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15 U.S.C. § 1241 — Definitions
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
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.
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Stable record: federal_law:legal_authorities:record_usc_0fba7191b73621d8eb32951f
Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-15/section-1241-definitions--02fe21b000.md
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Source location: Title 15, Chapter 29, § 1241; chapter-029-manufacture-transportation-or-distribution-of-switchblade-knives.md
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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.
Cross-references
Connections may be documented source relationships, shared citations or nearby passages. Each explains its basis; a connection alone does not establish applicability to your situation.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Prohibition and penalties for possession, manufacture, sale, or importation** Whoever in or affecting interstate commerce, within any Territory or possession of the United States, within Indian country (as defined in [section 1151 of title 18](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section1151&num=0&edition=prelim)), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in [section 7 of title 18](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section7&num=0&edition=prelim)), knowingly possesses, manufactures, sells, or imports a ballistic knife shall be fined as provided in title 18, or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
**(b) Prohibition and penalties for possession or use during commission of Federal crime of violence** Whoever possesses or uses a ballistic knife in the commission of a Federal crime of violence shall be fined as provided in title 18, or imprisoned not less than five years and not more than ten years, or both.
**(c) Exceptions** The exceptions provided in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of [section 1244 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1244&num=0&edition=prelim) with respect to switchblade knives shall apply to ballistic knives under subsection (a) of this section.
**(d) “Ballistic knife” defined** As used in this section, the term “ballistic knife” means a knife with a detachable blade that is propelled by a spring-operated mechanism.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 15 U.S.C. § 1245
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** All kinds of poison, and all articles and compositions containing poison, and all poisonous animals, insects, reptiles, and all explosives, hazardous materials, inflammable materials, infernal machines, and mechanical, chemical, or other devices or compositions which may ignite or explode, and all disease germs or scabs, and all other natural or artificial articles, compositions, or material which may kill or injure another, or injure the mails or other property, whether or not sealed as first-class matter, are nonmailable matter and shall not be conveyed in the mails or delivered from any post office or station thereof, nor by any officer or employee of the Postal Service.
**(b)** The Postal Service may permit the transmission in the mails, under such rules and regulations as it shall prescribe as to preparation and packing, of any such articles which are not outwardly or of their own force dangerous or injurious to life, health, or property.
**(c)** The Postal Service is authorized and directed to permit the transmission in the mails, under regulations to be prescribed by it, of live scorpions which are to be used for purposes of medical research or for the manufacture of antivenom. Such regulations shall include such provisions with respect to the packaging of such live scorpions for transmission in the mails as the Postal Service deems necessary or desirable for the protection of Postal Service personnel and of the public generally and for ease of handling by such personnel and by any individual connected with such research or manufacture. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall be construed to authorize the transmission in the mails of live scorpions by means of aircraft engaged in the carriage of passengers for compensation or hire.
**(d)** The transm
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 18 U.S.C. § 1716
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Whoever knowingly introduces, or manufactures for introduction, into interstate commerce, or transports or distributes in interstate commerce, any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 15 U.S.C. § 1242
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Whoever, within any Territory or possession of the United States, within Indian country (as defined in [section 1151 of title 18](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section1151&num=0&edition=prelim)), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in [section 7 of title 18](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section7&num=0&edition=prelim)), manufactures, sells, or possesses any switchblade knife, shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 15 U.S.C. § 1243
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Sections 1242 and 1243 of this title shall not apply to—
(1) any common carrier or contract carrier, with respect to any switchblade knife shipped, transported, or delivered for shipment in interstate commerce in the ordinary course of business;
(2) the manufacture, sale, transportation, distribution, possession, or introduction into interstate commerce, of switchblade knives pursuant to contract with the Armed Forces;
(3) the Armed Forces or any member or employee thereof acting in the performance of his duty;
(4) the possession, and transportation upon his person, of any switchblade knife with a blade three inches or less in length by any individual who has only one arm; or
(5) a knife that contains a spring, detent, or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward closure of the blade and that requires exertion applied to the blade by hand, wrist, or arm to overcome the bias toward closure to assist in opening the knife.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 15 U.S.C. § 1244
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 1360
TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE
§ 1241
mobile pursuant to section 1232 of this title, or
any endorsement thereon, prior to the time that
such automobile is delivered to the actual cus-
tody and possession of the ultimate purchaser of
such new automobile, except where the manu-
facturer relabels the automobile in the event
the same is rerouted, repurchased, or reacquired
by the manufacturer of such automobile, shall
be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned not
more than one year, or both. Such removal, al-
teration, or rendering illegible with respect to
each automobile shall constitute a separate of-
fense.
(Pub. L. 85–506, § 4, July 7, 1958, 72 Stat. 326.)
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
EFFECTIVE DATE
Section effective on the later of Oct. 1, 1958, or the
first day of the introduction of any new model of auto-
mobile in any line of automobile beginning after July
7, 1958, see section 5 of Pub. L. 85–506, set out as a note
under section 1231 of this title.
CHAPTER
29—MANUFACTURE,
TRANSPOR-
TATION, OR DISTRIBUTION OF SWITCH-
BLADE KNIVES
Sec.
1241.
Definitions.
1242.
Introduction, manufacture for introduction,
transportation or distribution in interstate
commerce; penalty.
1243.
Manufacture, sale, or possession within spe-
cific jurisdictions; penalty.
1244.
Exceptions.
1245.
Ballistic knives.
§ 1241. Definitions
As used in this chapter—
(a) The term ‘‘interstate commerce’’ means
commerce between any State, Territory, posses-
sion of the United States, or the District of Co-
lumbia, and any place outside thereof.
(b) The term ‘‘switchblade knife’’ means any
knife having a blade which opens automati-
cally—
(1) by hand pressure applied to a button or
other device in the handle of the knife, or
(2) by operation of ine
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 15 U.S.C. § 1241
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. Same stored citation; legal effect and authority still require review.