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Louis Martin Custom Knives

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California Knife Laws

In California, switchblades are restricted and butterfly knives are restricted. Concealed carry of dirks and daggers (any fixed blade) is a crime; fixed blades must be worn openly. The blade limit to know: No statewide limit, but cities add rules (Los Angeles bans openly carrying blades 3 inches or longer in public).

Switchblades: Restricted

Switchblades with blades 2 inches or longer cannot be carried, sold, or transferred; under 2 inches is allowed.

Butterfly Knives: Restricted

Courts treat balisongs as switchblades, so the same 2-inch rule applies.

Concealed Carry

Concealed carry of dirks and daggers (any fixed blade) is a crime; fixed blades must be worn openly.

Local Ordinances

California has no statewide preemption, so cities and counties can add stricter rules. Check local ordinances before carrying. Local ordinances matter: check city rules before carrying. Undetectable knives are banned.

Not legal advice. This page was last reviewed October 13, 2026. Statuses come from state statutes and reputable trackers, and the linked facts below were checked against the official statute or code text on October 13, 2026. Laws change; verify the current statute or consult a lawyer before buying or carrying. See the full 50-state comparison.

The Law in Detail

Key statutes: Cal. Penal Code §§16470, 21310, 21510

Carrying a concealed dirk or dagger under §21310 reaches essentially any fixed blade not worn openly in a sheath, punishable by up to one year in county jail or by a term under Penal Code §1170(h), and §21510 bans switchblades with blades of 2 inches or more. In People v. Castillolopez (2016), the California Supreme Court held a folding knife is not a dirk or dagger unless the blade is exposed and locked into position. The switchblade statute carves out assisted-opening knives through "bias toward closure" language, and California has no statewide preemption, so cities like Los Angeles add their own rules.

Checked Against the Statute Text

  • A folding knife or pocketknife counts as a dirk or dagger only when its blade is exposed and locked into position. (Cal. Penal Code §16470)
  • Commercially making, importing for sale, or offering for sale an undetectable knife, one a metal detector cannot find, is a misdemeanor. (Cal. Penal Code §20810(a))

The FAQ answers below include statute details from these sources:

Each fact linked above, including those in the FAQ answers, was checked against the official statute or code text on October 13, 2026. General information, not legal advice.

California Knife Law FAQ

Are switchblades legal in California?
Switchblades (automatic knives) are restricted in California. Switchblades with blades 2 inches or longer cannot be carried, sold, or transferred; under 2 inches is allowed. California defines a switchblade as a knife that looks like a pocketknife, with a blade of two inches or more, released by a button, pressure on the handle, a flip of the wrist, the weight of the blade, or any other mechanism. One-hand openers that use a thumb stud or blade pressure are excluded when a detent or similar mechanism resists opening or biases the blade toward closed. With a switchblade of two inches or more, it is a misdemeanor to carry one on your person, keep one in the driver's or passenger's area of a vehicle in a public place, or sell, loan, transfer, or give one away. The statute does not list possession at home. Reviewed October 13, 2026; this is general information, not legal advice.
Are butterfly knives legal in California?
Butterfly knives (balisongs) are restricted in California. Courts treat balisongs as switchblades, so the same 2-inch rule applies.
Is it legal to carry a knife in California?
Generally yes, within limits: Concealed carry of dirks and daggers (any fixed blade) is a crime; fixed blades must be worn openly. Carrying any knife with intent to use it unlawfully is a crime everywhere. A knife carried in a sheath that is worn openly and suspended from the waist is not concealed under the dirk-or-dagger law.
What size knife can you legally carry in California?
No statewide limit, but cities add rules (Los Angeles bans openly carrying blades 3 inches or longer in public). Local ordinances matter: check city rules before carrying. Undetectable knives are banned. On K-12 school grounds, state law bars knives with blades longer than 2.5 inches, folding knives with blades that lock into place, dirks, daggers, and razors with unguarded blades.

Traveling Through?

Knife law changes at the state line. Bordering states: Arizona, Nevada, Oregon.

Hand-Forged Knives, Shipped to California

Every Louis Martin blade is hand-forged and ships free anywhere in the US, including right here in California. Start with our pocket knives and everyday carry pieces, browse the full collection, or read our guide to the best knives in California, and keep our national knife law guide handy when you travel.