Changes to Federal Switchblade Act
AKTI NOTE: Exception (5) to Section 1244 below was passed (as part of a manager’s amendment
resulting from acceptance of Amendment 1447) by a vote of the full Senate (84-6) on July 9. It is the
language provided by AKTI that was accepted unanimously by the 2009 Texas Legislature and signed into
law by Texas Governor Perry on June 18, 2009.
This agreement was reached in the Senate among the Appropriations committee, the Finance
Committee, the Commerce, Science and Transportation committee and with Customs and Border
Protection on July 8. Senators Cornyn, Pryor, Wyden, Crapo, Hatch, Vitter, Risch, Chambliss, Corker,
Enzi, Barrasso, Graham, Merkley, Thune, Bennett, Collins, Inhofe, Ben Nelson, Tester and Roberts co-
sponsored this amendment (1447). AKTI thanks them.
This new language [(5) below], as part of the Homeland Security Appropriations for FY 2010, it was
passed in the House, approved by Conference and signed by the President on October 28, 2009.
Attorneys who have reviewed this language on AKTI’s behalf or on behalf of AKTI member companies
conclude that this new language protects the importation of one-hand openers and assisted-openers
because both belong to a broad class of knives with a bias toward closure. Under their own regulations, if
this amendment becomes law, Customs can no longer argue that importing such knives is contrary to the
law. U.S. Customs cannot ban products for which there is no statutory support.
U.S. Code
Chapter 29 – Manufacture, Transportation, or Distribution of Switchblade Knives
Section 1241. Definitions
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.
Section 1242. Introduction, manufacture for introduction, transportation or distribution in interstate
commerce; penalty
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.
Section 1243. Manufacture, sale, or possession within specific jurisdictions; penalty
Whoever, within any Territory or possession of the United States, within Indian country (as defined in
section 1151 of title 18), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as
defined in section 7 of title 18), manufactures, sells, or possesses any switchblade knife, shall be fined
not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
Section 1244. Exceptions
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.
Further reference to Switchblades in US Code found at …
Title 18 – Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part 1 – Crimes Chapter 83 – Postal Service
Section 1716. Injurious articles as nonmailable
(g) All knives 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, are nonmailable and
shall not be deposited in or carried by the mails or delivered by any officer or employee of the Postal
Service. Such knives may be conveyed in the mails, under such regulations as the Postal Service shall
prescribe -
(1) to civilian or Armed Forces supply or procurement officers and employees of the Federal
Government ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of the
Federal Government;
(2) to supply or procurement officers of the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or militia of a State
ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such organizations;
(3) to supply or procurement officers or employees of any State, or any political subdivision of a State or
Territory, ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such
government; and
(4) to manufacturers of such knives or bona fide dealers therein in connection with any shipment made
pursuant to an order from any person designated in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).
The Postal Service may require, as a condition of conveying any such knife in the mails, that any person
proposing to mail such knife explain in writing to the satisfaction of the Postal Service that the mailing of
such knife will not be in violation of this section.
(h) Any advertising, promotional, or sales matter which solicits or induces the mailing of anything
declared nonmailable by this section is likewise nonmailable unless such matter contains wrapping or
packaging instructions which are in accord with regulations promulgated by the Postal Service.
(i)(1) Any ballistic knife shall be subject to the same restrictions and penalties provided under
subsection (g) for knives described in the first sentence of that subsection.
(2) As used in this subsection, the term "ballistic knife" means a knife with a detachable blade that is
propelled by a spring-operated mechanism.
(k) For purposes of this section, the term "State" includes a State of the United States, the District of
Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
AKTI NOTE: Exception (5) to Section 1244 below was passed (as part of a manager’s amendment
resulting from acceptance of Amendment 1447) by a vote of the full Senate (84-6) on July 9. It is the
language provided by AKTI that was accepted unanimously by the 2009 Texas Legislature and signed into
law by Texas Governor Perry on June 18, 2009.
This agreement was reached in the Senate among the Appropriations committee, the Finance
Committee, the Commerce, Science and Transportation committee and with Customs and Border
Protection on July 8. Senators Cornyn, Pryor, Wyden, Crapo, Hatch, Vitter, Risch, Chambliss, Corker,
Enzi, Barrasso, Graham, Merkley, Thune, Bennett, Collins, Inhofe, Ben Nelson, Tester and Roberts co-
sponsored this amendment (1447). AKTI thanks them.
This new language [(5) below], as part of the Homeland Security Appropriations for FY 2010, it was
passed in the House, approved by Conference and signed by the President on October 28, 2009.
Attorneys who have reviewed this language on AKTI’s behalf or on behalf of AKTI member companies
conclude that this new language protects the importation of one-hand openers and assisted-openers
because both belong to a broad class of knives with a bias toward closure. Under their own regulations, if
this amendment becomes law, Customs can no longer argue that importing such knives is contrary to the
law. U.S. Customs cannot ban products for which there is no statutory support.
U.S. Code
Chapter 29 – Manufacture, Transportation, or Distribution of Switchblade Knives
Section 1241. Definitions
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.
Section 1242. Introduction, manufacture for introduction, transportation or distribution in interstate
commerce; penalty
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.
Section 1243. Manufacture, sale, or possession within specific jurisdictions; penalty
Whoever, within any Territory or possession of the United States, within Indian country (as defined in
section 1151 of title 18), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as
defined in section 7 of title 18), manufactures, sells, or possesses any switchblade knife, shall be fined
not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
Section 1244. Exceptions
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.
Further reference to Switchblades in US Code found at …
Title 18 – Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part 1 – Crimes Chapter 83 – Postal Service
Section 1716. Injurious articles as nonmailable
(g) All knives 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, are nonmailable and
shall not be deposited in or carried by the mails or delivered by any officer or employee of the Postal
Service. Such knives may be conveyed in the mails, under such regulations as the Postal Service shall
prescribe -
(1) to civilian or Armed Forces supply or procurement officers and employees of the Federal
Government ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of the
Federal Government;
(2) to supply or procurement officers of the National Guard, the Air National Guard, or militia of a State
ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such organizations;
(3) to supply or procurement officers or employees of any State, or any political subdivision of a State or
Territory, ordering, procuring, or purchasing such knives in connection with the activities of such
government; and
(4) to manufacturers of such knives or bona fide dealers therein in connection with any shipment made
pursuant to an order from any person designated in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).
The Postal Service may require, as a condition of conveying any such knife in the mails, that any person
proposing to mail such knife explain in writing to the satisfaction of the Postal Service that the mailing of
such knife will not be in violation of this section.
(h) Any advertising, promotional, or sales matter which solicits or induces the mailing of anything
declared nonmailable by this section is likewise nonmailable unless such matter contains wrapping or
packaging instructions which are in accord with regulations promulgated by the Postal Service.
(i)(1) Any ballistic knife shall be subject to the same restrictions and penalties provided under
subsection (g) for knives described in the first sentence of that subsection.
(2) As used in this subsection, the term "ballistic knife" means a knife with a detachable blade that is
propelled by a spring-operated mechanism.
(k) For purposes of this section, the term "State" includes a State of the United States, the District of
Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
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American Knife & Tool Institute