CA Legal Auto Recommendations? Pics added 1/23

[Furcs]

Merry Christmas all!
Thinking about buying a decent CA legal auto and looking for suggestions from anyone that has had experience with them. The only one I've ever owned was a cheap woody that kept popping open in my pocket ( not good results when I'm hunting for car keys), so I'm inclined to look for something with a safety, but pretty much what I'm finding is: Kershaw launch, Benchhmade Lerch Impel, Protech Runt and Protech Half-Breed , and I kinda like the extended handle on the Half-Breed especially...but no safety? Do recessed button-knives still pop open in the pocket?
That's about all I'm seeing, so if anyone has experience with any of these, or other ideas or thoughts including best sources to buy from, all opinions are welcome and appreciated. Those I mentioned are mostly in my price range but trying to keep cost down, just so it's relative to wanting it to have as simple user and not to collect.

Thanks my brothers, and hoping you are all having a happy holiday season, and most of all MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[whippersnapper]

If you can still find one the Schrade SC50 Extreme Survival has a safety. They are a budget knife ($30) but made pretty good. It's the only modern one I can think of that comes with a safety.
https://www.google.com/search?q=schrade ... vZ2QhNM%3A

I have also owned and carried CA legal knives by Protech, GT, Dalton, DKD, and probably others and don't remember ever having one open in my pocket, but I suppose it is possible.

[ILikeStilettos]

What are the specifics of being California legal - perhaps I can design you something that looks evil, but is legal.

[whippersnapper]

Under a 2" length blade.

[ILikeStilettos]

Under a 2" length blade.

For everything, or just a switchblade?

[whippersnapper]

Just for an auto.

[ILikeStilettos]

[attachment=0]FB_IMG_1482481741122.jpg[/attachment

Would something like the two knives in the middle be of interest? The blade would be 2" long, but very sharp and with more than 2" of cutting edge. I would put like 3-4" of handle on it, with a pocket clip. It would be a coil fired picklock, lockback, or liner lock. It could be double bladed like the old prestos ... maybe one serrated blade? What do you think?

[Midnight Drums]

The ProTech Runt would be my choice.
A quality knife, recessed button, dangerously sharp from the factory!

I own cocabolo handled ProTech knives, Godfather, Godson, The Don, and the Runt.

All very good knives.

I have a TR3B in my pocket now.

[Furcs]

Thanks very much everyone, I'm going to look forward to getting one or more soon. Haven't bought a knife, other than the Mr.Jerr Bear Lightning, in a long time so even buying something less expensive, but good for what I need, is getting my heart pumping a little.
Mr whippersnapper , I've found a SC50A ( not sure what the 'A' difference is, but it's definitely an auto and looks the same to me) so may start with that, and it does look good. I like the Pro Tech Runt a lot too, Mr. Midnight Drums, and may get one of those also. Mr. ILikeStilettos, wow! is all I can say. Obviously those are beautiful and unusual knives, and I appreciate that. Maybe someday would be very nice to have something like that, but in the meantime I think something more 'standard' and off-the-shelf is what I'm wanting.
Merry Christmas!

[natcherly]

Would something like the two knives in the middle be of interest? The blade would be 2" long, but very sharp and with more than 2" of cutting edge. I would put like 3-4" of handle on it, with a pocket clip. It would be a coil fired picklock, lockback, or liner lock. It could be double bladed like the old prestos ... maybe one serrated blade? What do you think?

As Mr. Whip noted, CA legal means blade must be under 2". Not clear how you can have MORE than 2" cutting edge unless it warps around somehow. Even then, you might have problems. Best KISS.

[sammy the blade]

Bladeplay has some, might be worth checking out.

[NicVik6]

I picked up a "California Knives" auto when I was a boy in the 90's. Still have it, and still one of my favorite designs for a CA legal auto. If you can track one down, they are great!

[whippersnapper]

For some reason I pictured that one of these (or the clone) was what Furcs was referring to as the "woody" he had that kept popping open. The real ones are OK, but the clones are total crap.

[Viking45]

Hands down the most bad-ass California legal is the Protech Runt. End of story!
Lists for 160 but I've seen them around 110/125 bucks.154CM steel

Protch Runt.jpg (9.3 KiB) Viewed 5228 times

Also the Kershaw Launch with CPM-154 steel at 79 bucks looks awesome.

kershaw-launch.jpg (28.33 KiB) Viewed 5226 times

Here's another Protech with carbon fiber insert for 129 at Blade HQ

Protech-Runt-.jpg (29.27 KiB) Viewed 5226 times

Benchmade Lerch Impel with CPM-S30V steel at 150

Benchmade Lerch.jpg (29.34 KiB) Viewed 5224 times

[Pima Pants]

If you end up with one without a safety, buy a large pair of deer skin or elk skin gloves and cut off one of the fingers. Instant sheath for pocket carry. Plus you will have 9 pocket sheaths left.