California legal term
dagger in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “dagger” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the California criminal code.
What does “dagger” mean in California criminal law?
“dagger” means a knife 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. (Cal. Penal Code § 16470)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.