In a decision that’s got Second Amendment advocates sharpening their pitchforks, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld key portions of California’s notorious switchblade ban, ruling that states can still criminalize the concealed carry of certain pocketknives. The case, stemming from challenges to California’s Penal Code sections that restrict automatic knives with blades over 2 inches, didn’t fully dismantle the law but left intact prohibitions on carrying these tools in pockets or sheaths. It’s a narrow win for the state, affirming that the Second Amendment’s protections—extended to bearable arms via Heller, McDonald, and Bruen—don’t automatically shield every folding blade from regulation. For the uninitiated, switchblades aren’t just movie props from West Side Story; they’re practical everyday carry items for many, from tradesmen to outdoorsmen, and this ruling echoes the fuzzy line courts draw between arms and mere tools.

Digging deeper, this isn’t just about flicking a wrist to deploy a blade—it’s a bellwether for how post-Bruen scrutiny is playing out in the knife world, where 2A rights bleed into the less sexy realm of edged weapons. The Ninth Circuit leaned on historical analogues, nodding to 19th-century laws banning concealed deadly weapons like Bowie knives, arguing that switchblades fit that mold without running afoul of the Constitution’s text, history, and tradition test. Critics in the 2A community, including groups like the Firearms Policy Coalition who litigated this, see red flags: if California can kneecap switchblades for public safety, what’s next—karambits, assisted-open folders, or even multi-tools? It’s a slippery slope that undermines the Bruen promise of presumptive individual rights, especially in a circuit notorious for anti-gun rulings. Pro-2A folks should watch for en banc review or SCOTUS cert, as this could force clarity on whether arms includes the pointy stuff our founders relied on pre-firearm dominance.

The implications ripple wide for the concealed carry crowd: in the nine Western states under Ninth Circuit sway, expect emboldened prosecutors to target knife enthusiasts, pushing more folks toward compliant manual folders or out-of-state shopping sprees. It’s a reminder to stock up on grandpa’s old slip-joint while you can, and to rally behind legislation like the Federal Switchblade Act repeal efforts. This isn’t the apocalypse for edged tools, but it’s a stark call to arms—pun intended—for the 2A community to broaden the fight beyond bang-bang to every means of self-defense. Stay vigilant, patriots; the state’s reach is longer than you think.