California legal term
undetectable knife in California Criminal Law
Current through 2026 California legislative session
In California criminal law, “undetectable knife” 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 “undetectable knife” mean in California criminal law?
“undetectable knife” means any knife or other instrument, with or without a handguard, that satisfies all of the following requirements: (a) It is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death. (Cal. Penal Code § 17290)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.