What is a 'quarter stick of dynamite' and is it legal in Kansas?

TOPEKA (KSNT) - You've probably heard about M-80s, but have you heard of M-1000s?

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), M-1000s also known as 'quarter sticks,' are federally illegal explosives. The devices can contain 25 to 30 grams of explosives. According to the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, firecrackers must have no more than 50 milligrams of explosive powder.

A quarter stick could contain as much as 600 times more explosive powder than a typical firecracker. The ATF says a typical quarter stick is one inch in diameter and six inches long and can cause severe injuries to the body and may result in death.

27 News reached out to Billy Tomlin with Second 2 None fireworks about M-80s and quarter sticks. Tomlin said M-80s and quarter sticks typically aren't as decorative as normal firecrackers. He said they are usually in red, silver, red or red, white and blue cardboard rolls.

"They're just bigger than any firecracker you can get at a fireworks stand," Tomlin said. "They look homemade, they don't look like anything you'd see in a fireworks stand."

According to dynamitefireworks.com, quarter sticks don't actually have dynamite. The term is based on quarter sticks of dynamite, which the devices resemble.

"Quarter stick firecrackers do not contain nitroglycerin as dynamite does, and have far less explosive power," Dynamite Fireworks wrote on its website.

The Federal Hazardous Substances Act prohibits the sale of various fireworks such as M-80s, large reloadable mortar shells and cherry bombs. Other requirements for fireworks include fuses that burn for at least three seconds and all fireworks must carry a warning label describing safety precautions and instructions for safe use.

"Fireworks are classified as hazardous substances under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA)," the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) wrote in their Fireworks Fact Sheet. "Some fireworks, such as illegal firecracker-type devices (M-80s, quarter sticks) and professional display fireworks should never be handled by consumers, due to the risk of
serious injury and death."

The ATF provided the following warning signs of illegal explosive devices:

• The casing resembles a roll of coins with a fuse. Some outer shells are made of cardboard tubes.
• The device looks oddly shaped and wrapped in brown paper that may be filled with explosive materials.
• The outer covering is red, silver or brown in color.
• The device is often 1-6 inches long and up to an inch or more in diameter.
• The sale happened at a non-commercial location, such as out of a vehicle or residence.
• The person has no evidence of a receipt or commercial packaging or they cannot tell you where they originally purchased it.

If you want a big boom this Fourth of July, Tomlin suggests purchasing mortar shells or Black Cat firecrackers. Second 2 None will open Saturday, June 29 at 8 a.m. at 3301 SW Gage Blvd.

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