knives concealed?

[YZINGERR]

when is a knife legally concealed? A knife clipped to your pocket with the blade inside of the pocket is concealed, or is it? See picture for further clarification. Are these concealed?

[LAH3]

I usually wear a Kabar strapped to my thigh so I don't worry about that, LOL

Actually I have been wondering about the clip showing thing.

[WKC]

I believe this is the relevant section of the CPC.

12020. (a) Any person in this state who does any of the following
is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year
or in the state prison:
(1) Manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the
state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives,
lends, or possesses any cane gun or wallet gun, any undetectable
firearm, any firearm which is not immediately recognizable as a
firearm, any camouflaging firearm container, any ammunition which
contains or consists of any flechette dart, any bullet containing or
carrying an explosive agent, any ballistic knife, any multiburst
trigger activator, any nunchaku, any short-barreled shotgun, any
short-barreled rifle, any metal knuckles, any belt buckle knife, any
leaded cane, any zip gun, any shuriken, any unconventional pistol,
any lipstick case knife, any cane sword, any shobi-zue, any air gauge
knife, any writing pen knife, any metal military practice
handgrenade or metal replica handgrenade, or any instrument or weapon
of the kind commonly known as a blackjack, slungshot, billy,
sandclub, sap, or sandbag.
(2) Commencing January 1, 2000, manufactures or causes to be
manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or
exposes for sale, or who gives, or lends, any large-capacity
magazine.
(3) Carries concealed upon his or her person any explosive
substance, other than fixed ammunition.
(4) Carries concealed upon his or her person any dirk or dagger.
[...]
(24) As used in this section, a "dirk" or "dagger" means a knife
or other instrument with or without a handguard that is capable of
ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury
or death. A nonlocking folding knife, a folding knife that is not
prohibited by Section 653k, or a pocketknife is capable of ready use
as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death
only if the blade of the knife is exposed and locked into position.

[Sigman]

It's been a while but I did know all the rules for knives at 1 time. Theres got to be a cheat sheet out there somewhere regarding sizes and styles. Unless it is a folding pocket knife that isn't oversized I wouldn't take the chance of concealling anything else. I do remember a lot of strick rules regarding knives.

[IAmASensFan]

Boy, there's an awful lot of people that I know who are breaking the law.

I suppose my Ka-Bar can't be carried, eh?

[WKC]

Here is the other relevent section.

626.10. (a) Any person, except a duly appointed peace officer as
defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of
Part 2, a full-time paid peace officer of another state or the
federal government who is carrying out official duties while in this
state, a person summoned by any officer to assist in making arrests
or preserving the peace while the person is actually engaged in
assisting any officer, or a member of the military forces of this
state or the United States who is engaged in the performance of his
or her duties, who brings or possesses any dirk, dagger, ice pick,
knife having a blade longer than 21/2 inches, folding knife with a
blade that locks into place, a razor with an unguarded blade, a
taser, or a stun gun, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 244.5,
any instrument that expels a metallic projectile such as a BB or a
pellet, through the force of air pressure, CO2 pressure, or spring
action, or any spot marker gun, upon the grounds of, or within, any
public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any
of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, is guilty of a public offense,
punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year,
or by imprisonment in the state prison.
(b) Any person, except a duly appointed peace officer as defined
in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, a
full-time paid peace officer of another state or the federal
government who is carrying out official duties while in this state, a
person summoned by any officer to assist in making arrests or
preserving the peace while the person is actually engaged in
assisting any officer, or a member of the military forces of this
state or the United States who is engaged in the performance of his
or her duties, who brings or possesses any dirk, dagger, ice pick, or
knife having a fixed blade longer than 21/2 inches upon the grounds
of, or within, any private university, the University of California,
the California State University, or the California Community Colleges
is guilty of a public offense, punishable by imprisonment in a
county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment in the state
prison.
(c) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to any person who brings
or possesses a knife having a blade longer than 21/2 inches or a
razor with an unguarded blade upon the grounds of, or within, a
public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any
of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or any private university, state
university, or community college at the direction of a faculty member
of the private university, state university, or community college,
or a certificated or classified employee of the school for use in a
private university, state university, community college, or
school-sponsored activity or class.
(d) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to any person who brings
or possesses an ice pick, a knife having a blade longer than 21/2
inches, or a razor with an unguarded blade upon the grounds of, or
within, a public or private school providing instruction in
kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or any private
university, state university, or community college for a lawful
purpose within the scope of the person's employment.
(e) Subdivision (b) does not apply to any person who brings or
possesses an ice pick or a knife having a fixed blade longer than
21/2 inches upon the grounds of, or within, any private university,
state university, or community college for lawful use in or around a
residence or residential facility located upon those grounds or for
lawful use in food preparation or consumption.
(f) Subdivision (a) does not apply to any person who brings an
instrument that expels a metallic projectile such as a BB or a
pellet, through the force of air pressure, CO2 pressure, or spring
action, or any spot marker gun upon the grounds of, or within, a
public or private school providing instruction in kindergarten or any
of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, if the person has the written
permission of the school principal or his or her designee.
(g) Any certificated or classified employee or school peace
officer of a public or private school providing instruction in
kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, may seize any of
the weapons described in subdivision (a), and any certificated or
classified employee or school peace officer of any private
university, state university, or community college may seize any of
the weapons described in subdivision (b), from the possession of any
person upon the grounds of, or within, the school if he or she knows,
or has reasonable cause to know, the person is prohibited from
bringing or possessing the weapon upon the grounds of, or within, the
school.
(h) As used in this section, "dirk" or "dagger" means a knife or
other instrument with or without a handguard that is capable of ready
use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or
death.

[Spicy McHaggis]

Originally Posted by YZINGERR

when is a knife legally concealed? A knife clipped to your pocket with the blade inside of the pocket is concealed, or is it? See picture for further clarification. Are these concealed?

Here is a good reference - California Knife Laws for knife laws in CA.

Basically, a folder does not fall under the category of a "concealable weapon", as long as it is completely closed when carrying it concealed. You can carry it in your pocket without worrying about it being a "concealed" weapon, as long as it is completely closed. I always carry one of mine clipped to my pocket for easy access.

[YZINGERR]

ca laws are weird. you can legally posess an automatic knife as long as it is under 2"... but you cannot carry a concealed dagger that same length. CA LEGAL AUTOS ARE NEAT, i found a sampling at California Legal - Side Opening Automatics - Blade Play

[Mul]

Presuming you have a CCW, if the carry gun, or part thereof, is in plain sight, it's no longer concealed, and you can therefore be guilty of "brandishing" or "open carry" (where those ordinances apply [not home/campground]).

Following the concealed weapon guidelines, a clipped knife is not concealed if it's in plain sight and obvious as to what it is. Just as a holstered gun is not concealed, a knife in a belt pouch (e.g. a Leatherman) is not a concealed weapon.

More at issue is where you are allowed to carry a knife at all, and the limits on size.

I carry a clipped Emerson MiniCommander daily, and will always do so even if I ever obtained a CCW for firearm use.

If you are in a situation where the smaller size restriction applies, check out an Emerzon Mini CQC-7B. In addition to the state requirements, there are municipalities that restrict any carried blade over 4 inches (of blade length).

Any of the Emerson knives with the wave feature are great pseudo-auto-openers, but with no button or spring assist. Emerson Knives

No, I'm not associated with Emerson in anyway, and yes I am endorsing them
(but not the junk hardwear line, just the real deal)

[Mickey D]

Originally Posted by IAmASensFan

Boy, there's an awful lot of people that I know who are breaking the law.

I suppose my Ka-Bar can't be carried, eh?

I have the same Ka-Bar

[IAmASensFan]

Yeah...with the MOLLE attachments for my bug out gear

[Hoser]

We need an expert like CCWI or .45 to chime in. Do we know for sure if it's ok to have it cliped to your pocket and not be concealed, or do the rules for a handgun apply; if anypart is concealed, the entire weapon is considered concealed.

[AMS MIKE]

California Knife Laws

[45 ACP]

Originally Posted by Hoser

We need an expert like CCWI or .45 to chime in. Do we know for sure if it's ok to have it cliped to your pocket and not be concealed, or do the rules for a handgun apply; if anypart is concealed, the entire weapon is considered concealed.

Yes, 653k and 12020 are kinda strange.

Basically, here is how it goes:

If you have a folding knife that doesn't fall under the classification of a gravity, drop, or automatic knife, you can carry it how you like AS LONG AS THE BLADE IS FOLDED IN. Yes, you can carry whatever blade length you like.

Be sure to read all that jargon about the Penal Code definitions of "gravity" and "biased towards closure." Don't get all wrapped around the axle over it, just understand what it says if you like to shop at swap meets for knives.

The only exceptions here are for automatic knives with blade lengths less than 2 inches. Otherwise, "gravity", "drop", and auto knives with blades longer than 2 inches are illegal.

If you have a fixed blade knife (like the Ka-Bar TDI), it has to be carried EXPOSED. Yes, you can carry whatever blade length you like (including machetes and swords) but it has to be EXPOSED AT ALL TIMES.

If your shirt slips down and covers it, it's considered a dirk/dagger and you can have 12020 problems.

If you stick it in your boot/pocket/under your shirt you can have 12020 related problems.

[Hoser]

Good summation. Thanks!