Officer knife question

[VChopefull]

Hi all,

My question is twofold.......

1) can someone explain to me the Knife laws in CA. Particularly the one pertaining to automatic knives (spring assisted......ect). Is any knife with a spring regardless of size illegal?

2) I have a buddy who just graduated from an academy and I want to get him a good quality duty knife as a graduation present. If CA law prohibits any spring assisted knives would it be a bad idea for a probationary officer to carry one? or any officer at all for that matter? Or are there many officers that carry auto knives on duty?(as they are obviously faster and able to be opened with one hand incase of a close quarter fight)
The knife is "Available for LEO's only" and requires LEO ID to buy. does this apply to states other than CA since I've heard that automatic knifes are illegal in CA?

here is the knife that I've heard is the best.....http://www.gerberstore.com/index.php?xpage=itempage&xid=797

Thanks for the help!!

[RicardoTubbs]

Hi all,

My question is twofold.......

1) can someone explain to me the Knife laws in CA. Particularly the one pertaining to automatic knives (spring assisted......ect). Is any knife with a spring regardless of size illegal?

2) I have a buddy who just graduated from an academy and I want to get him a good quality duty knife as a graduation present. If CA law prohibits any spring assisted knives would it be a bad idea for a probationary officer to carry one? or any officer at all for that matter? Or are there many officers that carry auto knives on duty?(as they are obviously faster and able to be opened with one hand incase of a close quarter fight)
The knife is "Available for LEO's only" and requires LEO ID to buy. does this apply to states other than CA since I've heard that automatic knifes are illegal in CA?

here is the knife that I've heard is the best.....http://www.gerberstore.com/index.php?xpage=itempage&xid=797

Thanks for the help!!


Carrying an expensive wazoo spring assited knife while on training may or may not draw some unnecessary attention to you. Also, as a trainee you might have to use your knife to pry on something, which would suck with your new $200 blade. You could always tell your TO, my knife if too expensive to use as a pry device, use yours ;-)

If you the non-sworn officer purchases the spring assisted knife for your newly graduated friend as a gift, your possesion of the knife may or may not be a violation of 653k PC, gift or not.

I used to carry a spring assited Kershaw Sam Onion knife but upgraded to a Emerson Karambit with the wave feature.

[VChopefull]

Thanks for the response!!

So is it common for cops in CA to carry the spring blades on duty?

I didn't even think about me breaking the law by buying it as a gift...Good point!

Thanks again

[DOAcop38]

Thanks for the response!!

So is it common for cops in CA to carry the spring blades on duty?

I didn't even think about me breaking the law by buying it as a gift...Good point!

Thanks again

aaahhhh, "no". depts tend to have strict policy on that ( recently LAPD policy prohibited psh dagger type knifes and other types of knives, and its now policy throughtout all of the L.A. city affiliated police agencies to limit what type of knives are carried on duty)stick with simple folding knives, as we don't use them as "Back up or defensive weapons" ,but as utility equipment.

P.S. don't give anyone "ammunition"- gravity and spring loaded knives are a violation of the Ca. Penal code,even if they are the novelty 2" and 3" blade type- I've seen applicants get D.Q'd for some petty stuff, and probationary officers fired for next to nothing over "petty issues" ,when a sufficient word of advice would have corrected the problem.....

[VChopefull]

Thanks a bunch DOA...That clears it up.

I didn't know that some departments had outlawed the automatic knives. It is definitely not worth getting fired or not hired over. I was just curious if the law applied to LEO's while on duty, As they are exempt from some I just wanted to check.

I didn't know if it was one of the rules that everyone broke but no one talked about or what..


Thanks again for the help. I guess I will re think the gift idea.

[DOAcop38]

Carrying an expensive wazoo spring assited knife while on training may or may not draw some unnecessary attention to you. Also, as a trainee you might have to use your knife to pry on something, which would suck with your new $200 blade. You could always tell your TO, my knife if too expensive to use as a pry device, use yours ;-)

If you the non-sworn officer purchases the spring assisted knife for your newly graduated friend as a gift, your possesion of the knife may or may not be a violation of 653k PC, gift or not.

I used to carry a spring assited Kershaw Sam Onion knife but upgraded to a Emerson Karambit with the wave feature.

LOLOLOL!! right-o,Tubbs! buy a leatherman tool,or pick up a cheapo-SOG knockoff-when you lose it( at the station,out in the field, in a patrol unit at EOW-and you WILL!) you won't be crying over that $200 bucks invested down the toilet hole!)

[VChopefull]

As long as the blade requires pressure to be exerted on the blade (thumb stud...etc) to open, spring assisted blades are 100% LEGAL.


From CPC Section 653k

"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.


Thanks for the info!

But the CPC (653K) you listed explains that any spring assisted knife is a "no-no". It says that the knife must have a "detent or other mechanism that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade".

That info does help though!! Basically what it says is that it is fine if the knife can be opened with one hand as long as it's not spring assisted.

Thanks again.

Ps: I just bought him a nice Spyderco (CA Legal) knife and had it engraved with his serial number.

[VChopefull]

the plot thickens.......

Anyone else care to jump in and give their opinion?

thanks for the info Tilove

[SHU]

Whatever you buy don't spend more than 50 bucks. You will lose it sooner or later.

[dbphotos]

Bottom line don't spend more than $20-30 on a knife because you will lose it, break it, etc. I'v seen a copy wear k-bar on his tactical vest and just laughed. The last time I checked, we don't use knives on suspects in LE, nor do we train for it. Switch blades are just toy and no better than a cheap leatherman, winchester, swiss, etc. I bought a back of 10 "tactical" knives for $50 and carry 1 on me and 1 in my bag for when I break the first one. Think of them as a disposable tool.