Quote Originally Posted by Séamus Ua Proinsias View Post
. . .California's draconian open carry (or concealed carry, if it's stuck into hose, but only maybe) laws (stricter in parts of Los Angeles, but not other parts, but only maybe), which I have been categorically unable to figure out. . .
Aye, I know. Where blades are concerned, California municipalities are free to enact local ordinances which are more restrictive than state law. In practice, most don't. And in practice, even where more restrictive ordinances exist, most agencies don't bother enforcing them. But they ARE out there in some places, and L.A. is one of them.

If I go down that way again to teach a martial arts seminar, as I've done from time to time, I'm taking and wearing (once I'm off the plane and have my checked bag) the staghorn sgian Taygrd made for me. I doubt I'd get hassled in the first place; but if it happened I'd happily trot out the myth which can be found so easily online that the sgian dubh derives from the concealed-carry sgian achlais and that wearing it in the stocking began with the custom of placing it there when entering someone's home as a guest precisely so that it would be visible and not concealed, thus showing your honorable intentions.