Here in Northern California you'd have to be very obvious to attract attention of the law.
I was in Northern California actually and we were at a camp ground and a ranger came to check on us. pretty much to give us hard time in my opinion. But Ive learned a valuable lesson on what not to do.
Now you have a case my friend. Your campsite is considered a temporary residence. In California you can carry any type of legal knife (not double edged or knuckled) and any registered and loaded firearm openly or concealed while occupying your perminant or temporary residence.
You need to contact the ranger station and request your knife back. Did you get the ranger’s name?
