Cal. Codes » Penal Code / PART 6. CONTROL OF DEADLY WEAPONS / TITLE 1. PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS / DIVISION 2. DEFINITIONS
California Codes

Cal. Penal Code § 16470 (2026)

Definitions — Preliminary Provisions

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As used in this part, “dirk” or “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. A nonlocking folding knife, a folding knife that is not prohibited by Section 21510, or a pocketknife is capable of ready use as a stabbing weapon that may inflict great bodily injury or death only if the blade of the knife is exposed and locked into position.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2014–2024 · leading case: People v. Castillolopez, 371 P.3d 216 (Cal. 2016).
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People v. Castillolopez, 371 P.3d 216 (Cal. 2016). “Penal Code section 16470 defines a “ ‘dirk’ or ‘dagger’ ” as “a knife .”
State v. DeCiccio, 315 Conn. 79 (2014). · cites it 4× “’’ By way of illustration, the defendant notes that, in contrast to Connecticut’s statutory scheme, which contains no definition of the term, Cali- fornia has enacted legislation that expressly defines the term ‘‘dirk’’; Cal. Penal Code § 16470 (Deering 2012);7 an action by the…”
People v. Hester, 58 Cal. App. 5th 630 (Cal. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 2× “Penal Code section 16470 defines a dirk or dagger as “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.”
People v. Aldama, No. B323025 (Cal. Ct. App. May 30, 2024). · cites it 2× “Section 21310 Does Not Run Afoul of the Second Amendment Section 21310 provides, subject to exceptions not applicable here, that “any person in this state who carries concealed upon the person any dirk or dagger is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one…”
People v. Bermudez, 40 Cal. App. 5th 412 (Cal. Ct. App. 2019). “On appeal, defendant contends (1) the statute defining a dirk (Pen. Code, § 16470)1 is unconstitutionally vague; (2) the trial court erred in allowing two officers to testify to the legal definition of a dirk; (3) a gang expert provided improper opinion testimony that defendant…”
People v. Bermudez, 45 Cal. App. 5th 358 (Cal. Ct. App. 2020). “On appeal, defendant contends (1) the statute defining a dirk (Pen. Code, § 16470)1 is unconstitutionally vague; (2) the trial court erred in allowing two officers to testify to the legal definition of a dirk; (3) a gang expert provided improper opinion testimony that defendant…”
In re I.G. Ca6, No. H040896 (Cal. Ct. App. Aug. 25, 2015). “) Penal Code section 16470 defines a dirk or dagger as 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.”
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