Can anyone clarify the San Diego folder laws?

[termiteslayer]

For starters, I'm a woodworker, always have a blade on me at work and I'm in the habit of always having a blade on me after work.
I've asked some LEO's and a few were kind enough respond.
The thing is that none of the LEO's who'll talk to me seem to know what the law is.
I've heard three different versions of the knife laws from the LEO's and my investigative attempts into the local laws just left me confused and unsure what the heck I'm reading.
If someone with a clue could just tell me if a few of my knives are legal to carry in San Diego I'd be eternally grateful.
ZT 350?
BM 551?
Are Benchmades considered gravity knives?
Spydercos aren't assisted or gravity, so they should be legal... correct?
Umnumzaan?
Butterfly knives... illegal?
And what's the deal with the clips?
One officer was adamant that any clipped knife had to be visible.
Thanks for any clarification that might be offered.

 

[glistam]

Hey I totally understand the confusion, CA is tricky and we get more questions about it here that any other area.

Basically you have to start at the top (state law) and work your way down to county, then city. If it passes through the sieves of all three, it's legal.

First, remember "Legal" is not one thing. There's ownership on private property, carrying openly and carrying concealed.

Let's start with State:
Folders of any length are legal to carry concealed. Assisted Openers are legal and considered to be folders. True switchblades and butterfly knives are considered to be the same thing per law, BUT they are legal to carry concealed if the blade is less than 2 inches long. They can be owned and kept at home if longer, but not carried nor sold.
Fixed blades are a crapshoot with concealed carry (unclear wording), so conservatively they must be carried openly when in public.

Source: CA Penal Code 12020 and 653k

San Diego County:
No throwing knives in parks. That's basically it for knives.

Source: County Code SEC. 41.117

San Diego (city):
No specific knife laws.

Source: San Diego Municipal Code

 

[termiteslayer]

Thanks.
Maybe I'll just stick with my small Seb 21 after work to play it safe.
It's non-threatening, fairly small and should be fine for any bag of croutons that may cross my path. It's plenty strong enough for bigger things, should the need arise.
No need to ask for trouble with a knife pushing the limits.

me