text: Switchblades and butterfly knives are in fact illegal in California.  A pocketknife, however, is legal.  I know this for a fact because I always have two pocket knives with me at all times and since I interact with police officers on a daily basis, I already asked and was told it is legal as long as the blade is not open.  You don't even need a CCW permit to carry folding knives.  I live in San Diego, so your city may have different ordinances.\n\nThe knives I carry are the SOG Trident and a Kershaw Ken Onion series.