Posted: 12/20/2010 8:35:52 PM EDT
| What are the legalities of carrying a sword in California? Is there a way to do it legally (open carry)? |
| this guy tried it Seatle. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/169222/samurai_sword_vs_police/ |
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No, no, no, that guy was sick in the head. Does having a sword for self defense mean you are sick in the head? If so, what does owning a gun say about the state of your mental health? I was almost attacked by a VERY large dog the other night while out walking my little dog. The dog weighed 100-125 lb and the owner (a fat, very old lady) was totally unable to control it. I wished I had a baseball bat or a pipe or a gun or (wait for it),... a sword to defend myself. I could carry the bat or pipe legally if it is carried openly (I think). The gun is a political no-no. So, twell me, what about open carry of a sword?* * I remember reading that carrying swords in England is against the law and has been for centuries. Something about a King, and "by your leave, your Magesty...". |
Just as it's legal to do many things ... doesn't mean that you're smart for doing them. 
I know of no restrictions on open carry of a sword - or even knives over 5.5' long. 
You're not going to carry them on federal property like the post office, airport, or court houses without getting busted. If I caught you wandering around the local school house you might just meet with the pointy end of my concealed carry weapon. Come to think of it most public places would result in you facing Mr. Smith and Wesson or Glock point blank. Wouldn't think you'd be released before the 51-50 hold on your ass at the local nut ward following your arrest and face terrorist charges or the like - in any state! I carry a nice 4' folder and when I walked the dog I carried a steel rod about 40 inches long and 5/8" diameter. I found that it attracted zero attention. Most of the neighborhood seniors walk around with a golf club. My neighbor across the street got mauled by a "not a pit-bull" a few years ago, he whacked the animal with the aluminum shaft of the golf club with no effect. The proper way to use a steel rod is to fend with baseball like blows but to attack with both hands stabbing the thing like a spear attempting to thrust the thing with the strength of both arms through the animal's body. The punch effort from something that small hitting that hard is going to break skulls, ribs, shoulder blades, and collapse lungs ... now if I had a side-handle baton (not legal IIRC) I could do some really fancy T.J. Hooker whacking. |
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If you're doing this mainly for a defensive stand point against dogs, Pepper Spray and a Taser works great. Both are legal (pepper spray is limited to 2.5 oz) to carry in CA.
Man this reminds of that 80's flick "Blind Fury" Also blade weapons carry law is covered in PC 12020 http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=12001-13000&file=12020-12040 to long, to lazy to go through it. |
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It is legal to carry a sword, BUT for dogs carry pepper or bear spray. If you carry bear spray it can only be carried for use on animals. A sword cane is illegal as is any sword that is hidden in something or is disguised to look like something else i.e, umbrella. Carrying a sword all parts of it must be visible, you cant have a jacket covering the handle.
But come on man are you for real???!!! I garantee the cops will be over to visit and inspect your weapon and can legally detain you until they can determine you until you are confirmed not to be a danger to self or others. In the meantime they will check to make sure that you don't have a record or any restraining orders. Please don't carry a sword just get a walking stick. It will work better and look sane. |
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It is legal to carry a sword, BUT for dogs carry pepper or bear spray. If you carry bear spray it can only be carried for use on animals. A sword cane is illegal as is any sword that is hidden in something or is disguised to look like something else i.e, umbrella. Carrying a sword all parts of it must be visible, you cant have a jacket covering the handle. But come on man are you for real???!!! I garantee the cops will be over to visit and inspect your weapon and can legally detain you until they can determine you until you are confirmed not to be a danger to self or others. In the meantime they will check to make sure that you don't have a record or any restraining orders. Please don't carry a sword just get a walking stick. It will work better and look sane. save every one the trouble, an inexpierianced cop sees you carrying a samuri sword slung in a cross draw fashion, his pulse goes up, then it's a twenty minute ordeal for both of you to work through, about the time he's finished questioning you back up arrives with a fire hose and they don't even get to use it what a bummer. Bear repellant would be your best bet, like one of these http://www.bearicuda.com/bear-safety/bear_pepper_spray.php you could pack in one of these http://www.defensedevices.com/mk9-thigh-holster.html I think the bear spray is only 2% oleoresin-capsicum where most human approved defensive spray is about 6%. I've heard stories of attacking animals literally scratching their own eyes out after a direct shot of high grade spray. I've seen the spray for sale in my local ace hardware store. BTW it is a FELONY to use in any fashion not prescribed by manufacture. |
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LOL! I knew you'd all have this generally anti-sword perspective. How did I know that?
It is interesting that it is legal to do. It's interesting that a lawfully carried weapon by a good upstanding citizen immediately converts them to a WHACKO! like that guy in the youtube video, above. By the way, I wasn't thinking ninja Samurai sword, I was thinking of a gladius. Another by the way - there are several martial arts training centers within half a mile of me that offer serious sword fighting martial arts training, however, I am fairly sure that is based upon the use of a Samurai sword. No, I am not kidding about this. Is there case law to support the assertion that it is legal to carry a bludgeon of some sort (bat, club,...)? In reading the sections of the laws (posted above) it is not clear to me, at all, that it is legal. Maybe I should make a "pooper scooper" that just happens to have a very stout, tubular handle. You know, if I have to pick up a very heavy poop it needs a stout handle. |
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LOL! I knew you'd all have this generally anti-sword perspective. How did I know that? From where I sit it was more of a pro-sanity perspective than an anti-sword. You could have also suggested wearing a full suit of medieval armor without sword and you'd get the same concerns for your sanity. You'd likely gather just as much police attention. |
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Carrying a sword in public =  I know, I know, I agree but I'm not talking about walking thru the mall or down Main Street. I am talking about what I perceive to be a serious self-defense issue here. You don't have a problem with that, do you? If you do and you cannot contribute something productive - leave my thread. So, it is only at night, during the dog walks that it ever seems to be needed. It is then that I encounter the borderline out of control German Shepard. There is also the guy who has three pit bulls on leashes, if they ever decide to attack, he will not be able to restrain them and my sense of him is he would not even try. How about the little girls who walk dogs bigger than them, are pulled down the street by them, and if the dog ever attacked would have absolutely no chance of restraining them. Does anyone have statistics on injuries from dog attacks? Would you be laughing if I was discussing the option of (illegally) carrying a firearm? No, I didn't think so. Legal behavior is laughable, illegal behavior is condoned. Hmmm,... ? |
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You cannot carry a billy club or other bludgeoning object that is primarily made as a weapon. A walking stick can be a club but is primarily designed for talking a walk. Carrying a sword in public to defend yourself from dogs will make you look like a deviant. I am fully aware some people like doing things like this so they can invite police detainment to then trumpet about their rights. Most people I know carry pepper spray, a walking stick or even just a rolled up newspaper to deal with dogs. If you stab a dog to death with a Roman short stabbing sword you will be characterized as having gone looking for the opportunity to maim and animal. I am willing to bet you will at least get sued.
There are times to stand out and times to blend in. Self defense is one of those times. You want a jury of your peers to be able to look at you and say "oh yeah I would have hit that dog with my stick if I were in that position too." not "WTF that dude was walking down the street with a flippin sword! He has been stopped by the cops 4 times and said he was carrying it to kill a dog then he killed Mrs Millers Golden Retriever, guilty!" There is a reason people stopped using swords a long time ago, they just aren't practical especially in this day and age. As far as dog bites go they are actually pretty rare and serious ones needing a trip to the ER are even more rare than that. You are more likely to be robbed at gun point in most larger communities. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen though and confrontations with aggressive or territorial animals do occur. Pepper spray will blind and confuse scent that takes the fight out of most dogs. |
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Thanks, a well reasoned argument in favor of your perspective.
In my neighborhood, I have already had a dog attack mine. The front door of a house was left open, as the residents were loading a car. Their dog took the opportunity to charge out of the house and attack my dog from behind. The Korean owner was unapologetic and offensive. Somehow, it was my fault their unleashed dog charged out of their house at us. In my neighborhood, large, untrained dogs are the most serious threat, not armed robbery. It is bordering on out of control. I have given four examples from my personal experiences, alone. |