Firearms, weapons, and knives policy

Allowed in some situations

• You can list airsoft guns, replica guns, or other imitation firearms as long as:

  • You follow all other applicable laws. For example, in most states, you have to be at least 18 years old to buy an airsoft gun

  • The item has a blaze orange barrel plug permanently attached to the weapon. Some states and localities may have additional requirements for color markings on these items and you must comply with these requirements if you are shipping to those jurisdictions.

  • The item can't be converted to shoot lethal projectiles.

  • The picture of the item shows the actual item for sale as a whole. Stock photos and pictures showing only a portion of the item are not allowed.

  • You must copy and paste the following disclaimer into your listing: "This replica gun contains the colored markings required by law, including a permanently attached orange plug."

You can also list:

• Parts and accessories for airsoft weapons can be listed as long as they are not classified as an assault weapon or have a name matching an assault weapon.

• Ammunition magazines for replica airsoft firearms that show the top of the magazine. You need to include a picture of the item in your listing to show that your item isn't a real assault weapon magazine.

• Novelty lighters that look like guns can be sold, as long as they're listed in the Collectibles > Tobacciana > Lighters category and the starting bid price is less than $50.00.

• Miniature firearms, like those that come with action figures. You need to describe the item's size in your listing, and include a picture that shows scale using a ruler or a coin.

• Paintball guns without replica markings (such as an orange plug) as long as they're listed in one of the Sporting Goods > Outdoor Sports > Paintball categories. The listing must describe the item as a paintball gun and can't describe the item as a firearm.

• Training firearms, which are brightly colored, solid plastic replicas. In your listing, you'll need to include a picture of your item showing that it's solid and that it isn't real.

Not allowed

You cannot list:

• Airsoft guns, replica guns, or other imitation firearms that can be converted to shoot a lethal projectile.

• Any replica firearms that don't have permanent blaze orange barrel markings. If the markings look fake or temporary, the listing will be removed.

• Paintball cannons

• Parts and accessories for replica assault weapons, including airsoft or imitation firearms that are based on actual assault weapons.

• Replica guns that were made by converting real guns, even if you can't convert them back to a working gun.

• Silencers for airsoft guns, replica guns, or other imitation firearms.

Allowed

You can list:

• Ammunition for airsoft guns

• Plastic, polymer, rubber, or wooden bullets or ammunition

• Snap caps

• Safety bullets

Allowed in some situations

• Ammunition for Air Guns, as long as it meets the requirements of the BB guns, pellet guns, air rifles or air pistols section below

• Replica ammunition where it is clear that the item was never real ammunition and cannot be converted into actual ammunition

• Converted brass (also known as trench art). The item has to show that it's been converted and that it can't be converted back into a usable casing.

• Empty ammunition boxes. The listing needs to say the item doesn't contain ammunition.

• Reloading equipment and weaponsmithing tools are allowed as long as there is no mention of assault weapons in the listing and no ammunition components are included.

Not allowed

You cannot list:

• Ammunition used in a firearm, including, but not limited to:

  • Live ammunition

  • Blank ammunition

  • Inert ammunition

  • Dummy ammunition

  • Complete paper cartridges

• Components of ammunition:

  • Bullets

  • Cartridges

  • Casings

  • Shells

  • Hulls

• Gunpowder

• Primers

Allowed

• Military surplus items or other military-related items that you can find in both online and retail stores, such as military-related backpacks, blankets, canteens, clothing, foot lockers, hats, helmets, non-restricted instruments and tools, and so on.

• Some parts and accessories for antiquated military vehicles or equipment that doesn’t have explosive capabilities.

Allowed in some situations

• You can list body armor as long as:

  • It isn't military issued.

  • It is a level I, II, or III body armor or Small Arms Protection Insert (SAPI) plate, and has the level specified in the listing.

Find out more about our requirements to list body armor in the Additional information section below.

You can also list:

• Toy or replica grenades and other ordnance as long as your listing clearly calls out both of the following:

  • The item was never actual ordnance

  • The item can't be converted into actual ordnance

• Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs) that don't include a heating device, have a clearly marked expiration date, and can be delivered to the buyer before they expire. For more information, see our food and healthcare items policy.

Not allowed

You cannot list:

• Atom or nuclear weapons

• Explosives

• Grenades of any kind

• Land mines

• Level IV Small Arms Protection Insert (SAPI) plates

• Missiles, rockets, or launchers

• Nerve gas

• Technical data as defined under Part 120 of the ITAR, including user manuals for military items

• Military ordnance such as weapons, ammunition, and their related parts—even if the items are considered demilitarized, demilled, rendered inert, or unserviceable. We can't confirm whether an item has been changed in such a way that makes it safe and legal to sell or transport

• Most military vehicles, including aircraft and ships, and the parts or accessories for these vehicles

• Grenades such as metal military practice grenades, rifle grenades, propelled grenades, dummy grenades, inert grenades (including relics, curios, memorabilia, novelty, or display items), grenade launchers, grenade launcher attachments, and mines

• The following types of body armor:

  • Level IV body armor or Small Arms Protective Insert (SAPI) plates

  • SAPI plates that don't clearly state their respective level (I, II, or III)

  • Military-issued body armor or body armor stamped with "US," including Outer Tactical Vests (OTV) or SAPI plates

  • Interceptor Body Armor (IBA), including items manufactured by Point Blank (PBI), Second Chance (SCI), and Armor Holding

  • Interceptor OTV with or without plates

  • Detachable groin armor (cod pieces) and neck armor

• Military police uniforms or any part of the uniform (such as badges, patches, armbands, and so on) that designates someone as a police officer from any branch of the US military. See our police-related items policy.

• Military instruments containing radium or any other hazardous substance. See our hazardous, restricted, or regulated materials policy.

• Heaters for Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MREs) and flameless ration heaters (FRHs). This also applies to listings for MREs that have heaters as part of the item for sale. See our hazardous, restricted, or regulated materials policy.

Allowed in some situations

You can list the following under specified conditions:

• Signal cannons and calcium carbide cannons (unless it indicates it can fire a projectile)

• Toy cannons that cannot fire

Not allowed

You cannot list:

• Firearms regardless of their ability to fire, how old they are, or their status as collectibles, including flintlock and muzzleloader guns

• Starter pistols or blank guns, regardless of their markings

• Pin fire guns

• Zip guns

• Cannons ( see exceptions above)

Allowed

You can list magazine loading devices, or speedloaders such as:

• Stripper clips

• Moon clips

You can also list accessories and parts for firearms such as:

• Butt plates

• Cases

• Cleaning supplies

• Dies

• Grips

• Holsters

• Molds

• Racks

• Scopes

• Slings

• Stocks

• Storage cases

• Trigger guards

The following firearm parts are allowed on the eBay US site only. The seller must be in the US and offer domestic shipping only:

• En bloc clips

• Barrels – shotgun barrels less than 18 inches and rifle barrels less than 16 inches are prohibited

• Bolts

• Choke tubes

• Cylinders

• Firing pins

• Hammers

• Slides

• Trigger assemblies

Allowed in some situations

You can also list the following parts and accessories under specified conditions:

• Muzzleloader or black powder gun parts or accessories as long as each item is offered in individual listings (having separate listings for items that can be used to build a gun is prohibited.)

• Magazines: Sellers must follow all applicable state and local laws for magazine sales. Listings for magazines must clearly identify the make and model in the item title or description.

Not allowed

You cannot list:

• Firearm frames, including grip frames, muzzleloader and black powder frames or receivers

• Firearm kits used to create a firearm

• Firearm receivers, including upper or lower, incomplete, "cut" or "80%" receivers

• Flash suppressors

• Any magazine sold in violation of state or local law. High capacity magazines that accept more than 10 rounds are not allowed. Please note that some states may have a lower capacity limit.

• High capacity magazines modified to accept 10 rounds or less are also prohibited unless permanently modified by the manufacturer.

• Magazine extenders

• Sears

• Silencers

• Grenade launchers

• Bump fire stocks

• Parts or accessories for assault weapons. Listings that mention capability with an assault weapon, even if the part or accessory fits non-assault weapons, are also prohibited.

• The following parts for semiautomatic pistols: barrel shroud, forward pistol grip and threaded barrel

• Pistol conversion kits that make a pistol into a short-barreled rifle

• Bayonets designed to fit an assault weapon

• Blueprints, milling or forging specifications for assault weapons

• Instructions or blueprints on how to convert a semi-automatic weapon to a fully automatic weapon

Allowed

You can list:

• Katana

• Stick swords

• Instruction or training manuals on how to use hand weapons

• Wii Nunchuk controllers for the Nintendo Wii

• Books, informational materials, and training on Shuriken-jutsu

Allowed in some situations

You can also sell the following training or practice hand weapons:

• Batons

• Night sticks

• Nunchakus

• Tonfas

• Throwing stars

As long as they are made of:

• Rubber foam,

• Dense foam, or

• Foam with plastic interior tubes

You have to specify this detail in your listing. However, weapons that are foam padded or foam with a metal interior aren't allowed.

You can also list following items under specified conditions:

• Miniature brass knuckles that include a picture of the item with something that indicates scale, like a ruler or a coin.

• Collectible batons, blackjacks and saps that are fifty plus years old, are listed in collectibles and are being marketed for their collectible nature and not actual use.

Not allowed

You cannot list:

• Brass knuckles, including those made from any material other than foam

• Knives with raised knuckle guards or knuckle dusters

• Items in the shape of a brass knuckle if the item appears to be usable as a brass knuckle

• Leaded canes, crutches, staffs, or sticks

• Nightsticks, billy clubs, war clubs, batons, PR 24s, Monadnock batons, ASPs, tonfas, truncheons, and similar items (see exceptions above)

• Nunchakus (also called nunchucks or numchuks), chain sticks, or two-section staffs (see exceptions above)

• Throwing weapons such an Ninja stars and throwing cards (see exceptions above)

• Sansetsukon or three-section staffs

• Saps, sand clubs, sandbags, slung shots, or blackjacks (see exceptions above)

Allowed

You can list:

• Oversized balisong knives—the kind that require 2 hands to open

• Tactical daggers

• Throwing knives

Allowed in some situations

You can also list:

• Parts for switchblades, as long as they can't be used to make a complete switchblade. Sellers have to list each part individually.

• Practice balisong or butterfly knives that have holes in the blade and can't be sharpened

• Spring-assisted knives. There has to be manual movement of the blade by a thumb stud or screw that's clearly visible on the blade.

• Training or practice throwing stars that are made of resin and aren't sharp enough to penetrate the body

Not allowed

You cannot list:

• Automatic knives

• Balisong knives

• Butterfly knives

• Dual-action knives

• Gravity knives

• Hidden or disguised knives such as air gauge knives, belt buckle knives, lipstick case knives, or writing pen knives

• Out-the-front (OTF) knives

• Paratrooper knives

• Push knives—also called push daggers, punch daggers, punch knives, push dirks, and T-handled knives

• Replica or imitation switchblades

• Switchblade knives (knives with a blade that open automatically—for example, by pressing a button or through inertia or gravity)

• Sword canes

Allowed

You can list:

• Blowgun darts

• Bows and arrows

• Crossbows

• Information or instructions on how to make a potato gun

• Slingshots

• Stun gun holsters

Allowed in some situations

• You can also list pepper spray, disguised pepper spray, or mace as long as:

  • The item is shipped domestically

  • Sellers state in their listings that they won't accept bids from people located in places where stun guns are illegal. This includes Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin.

Not allowed

You cannot list:

• Blow guns

• Dart guns

• Flare guns or flares

• Potato guns such as bazookas, cannons, or launchers

• Powerheads", "stick guns," or equivalents

• Tear gas

• Disguised stun guns

• Stun gun listings that offer shipping to cities or states where stun guns are prohibited

• Tasers

Allowed in some situations

• You can list air rifles, air pistols, pellet guns, BB guns and pop guns, as long as:

  • You have Above Standard or higher seller status on eBay

  • Your listing follows the air gun guidelines outlined below

  • Your item is located in the US and you offer US shipping only

  • Your item is listed in the Air Rifles or Air Pistols category

  • Your listing contains the following disclaimer: "This listing complies with eBay's air gun guidelines found here and I will only sell and ship air guns to buyers in jurisdictions where permitted by applicable laws - http://pages.ebay.com/co/es-co/help/policies/firearms-weapons-knives.html"

Not allowed

• You cannot list air rifles, air pistols, pellet guns, or pop guns that are:

  • Greater than .25 caliber