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Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73

§1241 Definitions

Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 29— - MANUFACTURE, TRANSPORTATION, OR DISTRIBUTION OF SWITCHBLADE KNIVES › § 1241

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines two terms used in this chapter. Interstate commerce means trade or movement that crosses from any State, U.S. Territory, U.S. possession, or the District of Columbia to any place outside them. Switchblade knife means a knife with a blade that opens automatically either by pressing a button or other device in the handle, or by inertia, gravity, or both.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §1241

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

As used in this chapter—
(a)The term “interstate commerce” means commerce between any State, Territory, possession of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and any place outside thereof.
(b)The term “switchblade knife” means any knife having a blade which opens automatically—
(1)by hand pressure applied to a button or other device in the handle of the knife, or
(2)by operation of inertia, gravity, or both.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 85–623, which enacted sections 1241 to 1244 of this title and amended section 1716 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 85–623, § 6, Aug. 12, 1958, 72 Stat. 563, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter and amending section 1716 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure] shall take effect on the sixtieth day after the date of its enactment [Aug. 12, 1958].”

Short Title

of 1986 Amendment Pub. L. 99–570, title X, § 10001, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–166, provided that: “This title [enacting section 1245 of this title, amending section 1716 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1245 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Ballistic Knife Prohibition Act of 1986’.”

Short Title

Pub. L. 85–623, Aug. 12, 1958, 72 Stat. 562, which enacted this chapter, is popularly known as the “Federal Switchblade Act”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 1241

Title 15 — Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73