Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-102
§1241 Definitions
Title 15 › CHAPTER 29 — MANUFACTURE, TRANSPORTATION, OR DISTRIBUTION OF SWITCHBLADE KNIVES › § 1241
Summary
It defines "interstate commerce" as commerce between any State, Territory, U.S. possession, or the District of Columbia and any place outside them. "Switchblade knife" means a knife whose blade opens automatically by a button 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
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102