Are switchblades legal in California? Why or why not?
You can check the answer of the people under the question at Quora “2 inch switchblade knife“
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Are switchblades legal in California? Why or why not?
You can check the answer of the people under the question at Quora “2 inch switchblade knife“
About Piper
CA treats fixed-blade and folding knives differently. If it’s a folding knife it can be carried in your pocket, as long as the blade is folded. If it’s fixed-blade knife it must worn openly and in a sheath.
Section 17235 of the penal code regarding what is considered a “switchblade” reads as follows
A ‘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. “
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Any folding knife that has a spring assisted opening mechanism is illegal in california, BUT a stilletto switchblade style folding knife that does not have the spring assisted open is perfectly legal, provided the blade is under 5″, i believe (it might actually be 4″). I actually have a really nice italian stilleto switchblade style pocket folder, but without the spring assist – i think it’s actually still technically illegal for concealed carry due to the length of the blade. However this length restriction only applies to concealed knives and pocket folders, while fixed blade knives in sheaths of any length can be legally carried in california, provided they are worn in plain sight on the hip.
The illegality of knives with spring assisted opening mechanisms is primarily because spring assisted knives can be easily concealed and quickly deployed in a combat scenario, not to mention the switchblade’s traditional association with gangs and gang violence. Law enforcement tends to frown on stuff like that.
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Hold up there people, let’s get something straight. In california switchblades are perfectly LEGAL to Own and possess in your home. There is nothing in the CA penal code outlawing possession. They are just illegal to carry out in public places is all the law says about them.
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Switchblades & spring blades are illegal to carry in California because they are considered to be “dirks.’ They were all the rage during the 50’s and 60’s until people kept getting stabbed by them in the hands of the gangbangers.
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Yes, they are illegal.
Why? They probably don’t want people using it to slice up their fellow Californians (but that is just a guess).
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