Knife laws in California

[Cal. Penal Code § 21510] Every person who does any of the following with a switchblade knife having a blade two or more inches in length is guilty of a misdemeanor:
(a)Possesses the knife in the passenger’s or driver’s area of any motor vehicle in any public place or place open to the public.
(b)Carries the knife upon the person.
(c)Sells, offers for sale, exposes for sale, loans, transfers, or gives the knife to any other person.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6.   (SB 1080)   Effective January 1, 2011.   Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 17235] As used in this part, “switchblade knife” means a knife having the appearance of a pocketknife and includes a spring-blade knife, snap-blade knife, gravity knife, or any other similar type knife, the blade or blades of which are two or more inches in length and which can be released automatically by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle, flip of the wrist or other mechanical device, or is released by the weight of the blade or by any type of mechanism whatsoever. “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.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6.   (SB 1080)   Effective January 1, 2011.   Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 21590] The unlawful possession or carrying of any switchblade knife, as provided in Section 21510, is a nuisance and is subject to Sections 18000 and 18005.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6.   (SB 1080)   Effective January 1, 2011.   Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 17235] As used in this part, “switchblade knife” means a knife having the appearance of a pocketknife and includes a spring-blade knife, snap-blade knife, gravity knife, or any other similar type knife, the blade or blades of which are two or more inches in length and which can be released automatically by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle, flip of the wrist or other mechanical device, or is released by the weight of the blade or by any type of mechanism whatsoever. “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.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6.   (SB 1080)   Effective January 1, 2011.   Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 20410] Except as provided in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division 2 of Title 2, any person in this state who manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses any belt buckle knife is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 43, Sec. 88.   (SB 1023)   Effective June 27, 2012.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 16260] As used in this part, “belt buckle knife” is a knife that is made an integral part of a belt buckle and consists of a blade with a length of at least two and one-half inches.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6.   (SB 1080)   Effective January 1, 2011.   Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 20310] Except as provided in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division 2 of Title 2, any person in this state who manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses any air gauge knife is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 43, Sec. 87.   (SB 1023)   Effective June 27, 2012.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 16140] As used in this part, “air gauge knife” means a device that appears to be an air gauge but has concealed within it a pointed, metallic shaft that is designed to be a stabbing instrument which is exposed by mechanical action or gravity which locks into place when extended.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6.   (SB 1080)   Effective January 1, 2011.   Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 20610] Except as provided in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division 2 of Title 2, any person in this state who manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses any lipstick case knife is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 43, Sec. 90.   (SB 1023)   Effective June 27, 2012.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 16830] As used in this part, a “lipstick case knife” means a knife enclosed within and made an integral part of a lipstick case.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6.   (SB 1080)   Effective January 1, 2011.   Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 20910] Except as provided in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division 2 of Title 2, any person in this state who manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses any writing pen knife is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 43, Sec. 92.   (SB 1023)   Effective June 27, 2012.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 17350] As used in this part, “writing pen knife” means a device that appears to be a writing pen but has concealed within it a pointed, metallic shaft that is designed to be a stabbing instrument which is exposed by mechanical action or gravity which locks into place when extended or the pointed, metallic shaft is exposed by the removal of the cap or cover on the device.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6.   (SB 1080)   Effective January 1, 2011.   Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 20510] Except as provided in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division 2 of Title 2, any person in this state who manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses any cane sword is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 43, Sec. 89.   (SB 1023)   Effective June 27, 2012.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 16340] As used in this part, “cane sword” means a cane, swagger stick, stick, staff, rod, pole, umbrella, or similar device, having concealed within it a blade that may be used as a sword or stiletto.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6.   (SB 1080)   Effective January 1, 2011.   Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 20710] Except as provided in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division 2 of Title 2, any person in this state who manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses any shobi-zue is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 43, Sec. 91.   (SB 1023)   Effective June 27, 2012.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 17160] As used in this part, a “shobi-zue” means a staff, crutch, stick, rod, or pole concealing a knife or blade within it, which may be exposed by a flip of the wrist or by a mechanical action.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6.   (SB 1080)   Effective January 1, 2011.   Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 21110] Except as provided in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division 2 of Title 2, any person in this state who manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, or possesses any ballistic knife is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 43, Sec. 93.   (SB 1023)   Effective June 27, 2012.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 16220] As used in this part, “ballistic knife” means a device that propels a knifelike blade as a projectile by means of a coil spring, elastic material, or compressed gas. Ballistic knife does not include any device that propels an arrow or a bolt by means of any common bow, compound bow, crossbow, or underwater speargun.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6.   (SB 1080)   Effective January 1, 2011.   Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 20810] (a)Any person in this state who commercially manufactures or causes to be commercially manufactured, or who knowingly imports into the state for commercial sale, or who knowingly exports out of this state for commercial, dealer, wholesaler, or distributor sale, or who keeps for commercial sale, or offers or exposes for commercial, dealer, wholesaler, or distributor sale, any undetectable knife is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, commencing January 1, 2000, all knives or other instrument with or without a handguard that is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death that are commercially manufactured in this state that utilize materials that are not detectable by a metal detector or magnetometer, shall be manufactured to include materials that will ensure they are detectable by a metal detector or magnetometer, either handheld or otherwise, that is set at standard calibration.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6.   (SB 1080)   Effective January 1, 2011.   Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 17290] As used in this part, “undetectable knife” means any knife or other instrument, with or without a handguard, that satisfies all of the following requirements:
(a)It is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death.
(b)It is commercially manufactured to be used as a weapon.
(c)It is not detectable by a metal detector or magnetometer, either handheld or otherwise, which is set at standard calibration.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6.   (SB 1080)   Effective January 1, 2011.   Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 20815] Section 20810 does not apply to the manufacture or importation of any undetectable knife for sale to a law enforcement or military entity with a valid agency, department, or unit purchase order, nor does Section 20810 apply to the subsequent sale of any undetectable knife to a law enforcement or military entity.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6.   (SB 1080)   Effective January 1, 2011.   Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.)

[Cal. Penal Code § 20820] Section 20810 does not apply to the manufacture or importation of any undetectable knife for sale to a federal, state, or local historical society, museum, or institutional collection that is open to the public, provided that the undetectable knife is properly housed and secured from unauthorized handling, nor does Section 20810 apply to the subsequent sale of the knife to any of these entities.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 711, Sec. 6.   (SB 1080)   Effective January 1, 2011.   Operative January 1, 2012, by Sec. 10 of Ch. 711.)

§1242. Introduction, manufacture for introduction, transportation or distribution in interstate commerce; penalty
Whoever knowingly introduces, or manufactures for introduction, into interstate commerce, or transports or distributes in interstate commerce, any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(Pub. L. 85–623, §2, Aug. 12, 1958, 72 Stat. 562.)

§1245. Ballistic knives
(a) Prohibition and penalties for possession, manufacture, sale, or importation
Whoever in or affecting interstate commerce, within any Territory or possession of the United States, within Indian country (as defined in section 1151 of title 18), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in section 7 of title 18), knowingly possesses, manufactures, sells, or imports a ballistic knife shall be fined as provided in title 18, or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
(b) Prohibition and penalties for possession or use during commission of Federal crime of violence
Whoever possesses or uses a ballistic knife in the commission of a Federal crime of violence shall be fined as provided in title 18, or imprisoned not less than five years and not more than ten years, or both.
(c) Exceptions
The exceptions provided in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 1244 of this title with respect to switchblade knives shall apply to ballistic knives under subsection (a) of this section.
(d) "Ballistic knife" defined
As used in this section, the term "ballistic knife" means a knife with a detachable blade that is propelled by a spring-operated mechanism.
(Pub. L. 85–623, §7, as added Pub. L. 99–570, title X, §10002, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–167; amended Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, §6472, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4379.)

(g) All knives having a blade which opens automatically (1) by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or (2) by operation of inertia, gravity, or both, are nonmailable and shall not be deposited in or carried by the mails or delivered by any officer or employee of the Postal Service. Such knives may be conveyed in the mails, under such regulations as the Postal Service shall prescribe—
(1) to civilian or Armed Forces supply or procurement officers and employees of the Federal Government ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of the Federal Government;
(2) to supply or procurement officers of the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or militia of a State ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such organizations;
(3) to supply or procurement officers or employees of any State, or any political subdivision of a State or Territory, ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such government; and
(4) to manufacturers of such knives or bona fide dealers therein in connection with any shipment made pursuant to an order from any person designated in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).
The Postal Service may require, as a condition of conveying any such knife in the mails, that any person proposing to mail such knife explain in writing to the satisfaction of the Postal Service that the mailing of such knife will not be in violation of this section.

(i)(1) Any ballistic knife shall be subject to the same restrictions and penalties provided under subsection (g) for knives described in the first sentence of that subsection.
(2) As used in this subsection, the term "ballistic knife" means a knife with a detachable blade that is propelled by a spring-operated mechanism.

442 Mailability
A switchblade knife, as defined in 441.2, is mailable only to the following categories of addressees:
Government Supply or Procurement Officials: Designated officers or employees ordering, procuring, or purchasing switchblade knives in connection with the activities of their respective governments or organizations, such as:
Federal employees, civilian, or armed forces supply or procurement officers.
Supply or procurement officers of the National Guard, Air National Guard, or militia of a state, territory, or the District of Columbia (D.C.).
Supply or procurement officers or employees of municipal government in D.C., or of the government of any state, territory, county, city, or other political subdivision of a state or territory.
Postal Service employees may require that the mailer verify the recipient belongs to one of the above categories before accepting any mailpiece containing an article or articles described in 441.2.
Manufacturers or Dealers: Authorized manufacturers or bona fide dealers may mail switchblade knives to addresses within one of the categories listed above in connection with official procurement or resale.
When uncertain about the mailability of a sharp instrument or a switchblade knife, a ruling may be requested from the local postmaster (refer to 215).

343.24 Lighters
Lighters with ignition elements and containing liquid fuel are classified as a Class 3 flammable liquid; those containing flammable gas are Division 2.1. Mailing is permitted only for domestic surface transportation only under the following conditions:
Certification: Lighter design must be certified by a DOT-approved lighter testing agency per 49 CFR § 173.21(i) and 173.308, with an issued Approval Number (LAA****).
Authorization: Mailers must submit a written request to mail lighters, to the PCSC director, accompanied by a legible copy of the official DOT approval notice described in 343.24a, along with a sample lighter within the proposed packaging. The request must also include the quantity of lighters being mailed and the post office location where the mailings will be entered. An approval letter must be obtained from the PCSC director prior to mailing.
Packaging: Packaging must secure the lighter‘s sparking mechanism against accidental ignition, and all preparation and packaging requirements in the PCSC director‘s approval letter must be met. Packaging Instruction 3C in Appendix C must be followed.
Labeling: The address side of the mailpiece must display the following:
Proper Shipping Name (Lighter(s) or Lighter Refill(s))
Approval Number (LAA*****)
Surface Only or Surface Mail Only
Documentation: A legible copy of the PCSC director‘s approval letter must be presented at the time of the first mailing at each Postal Service facility. A shipping paper is not required.

349.241 General Requirements
The following additional restrictions apply to the mailability of all secondary lithium-ion or lithium polymer cells and batteries:
Watt-Hour Rating per Cell: Cells must not exceed a 20 Wh rating.
Watt-Hour Rating per Battery: Batteries must not exceed a 100 Wh rating.
Watt-Hour Marking: Each battery must display the "Watt-hour" or "Wh" marking to verify it is within the limits defined in items a and b.
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Lithium Content per Cell: Each cell must not exceed more than 1.0 gram of lithium.
Lithium Content per Battery: Each battery must not exceed more than 2.0 grams of lithium content.
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Damaged, Defective, or Recalled Batteries: Damaged, defective, or recalled batteries unless approved by the director, Product Classification (Refer to 214 for contact information).

The following materials are nonmailable:
All flammable liquids having a flashpoint of 20° F (-7° C) or below are prohibited from mailing.
Gasoline (UN1203) is a flammable liquid that normally has a flashpoint of -50° F. Gasoline is nonmailable under any circumstances.
Acetone (UN1090) normally has a flashpoint of 0° F, Benzene (UN1114) normally has a flashpoint of 12° F, and Hexane(s) (UN1208) normally have flashpoints in the vicinity of -15° F. All are nonmailable unless diluted with less flammable or nonflammable materials sufficient to raise the flashpoint to 20° F or higher.

344.2 Mailability
The following conditions apply for mailing Hazard Class 4 items:
International Mail: All flammable solids are prohibited.
Domestic Mail via Air Transportation: All flammable solids are prohibited.
Domestic Mail via Surface Transportation: Flammable solids that qualify as Limited Quantity surface materials are permitted.
344.21 Mailable Flammable Solids
The following flammable solids are permitted for mailing under specified conditions:
Limited Quantity Surface Materials: Flammable solids that qualify as Limited Quantity surface materials are permitted in the domestic mail via surface transportation.
Safety matches: Book, card, or strike-on-box safety matches are permitted only in domestic mail via surface transportation.
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Strike-anywhere matches and safety matches are examples of flammable solids. All flammable solids are prohibited in domestic air transportation and in international mail. Safety matches (book, card, or strike-on-box) are mailable only domestic surface transportation.

In order to ship packages containing hazardous materials via FedEx Ground service, you first must complete an approval process. Contact your FedEx account executive to become an approved hazardous materials shipper.
Before you can begin shipping hazardous materials via FedEx, you must be approved (see How to Qualify). Contact your FedEx account executive or call FedEx Customer Service at 1.800.463.3339 (say “hazardous materials”) for more information.
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For all types of FedEx packages containing hazardous materials, you first must complete an approval process. Contact your FedEx account executive to become an approved hazardous materials shipper.
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Hazardous materials, including Limited Quantity materials and dry ice, are not accepted at FedEx Office® Print and Ship Centers, FedEx Ship Center® locations, FedEx Office® Ship Centers, FedEx Authorized ShipCenter® locations, FedEx® Drop Boxes or unstaffed FedEx locations. Shipments containing hazardous materials, including Limited Quantity materials and dry ice, must be tendered to FedEx via a scheduled pickup at the customer location. FedEx Office Print and Ship Centers will accept shipments containing lithium batteries shipped according to 49 CFR 173.185. See FedEx® services available to ship dangerous goods for information on dropping off FedEx shipments that contain lithium batteries (look under Restrictions).