U.S. Customs Set to Classify All Folding Knives as Switchblades

United States Customs and Border Protection plans to classify assisted-opening knives and all one-hand-opening knives as switchblades, which are banned.

On May 21, Customs proposed a revision of what constitutes a switchblade. This new interpretation would consider multi-tools, traditional pocket knives, one-hand openers, and assisted-openers illegal per the U.S. Switchblade Act of 1958.

If U.S. Customs succeeds, it could lead to effectively banning all folding knives from interstate commerce.

If you're interested in voicing your opposition to the U.S. Customs' plan (19 CFR Part 177) to re-classify assisted openers and all folding knives, you must send a letter by regular mail to arrive at Customs by June 20, 2009 to the following address:

19 CFR Part 177

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Office of International Trade, Regulations and Rulings

Attention: Intellectual Property and Restricted Merchandise Branch

Mint Annex, 799 Ninth St. N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20229

For more information on this issue, visit:

www.akti.org  and  www.kniferights.org