15 USC § 1241 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t15/s1241"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "15 USC § 1241 - Definitions"
title_number: 15
title_name: "COMMERCE AND TRADE"
section_number: "1241"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 29
chapter_name: "MANUFACTURE, TRANSPORTATION, OR DISTRIBUTION OF SWITCHBLADE KNIVES"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 85–623, § 1, Aug. 12, 1958, 72 Stat. 562.)"
---


# § 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.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 85–623, § 1, Aug. 12, 1958, 72 Stat. 562.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning , which enacted sections 1241 to 1244 of this title and amended , Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

> “This Act [enacting this chapter and amending
> 
> , Crimes and Criminal Procedure] shall take effect on the sixtieth day after the date of its enactment [
> 
> ].”

, , , provided that:

### Short Title of 1986 Amendment

> “This title [enacting
> 
> , amending
> 
> , Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and enacting provisions set out as a note under
> 
> ] may be cited as the ‘Ballistic Knife Prohibition Act of 1986’.”

, , , provided that:

### Short Title

, , , which enacted this chapter, is popularly known as the “Federal Switchblade Act”.