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Knife on hip while riding, is it legal in CA?

J

Jackiedthatsme

New member
Joined
Jan 31, 2014
Location
Easy Bay
Moto(s)
2019 FLHX, 07 SXV 450
Name
Jacqueline
Recently I've noticed a lot of guys (mainly on GSXR's and "Club Style" Dyna's) wearing 12"+ knives attached to their belt and then clipped around their thigh. Is it legal to openly carry a knife like this on a bike?
 
How else would you slash the tires of cages as you split by revving the motor?
 
Does it bother you, or are you just curious?

I personally haven't seen it, but I do recall that in Sons of Anarchy, a lot of the characters carry a Ka-Bar in a similar fashion. Maybe it's a trend following the T.V. series.
 
Huh. I carry a switch blade knife (the ones opened by the flick of a wrist) in my emergency kit in my truck. I also used to carry it in my glove compartment, but after CERT, my emergency kit grew larger - it would be used to cut leather, it's sharped professionally, and I have it for like 10 years. Does that count as "carry" if it's not in my person? I'd think so...darn.
 
I'm pretty sure in order to be a switchblade it has to have some sort of assist mechanism, or open from gravity alone. Most nice knives can be opened without touching the blade if you try.
 
IAmA M0t0r Ridεr;8526662 said:
Huh. I carry a switch blade knife (the ones opened by the flick of a wrist) in my emergency kit in my truck.
Click to expand...

Right or wrong, that's illegal.
 
Junkie said:
I'm pretty sure in order to be a switchblade it has to have some sort of assist mechanism, or open from gravity alone. Most nice knives can be opened without touching the blade if you try.
Click to expand...

Assisted opening is okay, switchblades (over 2 inches) or knives that fall open with gravity (to cover balisongs?) are illegal. You can open carry a fixed knife/machete or a sword if you really wanted to.
 
From that video, it sounds spring assisted folding knives are illegal?
 
squidworth said:
From that video, it sounds spring assisted folding knives are illegal?
Click to expand...

As long as they have a bias to staying closed they are fine. If you pull the blade out a little bit and let it go, it should spring back closed.

If the knife is really loose, and can easily be opened with a flick of the wrist, then it could meet the definition of a switchblade. I know many thumb notch knives can be flicked open with practice, against the spring bias keeping them in place. Those are legal.
 
So how is it that so many of these illegal knives are sold all over the place here in CA then? I see switchblades and the like in all kinds of stores and flea markets here in the bay.

Is the selling of them not illegal?
 
NB0tt said:
So how is it that so many of these illegal knives are sold all over the place here in CA then? I see switchblades and the like in all kinds of stores and flea markets here in the bay.

Is the selling of them not illegal?
Click to expand...

It is illegal to sell them or possess them in public on your person or in your vehicle. So if you have one at home then it is legal. If they are selling automatic knives with a blade under two inches, then those are legal since they don't fall under California's definition of a switchblade.

PC 17235. As used in this part, "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.

PC 21510. Every person who does any of the following with a
switchblade knife having a blade two or more inches in length is
guilty of a misdemeanor:
(a) Possesses the knife in the passenger's or driver's area of any
motor vehicle in any public place or place open to the public.
(b) Carries the knife upon the person.
(c) Sells, offers for sale, exposes for sale, loans, transfers, or
gives the knife to any other person.
 
Now I'm confused. My knife opens with a flick of a wrist...provided I'm pressuring the thumb stud. It may open partially just with the wrist, I'm not sure. It has no springs.
 
IAmA M0t0r Ridεr;8528127 said:
Now I'm confused. My knife opens with a flick of a wrist...provided I'm pressuring the thumb stud. It may open partially just with the wrist, I'm not sure. It has no springs.
Click to expand...

The law specifically exepmts knives with thumb studs. I bet it does have a mechanism that biases the blade back into a closed position. Pull the blade out just slightly and let it go. Does it snap back into a closed position? If it does, and it has a thumb stud or area on the blade that allows for single handed opening, it is legal...just like most folding knives people carry now a days.
 
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