Categories

What are the categories of weapons?

There are several categories of weapons including A, B, C, D, E, H, M and R. These categories are explained in detail in the `Which category is my weapon?' section.

The availability of weapons in each category depends on the reason you have for using a weapon. For instance, category A and B weapons are available to meet a variety of needs and uses, while category C and D weapons are restricted for ownership and use under special circumstances. Under some circumstances weapons will need to be made temporarily or permanently inoperable. Refer to the `How do I make a firearm temporarily inoperable?' and `How do I make a firearm permanently inoperable?' sections for more information.

For all categories of weapons, you must be able to demonstrate that you can safely use the weapon and that you have adequate storage facilities. Refer to the sections on `Storage' for more information.

Which category is my weapon?

Category A weapons

(1)    Each of the following is a category A weapon if it has not been rendered permanently inoperable-

1. a miniature cannon under 120 cm in barrel length that is a black powder and muzzle loading cannon, depicting a scale model of an historical artillery piece or naval gun;
2. an air rifle;
3. a blank-fire firearm at least 75 cm in length;
4. a rimfire rifle (other than a self-loading rimfire rifle);
5. a single or double barrel shotgun;
6. a powerhead.

(2)     A conversion unit is also a category A weapon.
(3)     In this section--

"conversion unit" means a unit or device or barrel that is capable of being used for converting a category A weapon that is a firearm from one calibre to another calibre.

Category B weapons

(1)    Each of the following is a category B weapon if it has not been rendered permanently inoperable--

1. a muzzle-loading firearm;
2. a single shot centre fire rifle;
3. a double barrel centre fire rifle;
4. a repeating centre fire rifle;
5. a break action shotgun and rifle combination.

(2)     A conversion unit is also a category A weapon.
(3)     In this section-- "conversion unit" means a unit or device or barrel that is capable of being used for converting  a category B weapon that is a firearm from one calibre to another calibre.

Category C weapons

1. a semiautomatic rimfire rifle with a magazine capacity no greater than 10 rounds;
2. a semiautomatic shotgun with a magazine capacity no greater than 5 rounds;
3. a pump action shotgun with a magazine capacity no greater than 5 rounds.

Category D weapons

1. a self-loading centre fire rifle designed or adapted for military puroses or a firearm that substantially duplicates a rifle of that type in design, function or appearance;
2. a non-military style self-loading centre fire rifle with either an integra or detachable magazine;
3. a self-loading shotgun with either an integral or detachable magazine with a capacity of more than 5 rounds and a pump action shotgun with a capacity ofmore than 5 rounds.
4. a self-loading rimfire rifle with a magazine capacity of more than 10 rounds.

Category E weapons

A bulletproof vest or protective body vest or body armour designed to prevent thec penetration of small arms projectiles is a category E weapon.

Category H weapons

(1)     A firearm, including an air pistol and a blank-fire firearm, under 75 cm in length, other than a powerhead, is a category H weapon, regardless of whether it has been rendered permanently inoperable.
(2)     A conversion unit is also a category H weapon.
(3)     This section does not apply to a powerhead or category C, D or R weapon.
(4)     In this section--

Category M weapons

Each of the following is a category M weapon--

1. any clothing, apparel, accessory or article designed to disguise any weapon or other cutting or piercing instrument capable of causing bodily harm;
2. any of the following that is primarily designed for the control of native or feral animals-
   
   1. an antipersonnel gas of a corrosive, noxious or irritant nature or that is capable of causing bodily harm and any weapon capable of discharging the gas by any means;
   
   
   2. an antipersonnel substance of a corrosive, noxious or irritant nature or that is capable of causing bodily harm and any weapon capable of discharging the substance by any means;
      
3. any knife so designed or constructed so as to be used as a weapon that while the knife is held in 1 hand, the blade may be released by that hand;
4. any clothing, apparel, adornment or accessory designed for use as a weapon or a cutting or piercing instrument capable of causing bodily harm;
5. any incendiary or inflammable device containing any substance capable of causing bodily harm or damage to property that is primarily designed for vegetation management;
6. any crossbow designed to be discharged by the use of 1 hand (that is not a toy pistol crossbow) that when discharged is capable of causing damage or injury to property or capable of causing bodily harm;
7. a chinese throwing iron that is a hard non-flexible plate having 3 or more radiating points with 1 or more sharp edges in the shape of a polygon, trefoil, cross, star, diamond or geometric shape and constructed or designed to be thrown as a weapon;
8. a flail or similar device constructed and designed as a weapon consisting of in part a striking head and which, if used offensively against a person, is capable of causing bodily harm;
9. a device known as a 'manrikiguisari' or 'kusari', consisting of a length of rope, cord, wire or chain fastened at each end to a geometrically shaped weight or handgrip and constructed or designed for use as a weapon;
10. a device known as a knuckleduster or any device made or adapted for use as a knuckleduster and which, if used offensively against a person, is capable of causing bodily harm;
11. a weighted glove designed or constructed to be used as a weapon;
12. a mace or any similar article (other than a ceremonial mace made for and used solely as a symbol of authority on ceremonial occasions); and / or
13. any device, not a toy, constructed or designed as a telescopic baton, the extension of which is actuated by the operation of a mechanical trigger.

Category R weapons

Each of the following is a category R weapon--

1. a machine gun or submachine gun that is fully automatic in its operation and actuated by energy developed when it is being fired or has multiple revolving barrels, and any replica or facsimile of a machine gun or submachine gun that is not a toy;
2. unit or device that is capable of being used for converting any firearm to a weapon mentioned in paragraph (a);
3. a firearm capable of firing 50 calibre BMG cartridge ammunition;
4. an antipersonnel gas, and an antipersonnel substance, of a corrosive, noxious or irritant nature or that is capable of causing bodily harm, and any weapon capable of discharging the gas or substance by any means, other than a gas or substance and any weapon capable of discharging the gas or substance that is primarily designed for the control of native or feral animals;
5. an acoustical antipersonnel device of an intensity that is capable of causing bodily harm;
6. an electrical antipersonnel device of an intensity that is capable of causing bodily harm;
7. a hand grenade, other than an inert hand grenade, and an antipersonnel mine;
8. a silencer or other device or contrivance made or used, or capable of being used or intended to be used, for reducing the sound caused by discharging a firearm;
9. a rocket launcher, recoilless rifle, antitank rifle, a bazooka or a rocket propelled grenade type launcher;
10. a mortar, all artillery and any incendiary or inflammable device containing any substance capable of causing bodily harm or damage to property, other than an incendiary or inflammable device primarily designed for vegetation management.

Restricted Items

The following items are restricted items for section 67 of the Act--

1. handcuffs, thumbcuffs or other similar restraints;
2. nunchaku or kung-fu sticks or any similar device which consists of 2 hard non-flexible sticks, clubs, pipes or rods connected by a length of rope, cord, wire or chain constructed or designed to be used in connection with the practice of a system of self-defence and which if used offensively against a person is or are capable of causing bodily harm;
3. a billy club, a baton or any device constructed or designed as a telescopic baton, not being a toy or a category M weapon, that if used is capable of causing bodily harm;
4. any studded glove which if used offensively against a person is capable of causing bodily harm.