United States · checked 2026-10-26 · Medium confidence

Knife carry law in California

Concealed carry of a 'dirk or dagger' (fixed blades, or folders locked open) is a crime; a fixed blade worn openly is not covered by that rule. Switchblades with 2 in+ blades cannot be carried, kept in a vehicle's front area or sold. Schools and colleges have separate bans. Cities may add rules.

This summary rests on mostly official, partly secondary sources. Open questions are listed at the end. Treat anything marked unclear as a reason to leave the item at home.

How we apply the law

Rules are checked from the top. The first one that fits decides. Every verdict on this site comes from this list, not from hand typed cells.

1ProhibitedAny knife or tool, automatic, blade at least 50.8 mm
Switchblades with blade of 2 in or more: carrying on the person, keeping in the driver/passenger area of a vehicle in public, and selling or lending are all misdemeanours.
Source
2No restriction foundAny knife or tool, automatic, blade up to 50.8 mm
The switchblade offence applies only to blades of 2 in or more. A shorter automatic knife is not caught by 21510; school and other bans may still apply.
Source
3UnclearAny knife or tool, gravity or flick opening
Definition names 'gravity knife' and blades 'released by the weight of the blade'. Whether balisongs/butterfly knives qualify is disputed; flick/gravity knives of 2 in+ likely fall within the ban. Not verified by case law.
Source
4RestrictedA fixed blade
A fixed blade capable of stabbing is a dirk or dagger: criminal if concealed (e.g. under clothing). Carried openly in a visible sheath it is outside 21310. Banned at schools if blade over 2.5 in.
Source
5RestrictedA folding knife, with any locking blade, spring assisted, one hand manual opening or two hand opening
Locking folder is a dirk only when open and locked. Carried closed it is not; concealed open-and-locked is an offence. K-12 schools ban any locking folder and blades over 2.5 in.
Source
6No restriction foundA folding knife, no lock
A non-locking folder counts as a dirk only if its blade is exposed and locked; a slipjoint cannot lock. Blades over 2.5 in are still barred at schools and colleges.
Source
7No restriction foundA multitool, a keychain tool or scissors only
No California rule found specific to multitools or small tools; a locked-open blade could still be treated as a dirk if concealed. Schools restrict blades over 2.5 in.
Source
8UnclearAnything else
Combination not covered by the statutory text reviewed; check the dirk/dagger definition and local ordinances.
Source

34 popular knives and tools, checked here

Specifications come from the makers. Where a maker does not publish the cutting edge length, a length rule can only be answered if even the full blade length falls on one side of the line. Otherwise the result is unclear, on purpose.

Product	Specs	Result
Leatherman Arc	blade 70.1 mm (2.76 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No California rule found specific to multitools or small tools; a locked-open blade could still be treated as a dirk if concealed. Schools restrict blades over 2.5 in.
Victorinox Cadet (Alox)	blade 64 mm (2.52 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A non-locking folder counts as a dirk only if its blade is exposed and locked; a slipjoint cannot lock. Blades over 2.5 in are still barred at schools and colleges.
Victorinox Classic SD	blade 40 mm (1.57 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A non-locking folder counts as a dirk only if its blade is exposed and locked; a slipjoint cannot lock. Blades over 2.5 in are still barred at schools and colleges.
Victorinox Climber	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A non-locking folder counts as a dirk only if its blade is exposed and locked; a slipjoint cannot lock. Blades over 2.5 in are still barred at schools and colleges.
Gerber Dime	blade 38.1 mm (1.50 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No California rule found specific to multitools or small tools; a locked-open blade could still be treated as a dirk if concealed. Schools restrict blades over 2.5 in.
Nagao Kanekoma Higonokami SK (Niwaki-sold Kanekoma)	blade 71 mm (2.80 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A non-locking folder counts as a dirk only if its blade is exposed and locked; a slipjoint cannot lock. Blades over 2.5 in are still barred at schools and colleges.
Victorinox Huntsman	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A non-locking folder counts as a dirk only if its blade is exposed and locked; a slipjoint cannot lock. Blades over 2.5 in are still barred at schools and colleges.
Leatherman Micra	blade 40.6 mm (1.60 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No California rule found specific to multitools or small tools; a locked-open blade could still be treated as a dirk if concealed. Schools restrict blades over 2.5 in.
W.R. Case & Sons Mini Trapper	blade 69.9 mm (2.75 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A non-locking folder counts as a dirk only if its blade is exposed and locked; a slipjoint cannot lock. Blades over 2.5 in are still barred at schools and colleges.
Spyderco Roadie	44 mm cutting edge (1.73 in)	No restriction found Why A non-locking folder counts as a dirk only if its blade is exposed and locked; a slipjoint cannot lock. Blades over 2.5 in are still barred at schools and colleges.
Leatherman Skeletool CX	blade 66 mm (2.60 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No California rule found specific to multitools or small tools; a locked-open blade could still be treated as a dirk if concealed. Schools restrict blades over 2.5 in.
Victorinox Spartan	blade 67 mm (2.64 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why A non-locking folder counts as a dirk only if its blade is exposed and locked; a slipjoint cannot lock. Blades over 2.5 in are still barred at schools and colleges.
Spyderco Squeak	44 mm cutting edge (1.73 in)	No restriction found Why A non-locking folder counts as a dirk only if its blade is exposed and locked; a slipjoint cannot lock. Blades over 2.5 in are still barred at schools and colleges.
Leatherman Squirt PS4	blade 40.6 mm (1.60 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No California rule found specific to multitools or small tools; a locked-open blade could still be treated as a dirk if concealed. Schools restrict blades over 2.5 in.
Victorinox Swiss Card Classic	blade length not published	No restriction found Why No California rule found specific to multitools or small tools; a locked-open blade could still be treated as a dirk if concealed. Schools restrict blades over 2.5 in.
Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X	blade length not published	No restriction found Why No California rule found specific to multitools or small tools; a locked-open blade could still be treated as a dirk if concealed. Schools restrict blades over 2.5 in.
W.R. Case & Sons Trapper	76.2 mm cutting edge (3.00 in)	No restriction found Why A non-locking folder counts as a dirk only if its blade is exposed and locked; a slipjoint cannot lock. Blades over 2.5 in are still barred at schools and colleges.
Leatherman Wave Plus	blade 74.2 mm (2.92 in); cutting edge not published	No restriction found Why No California rule found specific to multitools or small tools; a locked-open blade could still be treated as a dirk if concealed. Schools restrict blades over 2.5 in.
Buck 110 Folding Hunter	blade 95.3 mm (3.75 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Locking folder is a dirk only when open and locked. Carried closed it is not; concealed open-and-locked is an offence. K-12 schools ban any locking folder and blades over 2.5 in.
Benchmade Bugout	blade 82.3 mm (3.24 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Locking folder is a dirk only when open and locked. Carried closed it is not; concealed open-and-locked is an offence. K-12 schools ban any locking folder and blades over 2.5 in.
Morakniv Companion (stainless, Hi-Vis Orange shown)	blade 104 mm (4.09 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why A fixed blade capable of stabbing is a dirk or dagger: criminal if concealed (e.g. under clothing). Carried openly in a visible sheath it is outside 21310. Banned at schools if blade over 2.5 in.
Spyderco Delica 4 (Lightweight)	65 mm cutting edge (2.56 in)	Restricted Why Locking folder is a dirk only when open and locked. Carried closed it is not; concealed open-and-locked is an offence. K-12 schools ban any locking folder and blades over 2.5 in.
CIVIVI Elementum	blade 75.2 mm (2.96 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Locking folder is a dirk only when open and locked. Carried closed it is not; concealed open-and-locked is an offence. K-12 schools ban any locking folder and blades over 2.5 in.
ESEE Izula-II	blade 66.8 mm (2.63 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why A fixed blade capable of stabbing is a dirk or dagger: criminal if concealed (e.g. under clothing). Carried openly in a visible sheath it is outside 21310. Banned at schools if blade over 2.5 in.
Spyderco Ladybug 3	43 mm cutting edge (1.69 in)	Restricted Why Locking folder is a dirk only when open and locked. Carried closed it is not; concealed open-and-locked is an offence. K-12 schools ban any locking folder and blades over 2.5 in.
Kershaw Leek	blade 76.2 mm (3.00 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Locking folder is a dirk only when open and locked. Carried closed it is not; concealed open-and-locked is an offence. K-12 schools ban any locking folder and blades over 2.5 in.
Benchmade Mini Bugout	blade 71.6 mm (2.82 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Locking folder is a dirk only when open and locked. Carried closed it is not; concealed open-and-locked is an offence. K-12 schools ban any locking folder and blades over 2.5 in.
Opinel No.07 Stainless Steel	blade 80 mm (3.15 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Locking folder is a dirk only when open and locked. Carried closed it is not; concealed open-and-locked is an offence. K-12 schools ban any locking folder and blades over 2.5 in.
Opinel No.08 Stainless Steel	blade 85 mm (3.35 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Locking folder is a dirk only when open and locked. Carried closed it is not; concealed open-and-locked is an offence. K-12 schools ban any locking folder and blades over 2.5 in.
Spyderco Para 3	67 mm cutting edge (2.64 in)	Restricted Why Locking folder is a dirk only when open and locked. Carried closed it is not; concealed open-and-locked is an offence. K-12 schools ban any locking folder and blades over 2.5 in.
Gerber Paraframe I (stainless, plain edge)	blade 76.5 mm (3.01 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Locking folder is a dirk only when open and locked. Carried closed it is not; concealed open-and-locked is an offence. K-12 schools ban any locking folder and blades over 2.5 in.
Ontario Knife Company RAT Model 1 (RAT I)	blade 88.9 mm (3.50 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Locking folder is a dirk only when open and locked. Carried closed it is not; concealed open-and-locked is an offence. K-12 schools ban any locking folder and blades over 2.5 in.
CRKT Squid (Thumbstud)	blade 54.76 mm (2.16 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Locking folder is a dirk only when open and locked. Carried closed it is not; concealed open-and-locked is an offence. K-12 schools ban any locking folder and blades over 2.5 in.
CRKT Squid Assisted	blade 60.2 mm (2.37 in); cutting edge not published	Restricted Why Locking folder is a dirk only when open and locked. Carried closed it is not; concealed open-and-locked is an offence. K-12 schools ban any locking folder and blades over 2.5 in.

What the verdict does not cover

Public transport and restricted zones: Local ordinances exist (e.g. cities restrict knives in parks or public places); not verified here. Airports/federal buildings follow federal rules.
Schools, workplaces and events: PC 626.10: at K-12 schools, any dirk, dagger, knife blade over 2.5 in or locking folding knife is banned. Colleges/universities: dirk, dagger, ice pick or fixed blade over 2.5 in. Exceptions for lawful purpose within one's duties or faculty direction.
In a vehicle: Switchblade (2 in+) banned in driver/passenger area in public places (21510(a)). A fixed blade in a vehicle is usually not 'concealed on the person'; courts treat location case-by-case (not verified).
Age limits: No state minimum age found for owning ordinary knives; sale to minors of switchblades barred as sale of any switchblade. Not otherwise verified.
Buying and importing: Residents can buy ordinary knives. Switchblades with 2 in+ blades cannot be sold, lent or given in CA (21510(c)); online sellers commonly refuse CA shipping. Federal rules also apply.
Penalties: Concealed dirk/dagger: county jail up to 1 year (or 1170(h) sentence). Switchblade: misdemeanour. School offences: up to 1 year.
Recent changes: No 2025-2026 change to these sections found; Justia and FindLaw show current as of Jan 2026. People v. Castillolopez (Cal. 2016) held a pocketknife counts as a dirk only if locked open.
Pending changes: None verified. California has no statewide knife preemption that we verified; cities can add rules.

Sources

Penal Code 21310 (concealed dirk or dagger)
“any person in this state who carries concealed upon the person any dirk or dagger is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year”
Penal Code 16470 (dirk/dagger definition)
“only if the blade of the knife is exposed and locked into position.”
Penal Code 17235 and 21510 (switchblade, 2 in+)
“switchblade knife having a blade two or more inches in length is guilty of a misdemeanor”
Penal Code 626.10 (schools)
People v. Castillolopez (Cal. Supreme Court)

What we could not confirm

leginfo pages for 17235/21510 returned truncated text; full text read from Justia mirror
Balisong/gravity status unresolved
Local ordinances (e.g. LA, SF) not checked
Juvenile and vehicle-carrying nuances not verified

Keep going

General information, not legal advice. Know something we got wrong? Tell us and include a source.