NY and CA laws

[Tim Piatenko]

I know NY has under 4" blade limit. What about CA? (These are the 2 states I'm interested in at the moment). And what about fixed blades? What is legal for a fixed blade? I sometimes carry my REKAT hobbit fang or the Fallkniven WM1 on me - is this legal or not? The blades are smaller than on all the folders I own.
Also, I read in some other thread that knives that can be flicked open are illegal in CA - is this true? Does that mean liner, axis, or arc locks would be a no no here? I mean you can flick them all open pretty easily ... That would make me very sad I mean what could I carry then???

-Tim

 

[HankS]

Hi Tim.

CA has no limits on folder or fixed blade size, just that a fixed blade cannot be concealed. There are a couple of cities like SF, Oakland and Berkeley that have local ordinances limiting blade length to 3.5 or 4 inches, but these would be citations, not misdemeanors or felonies. Automatics are limited to 2 inches or less.

Hank

 

[JH225]

NY state does not have a 4" length limit, NYC does. In NY Penal Law there is NO mention of blade length whatsoever. The local ordinances are what is going to determine legal length.

 

[DancesWithKnives]

Subject to some qualifications and exceptions, the rule in the City and County of Los Angeles is that the blade must be under 3 inches to be openly carried in a public place. Those are local ordinances.

California law allows thumbhole/stud openers but not gravity knives. Therefore, I wouldn't flick a folder open in public without using the thumbhole/stud. No sense inviting potential problems.