Carbon Fiber/Non-Metallic Knuckles- Legality in CA?

Kaizen1

Kaizen1

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Jan 4, 2006
Messages
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I'm kinda interested in these:

4139-111.jpg


Illegal to own?
Carry?
Use?

I don't get in fights anymore outside of a ring/mat, but I'd still like to know the law about these.

Thanks
 
Check the law very carefully. Some states, including mine (MA) outlaw the carrying of metallic knuckles or knuckles made of any other material that can be used with similar effect as metallic knuckles. Yes, the liberal "knuckleheads" have covered all of their bases with this catch-all phrase and in MA, it is a felony.
 
Nope, illegal to buy,own and carry. Sorry, but they closed that loophole in CA law quoted below.

Plastic Knuckles


12020.1. Any person in this state who commercially manufactures or
causes to be commercially manufactured, or who knowingly imports into
the state for commercial sale, keeps for commercial sale, or offers
or exposes for commercial sale, any hard plastic knuckles is guilty
of a misdemeanor. As used in this section, "hard plastic knuckles"
means any device or instrument made wholly or partially of plastic
that is not a metal knuckle as defined in paragraph (7) of
subdivision (c) of Section 12020, that is worn for purposes of
offense or defense in or on the hand, and that either protects the
wearer's hand while striking a blow or increases the force of impact
from the blow or injury to the individual receiving the blow. The
plastic contained in the device may help support the hand or fist,
provide a shield to protect it, or consist of projections or studs
that would contact the individual receiving a blow.
Click to expand...
 
Oops, my bad. That quote was indirect and appears to be out of date. Here is the current statute:

12020.1. Any person in this state who commercially manufactures or
causes to be commercially manufactured, or who knowingly imports into
the state for commercial sale, keeps for commercial sale, or offers
or exposes for commercial sale, any hard plastic knuckles or hard
wooden knuckles is guilty of a misdemeanor. As used in this section,
"hard plastic knuckles" or "hard wooden knuckles" means any device or
instrument made wholly or partially of plastic or of wood,
composite, or paper materials that is not a metal knuckle as defined
in paragraph (7) of subdivision (c) of Section 12020, that is worn
for purposes of offense or defense in or on the hand, and that either
protects the wearer's hand while striking a blow or increases the
force of impact from the blow or injury to the individual receiving
the blow. The plastic, wood, composite or paper products contained in
the device may help support the hand or fist, provide a shield to
protect it, or consist of projections or studs that would contact the
individual receiving a blow.
Click to expand...

Man, they don't let you guys catch a break out there in CA.

Mind, knuckle dusters in general are rather brutish weapons, and too slow to put on in an SD situation. Learning to throw a punch properly is a more valuable investment.
 
glistam said:
Mind, knuckle dusters in general are rather brutish weapons, and too slow to put on in an SD situation. Learning to throw a punch properly is a more valuable investment.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Even if you could walk around with them on, you still need to be able to punch someone. I have a feeling that my training and experience in Muay Thai might help with that;).
 
That doesn't say they are illegal to own.

Although curiously the wording would seem to also prohibit gloves.
 
I'm not entirely sure the process of making carbon fiber, but it isn't a plastic, am I right? Is it considered a composite? Just wondering if the wording in that statute allows a loophole for it.

EDIT to say: Even if there were a loophole for it, I certainly wouldn't advise carrying them. You'd still get in trouble... bad idea all around.
 
_habit_ said:
I'm not entirely sure the process of making carbon fiber, but it isn't a plastic, am I right? Is it considered a composite? Just wondering if the wording in that statute allows a loophole for it.

EDIT to say: Even if there were a loophole for it, I certainly wouldn't advise carrying them. You'd still get in trouble... bad idea all around.
Click to expand...

carbon fiber would be considered a composite.
 
Well they can't stop me from walking around with foam knuckles... Shit does that count as a composite too?
 
you're safe with foam. they need to be hard or increase the force of impact.

paper is an odd restriction. i suppose a thick post-it set of knuckles might hurt.

probably a reference to a paper mache product or similar, like adding plaster to a boxer's wraps.
 
MORIMOTOM said:
you're safe with foam. they need to be hard or increase the force of impact.

paper is an odd restriction. i suppose a thick post-it set of knuckles might hurt.

probably a reference to a paper mache product or similar, like adding plaster to a boxer's wraps.
Click to expand...

I saw an improvised shank on the History Channel from a prisoner made out of paper. It was so compact that it seemed as hard as any other composite.
 
Kaizen1 said:
I saw an improvised shank on the History Channel from a prisoner made out of paper. It was so compact that it seemed as hard as any other composite.
Click to expand...


i have read reports of rolled up newspaper made rigid with feces.

put a sharp point on the end and the victim also gets a rather nasty infection.

pretty gross.
 
A heavy belt buckle is a better SD weapon, has more reach, it's like a little mace. I have a samurai belt that i reckon would crack a skull. Not that i think about these things you understand.
 
If you reread the penal code section quoted above, it prohibits manufacturing, importing, and selling plastic or wooden knuckles. No prohibition against owning, carrying, or concealing. I imagine the legal fees would be quite high, though, if you got caught using them. Carry on...
 
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