California Knife Laws: What’s Legal to Carry in 2026

California has no statewide blade-length limit for ordinary pocketknives, but it is illegal to carry a concealed dirk or dagger — a fixed blade or locking knife capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon — under Penal Code 21310. Switchblades are further restricted to blades under 2 inches, and several cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, impose their own local limits on top of state law.

Knife law confusion isn’t just a curiosity — it matters in criminal defense, in premises liability cases involving knife injuries, and in personal injury claims where a knife was used or present. Here’s what the law actually says.

What Counts as a “Dirk or Dagger” Under California Law

Penal Code 16470 defines a dirk or dagger as a knife or similar instrument capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that could cause great bodily injury or death. That definition is broader than most people expect — it explicitly excludes a pocketknife with a blade that’s folded closed or that doesn’t lock open, but it can include locking folding knives carried open, and virtually any fixed-blade knife.

Concealed vs. Open Carry

Penal Code 21310 makes it a crime to carry a dirk or dagger concealed on your person. Concealment is the key issue — Penal Code 20200 specifically states that a knife carried in a sheath worn openly on your belt is not “concealed” for purposes of this law. Tucking that same knife under a jacket, or carrying a locking folder open in a pocket where it isn’t visible, can cross the line.

Switchblades

California restricts switchblades — knives that open automatically by gravity, inertia, or a spring mechanism — to blades under 2 inches. Carrying a switchblade with a longer blade, especially concealed or on your person in public, can result in criminal charges.

Local Ordinances Can Be Stricter

State law sets the floor, not the ceiling. Cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco have local ordinances restricting blades over 3 inches in certain public places. If you’re carrying a knife anywhere in California, it’s worth checking local rules in addition to state law — what’s legal in one city may not be in another.

Penalties for Violating PC 21310

Carrying a concealed dirk or dagger is a “wobbler” — prosecutors can charge it as either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances and the person’s criminal history. A felony conviction can carry state prison time, while a misdemeanor typically means county jail time and fines.

How Knife Laws Intersect With Personal Injury Cases

Knife law rarely comes up in isolation — it often becomes relevant in personal injury and premises liability cases in a few specific ways:

• Assault and battery claims — a civil claim for damages can proceed independently of, and often alongside, any criminal knife charges.
• Premises liability — if a business or property owner knew about a pattern of violence (including prior knife incidents) and failed to provide adequate security, they can share liability for an attack that happens on their property.
• Dog bite and animal cases — occasionally relevant when someone used a knife in self-defense against an aggressive animal, raising separate liability questions.

What to Do If You Were Injured in a Knife-Related Incident

• Get medical treatment immediately — knife wounds carry serious infection and internal injury risk beyond what’s visible.
• Report the incident to police and get a case number.
• Document the scene and your injuries with photos as soon as it’s safe to do so.
• Consider whether a property owner’s negligence contributed — inadequate lighting, security, or a known pattern of prior incidents can open a separate civil claim beyond pursuing the individual who caused the injury.

How We Can Help

Whether you were injured in an assault involving a knife, or a business’s failure to provide reasonable security contributed to what happened, these cases require looking beyond the criminal charge to identify every party who bears responsibility. Our team has recovered nearly $250 million for clients across roughly 15,000 cases, and we know how to build a civil claim that runs alongside — or independently of — any criminal case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a legal blade length limit in California?

Not statewide for ordinary knives, though switchblades are limited to blades under 2 inches, and some cities impose their own local blade-length restrictions.

Can I carry a knife openly in California?

Generally yes, if it’s not concealed — a knife carried openly in a belt sheath is specifically excluded from the concealed carry prohibition under Penal Code 20200.

What’s the penalty for carrying a concealed dirk or dagger?

It’s a wobbler offense, meaning it can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances, with felony convictions carrying potential state prison time.

Can I sue someone who injured me with a knife, separate from criminal charges?

Yes. A civil personal injury claim is separate from any criminal prosecution and can proceed regardless of the outcome of criminal charges against the person who hurt you.

Injured in an Assault or Knife-Related Incident? We Can Help.

If you were hurt and believe a property owner’s negligence played a role, don’t assume the criminal case is your only path to justice. Call Batta Fulkerson Law Group for a free consultation. No fees unless we win.