Knives Custom

Custom knife maker in CA legal issues?

ok so i am a knife maker in southern california.
i know that california laws state that civilians are not allowed to own assisted opening or gravity assisted blades.
however they have exemptions for police and military. is it ok to manufacture those types of knives with the intent of selling to military and police only? is there some kind of permit i need? if so how much would it cost?
i havn’t made any yet as i don’t know if it would be legal or not. but i would really like to help our guys overseas and here on the streets enforcing laws. thank you.

There’s a few things I need to correct about California state law and Federal law, as these are essential to what you want to do. The main law you are concerned with is CA Penal Code 653k.

First things first, is that what the law calls something and what they are actually called in real life are two different things. This is especially true in California’s law.

Now, “switchblades” as named by 653k are not illegal to own or manufacture, and no permit is required to do either of these things. And if the blade is under 2 inches long, they can be sold and carried by anyone. The ProTech Runt is a famous “California Legal” switchblade due to its tiny blade. For switchblades that have longer blades, they are illegal to sell and to carry under 653k, but still legal to make and own in one’s home.

Next issue is how the law defines a switchblade. The short answer is that 653k includes true switchblades (they have a switch in the {handle} and open via spring), gravity knives (they literally “fall open” with no arm movement when a switch is pressed) , and butterfly knives. It does NOT include “Assisted-opening knives” (which have no switch but use a spring to open when the blade is pressed), and various thumb-stud knives.

653k contains no exceptions for selling or offering for sale to the military or police. If you plan on selling switchblades, they must be under 2 inches regardless of the client. In addition, Federal law makes selling of ANY true switchblades over state lines illegal unless it is to the military or a police department (it has no restrictions other than selling). No permit required, just due diligence when you sell.

So in summary, you can make any knife you please. But if you want to sell, any switchblades/butterfly knives/gravity knives must be under 2 inches long if you sell within the state of CA, and any true switchblades sold outside the state must be to police or military.

James McGowan Custom Knives