Is it legal to carry a 1" 1'8"" inch switchable one button push knife in your pockets in california

Answer 1

Well, coragryph is correct as far as he goes. PC 171b prohibits any possession of any knife with a fixed blade, or one that can be fixed, with over a 4 inch blade, in any public building or public meeting. PC 653k prohibits any possession of a switchblade knife with a blade over two inches in length.

However, you are asking specifically about concealed possession. The law on concealed knives has become very confusing in California since the Supreme Court's decision in People v. Rubalcava (2000) 23 Cal.4th 322 dealing with the concealed carrying of dirks and daggers under Penal Code section 12020. The court held that basically any "pointy" thing can be a dirk or dagger, including knitting needles and kitchen knives. There is no specified length at which dirks and daggers are illegal to carry concealed.

Would a court find that a little swithblade is a dirk or dagger under section 12020 and Rubalcava? Maybe not, but until this issue is clarified, I certainly would not want to bet that it is legal to carry anything other than a pocketknife (with a non-locking blade) concealed in California.

Answer 2

Yes. Assuming you mean 1 1/8"

Penal Code section 171b sets the length at 4 inches in public for fixed or most openable blades. Penal Code 653k sets the maximum length of switchblades in public (or in a car) at 2 inches.

Other specific situational laws may also apply in various locations, so the above is only applicable in most places.