By LCTeam Balisongs commonly called butterfly knives have a devoted fan base among collectors, martial artists, and hobbyists, but their legal status in California remains far more restrictive than most people expect. Many assume they are just folding knives with a unique opening style, yet California law does not see them as ordinary tools. The way a balisong opens, using wrist movement or inertia instead of deliberate pressure on the blade itself, places it in the same legal category as a switchblade. Because of this classification, most balisongs sold online or at gun shows are illegal to possess, carry, buy, or sell in California. Even keeping one at home can lead to criminal charges, regardless of whether the knife is ever used as a weapon. In California, the design matters more than the owner’s intent, and the law treats the balisong as a prohibited weapon rather than an artistic or collectible knife.
Why California Treats Balisongs Like Switchblades
California defines a switchblade as any knife that opens automatically or by “the force of gravity or by an outward or downward wrist flick.” A balisong opens exactly this way: the user flips the handles and the blade deploys using momentum. That action makes it fall under Penal Code restrictions for switchblades. The law does not care that a person must manually move the handles first. If the knife can flick open by inertia rather than by pulling the blade itself, it becomes legally identical to a switchblade. This classification is the key reason balisongs are prohibited in California.
The Two-Inch Rule That Makes Most Balisongs Illegal
California law does not ban balisongs by name. Instead, it bans switchblades with blades two inches or longer. Because most butterfly knives exceed this length, nearly all balisongs are illegal for private individuals in California. Possessing, selling, transporting, importing, or even lending a balisong with a blade over two inches can lead to criminal penalties. Very small novelty butterfly knives under two inches technically fall outside the prohibition, but they are rare, impractical, and still restricted in certain public places. For most enthusiasts, this size rule means their balisong cannot legally exist in the state.
Can You Keep a Balisong at Home?
A common misconception is that prohibited knives become legal if they stay inside the home. California law does not provide a home exemption for illegal switchblades, which includes balisongs over two inches. Possession alone—regardless of where the knife is kept—can be charged as a crime. Police are not required to prove intent to harm. Even collectors who simply display a balisong run a risk if the knife meets the switchblade definition. The law regulates the item itself, not the owner’s purpose.
Penalties for Illegal Possession
Possessing or carrying an illegal balisong can be charged as a misdemeanor, though cases tied to other alleged crimes may be treated more severely. Penalties can include fines, confiscation of the knife, jail time, and a permanent criminal record. Knife laws in California are enforcement-based, meaning the consequences vary depending on circumstances and location. A simple traffic stop, school search, or routine police encounter can result in charges if a prohibited knife is found.
Conclusion
Balisongs are treated as switchblades in California, making most of them illegal due to the two-inch blade limit and the way they open using inertia. There is no general home possession exemption, and owning a typical butterfly knife—even as a collectible—can result in criminal penalties. Only tiny under-two-inch versions avoid the ban, and even they cannot be carried everywhere. In California, understanding knife law depends less on how you use the blade and more on how it opens. For anyone interested in balisongs, the safest and most lawful choice is simply not to own them in the state.