known as one-handed knives, are allowed to be worn in Pennsylvania because they do not use a spring or mechanism to open them. A few caveats, though: First, remember that carrying a gun, even a legal one, can cause you a lot of grief in law enforcement. Police officers regularly write tickets and make arrests for things they mistakenly believe to be illegal. Being found “not guilty” won`t make up for the time and hassle of arrest and lack of work, let alone the cost of hiring a lawyer. In addition, this article deals only with California law. State laws can vary widely, and a legal knife in California across state borders can get you in trouble with federal laws or the laws of other states.
Local ordinances can also affect the legality of your knife. This article was updated after November 23, 2021, when the state saw major changes in its knife laws. In the past, strict knife laws have paralyzed pocket knife users and manufacturers. Now, after years of wrangling in the courts, a bill recently introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that significantly relaxed regulations on automatic knives in the state.
