California/San Francisco folder laws

freq18hz

freq18hz

Joined
Mar 4, 2010
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I'm trying to figure out what length folder I can carry in San Francisco/California. Does the pocket clip have to be showing, or can I keep this in my wallet?

Are axis locks considered gravity knives?

Can anyone assist, and provide a trusted resource to prove info? Thanks,
 
I think anything under 3" is a definite safe for manual folders.

Axis locks can be considered gravity knives if the lock is released, because then the blade can move freely about. Hold your knife horizontally with the blade on the bottom, release the lock and the blade will fall.

I have no links / sources. Sorry.
 
anyone else with definitive info? I want to know if I can carry an axis lock knife longer than 3 inches.
 
freq18hz said:
anyone else with definitive info? I want to know if I can carry an axis lock knife longer than 3 inches.
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I can't say anything for san francisco, but the california state knife laws are odd. The def of a switchblade includes balis, gravity knives, autos, assisted open and almost anything but slipjoints. But a bill passed in the 90's said that anything with a thumbstud is Ok. So knives like the oso sweet are tech illegal due to the lack of a thumbstud. So your bms fine. As far as concealment goes, pocket clips fine, and cops can be leinent on whether its showing or not if it doesn't look too menacing. You better check your local ordinances though, since san fran is a big city, they might have stricter laws.

But don't listen to me, and if it is illegal I hold no legal responsibility to bail you out :D
 
californiapyroboy said:
I can't say anything for san francisco, but the california state knife laws are odd. The def of a switchblade includes balis, gravity knives, autos, assisted open and almost anything but slipjoints. But a bill passed in the 90's said that anything with a thumbstud is Ok. So knives like the oso sweet are tech illegal due to the lack of a thumbstud. So your bms fine. As far as concealment goes, pocket clips fine, and cops can be leinent on whether its showing or not if it doesn't look too menacing. You better check your local ordinances though, since san fran is a big city, they might have stricter laws.

But don't listen to me, and if it is illegal I hold no legal responsibility to bail you out :D
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Uh, I'm not sure where you got your info from, but I have never heard anything about assisted openers being illegal here in California. They're sold all over the place at retail stores, so I'm pretty sure assisted openers are perfectly legal. I did a quick search to verify. Check this out:

http://zknives.com/knives/articles/law/caknifelaws.shtml

That is put together by a BF member, too.
 
Check the San Francisco Municipal Codes.

Here's a more specific link:

http://library.municode.com/showDocumentFrame.aspx?clientID=14140&docID=0

You may still want to explore other areas of SF's Muni Codes:

http://www.municode.com/Library/clientCodePage.aspx?clientID=4201

If you're focusing mostly on penal-related stuff, click on the Police Code link.

Enjoy.

Edit: Btw, if you have any trouble understanding some of the language, PM/Email me with your specific concerns/confusions and I'll try to help. For the record, I'm not a lawyer.

FYI, glistam posted on this matter here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=632733

Nice highlights, including "Article 4, Section 4.01", under the Park Code. Links are expired, but since the sections are listed, easy to locate with the links I've provided.
 
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risen said:
Check the San Francisco Municipal Codes.

Here's a more specific link:

http://library.municode.com/showDocumentFrame.aspx?clientID=14140&docID=0

You may still want to explore other areas of SF's Muni Codes:

http://www.municode.com/Library/clientCodePage.aspx?clientID=4201

If you're focusing mostly on penal-related stuff, click on the Police Code link.

Enjoy.

Edit: Btw, if you have any trouble understanding some of the language, PM/Email me with your specific concerns/confusions and I'll try to help. For the record, I'm not a lawyer.

FYI, glistam posted on this matter here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=632733

Nice highlights, including "Article 4, Section 4.01", under the Park Code. Links are expired, but since the sections are listed, easy to locate with the links I've provided.
Click to expand...

great info!

so then it would seem that spring assist is illegal, as is concealing a folder longer than 3 inches (like a regular griptilian)
 
freq18hz said:
...so then it would seem that spring assist is illegal, as is concealing a folder longer than 3 inches (like a regular griptilian)
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Before I respond, looking back at glistam's citing of the first Muni Code/Section he listed, I see he misstated the Section. It's 1291, not 1292.

As for the "longer than 3 inches" you mentioned, the blade length specified in the Police Code is "any knife with a blade three inches or more in length". That means the blade length has to be under 3" to be legal (ie, a 3" blade would also be illegal, I believe).

As for "spring assist", in Section 1292, it states "any spring-blade, switch-blade, snap-blade knife, or other similar type knife, or any knife any blade of which is automatically released by a spring mechanism or other mechanical device". It doesn't state "spring *assisted*-blade", or *assisted* anything else. It does appear that the terms "spring-blade, switch-blade, snap-blade knife" are being drawn from CA's PC 653k (which considers/includes SB 274, I believe). If so, then Assisted Opening (A/O) knives should be fine, as long as they're under 3" (in this case), in my non-lawyer opinion.

"653k. ...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. ..."

Two other things to point out:

SEC. 1291 (e) does cite exceptions ("The foregoing restrictions shall not be deemed to prohibit the carrying of ordinary tools or equipment carried in good faith for uses of honest work, trade or business or for the purpose of legitimate recreation.").

Also, glistam stated "length limit technically only applies if you are loitering", acknowledging that it's "wobbly". However, I believe the knife definitions/restrictions stand alone ("As used in this Section, but in no wise limited thereto, ...").

Could be wrong, but that's my non-lawyer take on it. Hope it's been helpful.
 
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Okay, this should help you.

I work in San Francisco and have been working and carrying knives there for over two years.

I once asked a police officer what was the maximum length allowed for a knife in SF. The police officer proceeded to tell me that 3" was max as his partner pulled out a slip joint knife and said "we pretty much just have you hold it on your palm and if its shorter then that length you're okay." As he puts the 3-1/2 to 4" blade up to his palm.

So, here's my current understanding and I have been going with it without trouble for over 2 years now: Fixed blades have no maximum length, but they cannot be concealed and must be out in the open. I would think that this would cause some public disturbance, so I dont carry fixed blades in the city.

As far as folders, California is pretty forgiving and they can be concealed, so if youre not going into a "hot" area of the city, then dont worry about length as you probably arent going to be searched. I would go no longer than a Spyderco Military.

If you are going to venture into a part of the city where there is a posability of being searched, then dont carry anything mischevious-looking, and try to keep it no longer than 3".

Be sure that if you are searched that you carried a knife that looks like a tool and not like a tactical-death-weapon. When he asks if you have any weapons, say what you wanna say as to whether you perceive the pocket knife to be a weapon.

If he starts calling it a weapon, argue the fact that it is a pocket knife and that it is a daily-used tool and not being carried as a weapon, but its being carried as a tool.

If he tries to take it, dont let him. Ask for a badge number and proof that he took it like a receipt.

Most of all, dont worry about it. Like I said, California is very forgiving and if you dont do anything suspicious, then there is no reason for them to care whether you have a knife or a set of car keys, or even a wallet on you. They really dont care.

But remember, be polite and do what they want. If you just do that then there is way less of a chance of anything bad happening to you.
 
Oh, and you guys wanna know something else messed up.

There is a knife shop on pier 39/Fishermans Wharf (whatever its called) and I believe that they sell the Benchmade model 42 Balisong.

And its illegal to carry it????

Does that make sense?
 
The 42 is legal to own just not to carry so they can sell it. It is legal to own any balisong or automatic knife in California. You just can't carry them if the blade is over 2 inches. That knife store is the most well stocked knife store in NorCal that I know of.
 
Is an Emerson comander legal, with the wave feature? Not specificaly in sf, but across ca, I live in N.Ca, things are pretty lenient up here.
 
Just don't use the wave when showing the knife to a LEO. You aren't obligated to show off your knife's cool assist features or you mad skills with a loose folder when presenting your blade to an officer. It's ok to use 2 hands to open your cutting tool. A little forethought goes a long way when dealing with the law.
 
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