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15 U.S.C. § 1245

Ballistic knives

United States · Title 15 — COMMERCE AND TRADE · Status: effective

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15 U.S.C. § 1245, Ballistic knives, United States, version 1 as recorded 2026-07-09, yourstate.us, https://yourstate.us/provision/440987
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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), or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (as defined in section 7 of title 18), 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. 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. The exceptions provided in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 1244 of this title with respect to switchblade knives shall apply to ballistic knives under subsection (a) of this section. As used in this section, the term “ballistic knife” means a knife with a detachable blade that is propelled by a spring-operated mechanism.

Legislative history

The public laws that enacted or amended this section. Tallies are for the whole bill as it passed each chamber — often an omnibus covering far more than this provision — not a vote on this section alone. The law that originally enacted this section predates the public laws loaded here, so only later amendments are listed.

  • Amended byPub. L. 99-570(H.R. 5484)1986-10-27
    Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 100-690(H.R. 5210)1988-11-18
    Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally