2/22    Are butterfly knives illegal in CA?  Are there any good online sources
        where I can find out information on stuff like this?
        \_ blades less than 4" are legal. butt knives, stilettos are not
           legal no matter what the length.
        \_ Previous poster is wrong (*all* blades over 4" are not illegal!
           That would outlaw steak knives!).  CA state law says that
                \_ No, you just don't know how to read.  The two statements
                   'blades less than 4" are legal' and '*all* blades over 4"
                    are not illegal!' do not contradict each other.  The
                   first statement implies that some blades over 4" are
                   not legal, but it can be completely true even if all
                   blades less than 4" are legal, since it actually says
                   nothing about blades longer than 4".
                   \_ yup (late night).  The statement "blades less than 4"
                      are legal" is false, which is what I should have said.
           automatic knives with blade lengths of less than two inches are
           legal.  CA case law classifies butterfly knives as automatics.
           As far as state law is concerned, a butterfly knife with a blade
           less than two inches long is perfectly legal.  Some local
           governments (Mountain View, for example) ban possession of all
           automatic knives, regardless of blade length.
           <DEAD>pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/sta-law.htm<DEAD> is a good reference
           on state knife laws, but I don't know of one that covers local
           ordinances.  The relevant federal agency (sorry -- I don't
           remember which one that is off the top of my head) has reversed
           themselves, declaring that butterfly knives are no longer
                 not carried in public.
           considered automatics (making them legal for interstate sales
           and importation into the country).  California's state knife
           laws are ambiguous and open to abusive enforcement.
           \_ my apologies.  i stand corrected.  wow. and just to think
              i could have been carrying a legal 2" butterfly knife.  guess
              i'll sell this 6" one.
              \_ The 1.9" automatics are kinda cool.  With how poorly the laws
                 covering this are written, some argue that it is technically
                 legal to own a full-size butterfly knife in CA, as long as it
                 is not carried in public.  Wanna be the test case?
           \_ is my rapier legal?
              \_ I think it's legal to carry around a sheathed sword, as long as
                 it's visible.
              \_ Yes.  Is it under 2"?
           \_ You can't go wrong with a flail.
                \_ I prefer the standard mace.  Just a big chunk of steel at
                   the end of a stick can do wonders on Telegraph.