---
type: "LegalText"
title: "46 U.S.C. § 11506"
description: "Carrying sheath knives"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 46
title_name: "SHIPPING"
chapter_number: "115"
chapter_name: "OFFENSES AND PENALTIES"
section: "11506"
citation: "46 U.S.C. § 11506"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc46@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t46/s11506"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-46/usc46.xml"
source_hash: "c1b089b67104dc158c2e97dab12766518ad6acc506b0eb20220cf66c38d0f25c"
raw_snapshot_hash: "eb1331aa3c08ed87231a3606d86b30d1b5942cdf8542f6a3df8ac1d66e86057f"
text_hash: "834aa422b14a3469502c28935e69662fd9dc7c27e0e98f9192bf1a92d736b2fe"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 46 U.S.C. § 11506 - Carrying sheath knives

## Text

A seaman in the merchant marine may not wear a sheath knife on board a vessel without the consent of the master. The master of a vessel of the United States shall inform each seaman of this prohibition before engagement. A master failing to advise a seaman is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of $50.

(Pub. L. 98–89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 584.)

## Notes

Historical and Revision Notes Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 1150646:710 Section 11506 prohibits a merchant seaman from carrying a sheath knife without permission of the master, and penalizes a master who does not advise a seaman of this provision.