Weapons

Note: for the latest list of prohibited weapons please see the Weapons Regulations 1999, which can be found in the related information section below.

Acoustic shock weapon

An article made or modified to be used to emit sound so as to injure or disable a person.

Ballistic knife        

An article made or modified to be used to discharge a knife and includes the knife.

Blow pipe  

An article made or modified to be used to discharge a missile by air expelled from the mouth and includes the missile.

Butterfly knife      

A knife

1. having a 2 piece handle which folds together to cover both edges of the blade; and
2. made or modified to be used to injure or disable a person or as a martial arts weapon, and includes the martial arts weapon known as the butterfly knife or balisong.

Catapult with an arm brace

A catapult made or modified to be used with an arm brace that fits or rests on the forearm to support the wrist from the tension of the elastic material used to discharge the missile e.g. the article commonly known as the “Saunders Falcon Hunting Sling”.

Commercially produced catapult without an arm brace

A catapult

1. made or modified to be used without the arm brace referred to in item 5; and
2. made for commercial distribution.

Crossbow

An article made or modified to be used with one or 2 hands to discharge a missile by an elastic force across a stock grooved to direct the missile and includes the missile.

Disguised knife or sword

A knife or sword disguised as part of another article and includes

1. a knife disguised as part of a belt e.g. the article commonly known as the “Bowen” knife belt; or
2. a sword disguised as a cane or stick.

Electric shock weapon  

An article made or modified to be used to discharge an electric current so as to injure or disable a person but does not include an approved electric shock case.

Electromagnetic weapon

An article made or modified to be used to emit electromagnetic radiation so as to injure or disable a person.

Extendable baton

A baton made or modified so that the length of the baton extends by gravity or centrifugal force or by any pressure applied to a button, spring or device in or attached to the handle of the baton.

Flick knife or Switchblade

A knife

1. having a blade that is concealed when folded or recessed into the handle and that opens by gravity or centrifugal force or by any pressure applied to a button, spring or device in or attached to the handle of the knife; and
2. made or modified to be used to injure or disable a person or as a martial arts weapon.

Gas dart

A device designed or adapted to kill or injure an animal by injecting a gas into the body of the animal including a “gas dart”, “farallon shark dart” or similar device.

Gel blaster

An article that is made or modified to be used to discharge a hydrated superabsorbent polymer ball or other similar gel‑like missile and includes the ball or missile.

Knuckle dusters  

An article made or modified to be worn across the knuckles of a hand so as

1. to increase the force at the point of impact of a punch or blow when striking another with those knuckles; or
2. to protect the knuckles from injury when striking another with those knuckles.

Knuckle knife

A knife made or modified to be held so that the blade protrudes between the knuckles or fingers of a hand e.g. the article commonly known as the “Urban Pal” knife.

Spray weapon (not oleoresin capsicum)

A spray weapon made or modified to be used to discharge a substance other than oleoresin capsicum.

Note: For the latest list of controlled weapons please see the Weapons Regulations 1999, which can be found in the Related Information section below. 

Approved electric shock case          

Any approved electric shock case.

Baton flail

An article consisting of 2 or more batons joined by a cord, rope or chain so as to form a flail and includes:

(a) the martial arts weapon known as the nunchaku; and

(b) a baton constructed in such a way that it can be unscrewed or broken to form a flail.

Bow

An article made or modified to be used to discharge an arrow by an elastic force and includes the arrow.

Captive bolt gun

An article made or modified to be used for slaughtering an animal by means of a bolt that is fired into the animal but remains part of the article before and after the firing.

Dagger

A sharp pointed stabbing knife having

(a) a flat blade, exceeding 8cm in length with non‑serrated cutting edges along the length of both sides; or

(b) a needle‑like blade, the cross section of which is elliptical or has 3 or more sides, and includes a bayonet.

Double end knife  

A knife

(a) having fixed blades at both ends of the handle; and

(b) made or modified to be used to injure or disable a person or as a martial arts weapon, e.g. the martial arts weapon known as the suan ywe gou.

Fixed baton

Any baton other than an extendable baton or a baton flail and includes the martial arts weapon known as the tonfa.

Halberd

An article (other than a spear)

(a) consisting of a stick or pole with a blade at the end; and

(b) made or modified to be used to injure or disable a person or as a martial arts weapon, e.g. the martial arts weapon known as the naginata.

Hand or foot claws

An article consisting of claws that are made or modified to be attached to or worn on the hands or feet, e.g. the martial arts weapons known as the ninja climbing claws, ninja hand claws and ninja foot claws.

Imitation firearm

An article, not being an article that is clearly a toy, that has the appearance of being a firearm but is not capable of discharging a missile.

Light pointer

An article made or modified to be used to emit light so as to be used as a pointing device including a laser pointer.

Machete

A broad, heavy chopping knife, e.g. the single edged, cutlass‑like knife traditionally used as both a weapon and an implement in Latin American countries, also known as a “matchet” or a “panga”.

Metal whip  

An article

(a) consisting of or incorporating a chain or a combination of a chain and metal pieces or rods; and

(b) made or modified to be used as a whip, e.g. the martial arts weapons known as the Chinese whip, whip spear, 7 or 9 piece iron chain, bian tzu chiang and lien tzu chiang.

Pressure point weapon

An article made or modified to be used to injure or disable a person by application to the pressure points of the human body and includes the martial arts weapon known as the kubotan.

Pronged weapon  

An article

(a) having 2 or more prongs; and

(b) made or modified to be used to injure or disable a person or as a martial arts weapon, e.g. the martial arts weapons known as the sai andjitte.

Sickle or scythe weapon                  

A sickle or scythe made or modified to be used to injure or disable a person or as a martial arts weapon, e.g. the martial arts weapons known as the kama and kusarigama.

Spear                                                  

Any spear e.g. the martial arts weapon known as the yari.

Spear‑gun

An article made or modified to be used to discharge a spear.

Spray weapon (oleoresin capsicum)  

A spray weapon made or modified to be used to discharge oleoresin capsicum.

Studded weapon  

An article fitted with raised pointed studs that is made or modified to be

(a) used to injure or disable a person or as a martial arts weapon; and

(b) worn as an article of clothing, e.g. a studded glove.

Sword

Any sword. e.g. the martial arts weapons known as the butterfly sword, katana and wakizashi and includes the martial arts weapon known as the tanto.

Throwing blade or knife                    

A blade or knife made or modified to be thrown and includes an article consisting of a blade attached to a cord, rope or chain so as to enable the blade to be thrown and retrieved, e.g. the martial arts weapon known as the shoge, ninja kyokeysu shoge or kyotetsu shoge.

Throwing star

A sharpened, star‑shaped article made or modified to be thrown (e.g. the martial arts weapon known as the shuriken or shaken) and includes a throwing star that is attached to a belt buckle.

Weighted chain or cord weapon

An article

(a) consisting of or incorporating a chain or cord made of any material and weighted at both ends; and

(b) made or modified to be used to injure or disable a person or as a martial arts weapon, e.g. the martial arts weapons known as the kusari fundo, manrikigusari and surujin.

• Prohibited Import B709 Permit application (PDF, 397KB)

• Weapons Act 1999
• Weapons Regulations 1999
• Police station search