Most weapons can't be listed on eBay because of strict federal and state government regulations and international laws banning the sale of these items. Please review the list of items below to find out what you can and can't sell on eBay.
For certain types of weapons and weapon-related accessories that can be listed, sellers have to follow our guidelines, as well as meet the following requirements:
The item is listed only on the eBay US site.
The seller is located in the US
The item is also in the US
The seller offers only domestic shipping for the item, since international shipping would make the item available in countries where it might be prohibited.
The item complies with California law on the sale of weapons.
Make sure your listing follows these guidelines. If it doesn't, it may be removed, and you may be subject to a range of other actions, including limits of your buying and selling privileges and suspension of your account.
What are the guidelines?
You can list some of these items under certain conditions. See the list below for details.
Restricted
Airsoft guns, replica guns, or other imitation firearms may be listed when:
They have blaze orange barrel markings or a blaze orange barrel plug permanently attached to the weapon.
They can't be converted to shoot lethal projectiles.
State laws must be followed. In most states, you have to be at least 18 years old to buy an airsoft gun.
Ammunition magazines for replica airsoft firearms, including imitation firearms modeled after assault weapons 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, usually 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
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.
Live ammunition and ammunition components can't be listed, though you can sell some types of historical items as long as they're not live ammunition. See the list below for details.
Allowed
Ammunition for BB guns, pellet guns, or airsoft guns
Plastic, polymer, rubber, or wooden bullets or ammunition
Snap caps
Restricted
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.
Exploded diagrams of assault weapons that can't be used to build or convert firearms
Manuals, books, or instructional materials for assault weapons
Restricted
Accessories that fit a variety of different weapons, including assault weapons. In your listing, you can't mention any assault weapon compatibility.
Not allowed
Any weapon defined as an assault weapon by federal or California law
Bayonets designed to fit an assault weapon
Blueprints, milling, or forging specifications for assault weapons
Flash suppressors
Grenade launchers
Instructions or blueprints on how to convert a semi-automatic to a fully automatic weapon
Any item identified as a part for an assault weapon or as an accessory for an assault weapon
Listings for gun parts that don't specify the kinds of weapons the parts are used for
Receivers or frames for assault weapons, regardless of whether they're complete receivers and frames, components and parts of receivers and frames, or "cut" or "80%" receivers
eBay doesn't allow listings for BB guns, pellet guns, air rifles, or air pistols because they generally shoot a metal projectile, and they're considered weapons in many states.
Allowed
Airsoft guns that aren't considered air rifles
You can use the word "BB" to describe the ammunition for a BB gun
You can use the words "Gas Blow Back" or "GBB" to describe a replica firearm with that feature
Not allowed
Air rifles and pistols
BB guns
Note: Listings for airsoft or replica guns can't use the words "BB gun" in the title or description.
Pellet guns
Pop guns
We don't allow listings for explosives, grenades, or many types of military ordnance on eBay. Check out the details below and see our military items policy for more information.
Before listing any military items on eBay, check the list in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) Part 121 to see if your item is covered by Part 121. Items that are otherwise allowed on eBay but listed in Part 121 can only be listed on the US eBay website (eBay.com) under certain conditions. See our additional information below to learn more.
Note: If you're selling body armor, be sure and read the requirements in the Additional information section on our military items policy.
Allowed
Body armor that isn't military issued. Find out more about our requirements to list body armor in the Additional information section of our military items policy.
Tannerite targets
Restricted
Level I, II, or III body armor or Small Arms Protection Insert (SAPI) plates, as long as you call out the specific level in your listing. Find out more about our requirements to list body armor in the Additional information section of our military items policy.
Toy or replica grenades and other ordnance as long as your listing clearly calls out both of the following:
Level IV Small Arms Protection Insert (SAPI) plates
Missiles, rockets, or launchers
Nerve gas
Actual firearms can't be listed on eBay. However, many parts and accessories for firearms are OK to sell, but only under certain conditions. See the list below for more details.
Allowed
Caliber conversion information or blueprints
Magazine holders, speed loaders, stripper clips, or moon clips
Manuals or instruction materials about firearms
Non-pneumatic spear guns
Restricted
Accessories and parts for guns such as butt plates, cases, cleaning supplies, dies, grips, holsters, molds, racks, pistol grips, scopes, slings, stocks, storage cases, or trigger guards. The listing must include a description of the type of firearm the accessory or part is for and what it's used for. If it doesn't, the listing may be removed.
Muzzle loader or black powder gun parts or accessories, as long as each item is offered in one listing at a time. (However, having separate listings for items that can be used to build a gun is prohibited.)
The following gun parts and accessories are allowed on the eBay US site only. The seller must be in the US and offer domestic shipping only. These allowed parts must be clearly identified in the title or description of the listing:
En bloc clips
Barrels
Bolts
Choke tubes
Cylinders
Firing pins
Hammers
Sellers must follow all applicable state and local laws for magazine sales. High capacity magazines that accept more than 10 rounds aren't allowed. Please note that some states may have a lower capacity limit.
Listings for magazines must clearly identify the make and model in the item title or description.
Slides
Trigger assemblies
Not allowed
Firearms regardless of their ability to fire, how old they are, or their status as collectibles
Firearm frames, including grip frames
Firearm kits that are used to create a firearm
Firearm receivers, including parts, upper or lower, "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 and magazine extenders aren't allowed. Please note that some states may have a lower capacity limit.
Pneumatic spear guns
Powerheads, stick guns, or their equivalents because they work like firearms
Sears
Silencers
Starter pistols or blank guns, regardless of their markings
Zip guns
Some hand-to-hand combat weapons and martial arts weapons can't be listed. See the list below, as well as the knives section, for more details.
Allowed
Instruction or training manuals on how to use hand weapons
Wii Nunchuk controllers for the Nintendo Wii
Restricted
Miniature brass knuckles. In your listing, you'll need to include a picture of your item that shows scale, like a ruler or a coin.
Training or practice batons, night sticks, nunchakus, or tonfas that 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.
Not allowed
Brass knuckles, including those made from other materials
Knives with raised knuckle guards or knuckle dusters
Leaded canes, crutches, staffs, or sticks
Nightsticks, billy clubs, war clubs, batons, PR 24s, Monadnock batons, ASPs, tonfas, truncheons, and similar items
Nunchakus (also called nunchucks or numchuks), chain sticks, or two-section staffs
Sansetsukon or three-section staffs
Saps, sand clubs, sandbags, slung shots, or blackjacks
There are many restrictions on the sale and shipment of knives, though certain types can be listed. See the list below, and review our international trading policy for information on shipping restrictions.
Allowed
Books, informational materials, and training on Shuriken-jutsu
Katana or stick swords
Oversized balisong knives—the kind that require 2 hands to open
Tactical daggers
Throwing knives
Restricted
Parts for switchblades, as long as they can't be used to make a complete switchblade. Sellers have to list each item individually, in one listing at a time.
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
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—they're also called push daggers, punch daggers, punch knives, push dirks, and T-handled knives
Replica or imitation switchblades
Shuriken
Switchblade knives (knives with a blade that open automatically—for example, by pressing a button or through inertia or gravity)
Sword canes
Throwing stars, ninja stars, throwing cards, Batman symbols, or Cyclone knives
Some personal defense items, such as pepper spray and mace, can be listed as long as you follow the law on the sale of these items. Before buying or selling these items, check your city and state laws.
Allowed
Blowgun darts
Bows and arrows
Crossbows
Information or instructions on how to make a potato gun
Paintball blowguns
Slingshots
Spud pistols
Restricted
Pepper spray, disguised pepper spray, or mace can be sold, as long as the item is shipped domestically
Not allowed
Blow guns
Dart guns
Flare guns or flares
Potato guns such as bazookas, cannons, or launchers
Tear gas
Stun guns are illegal in several places in the US Before buying or selling these items, check your city and state laws.
Allowed
Stun gun holsters
Restricted
Sellers need to 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
Disguised stun guns
Stun batons
Stun gun listings that offer shipping to cities or states where stun guns are prohibited
Tasers
Additional information
Before listing military items on eBay, please review the information in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) Part 121. This regulation restricts the import and export of certain military items and information. Along with other requirements and restrictions, ITAR requires sellers of items and information included in Part 121 who want to ship those items outside of the US to get a special license from the US Department of State.
Because we can't determine whether a seller has this license, sellers can only sell items to US citizens who currently live in the US. You'll need to specify domestic shipping in your listing, and make sure you and your buyer follow all applicable laws and regulations, as well as eBay policies.
Items and information covered by ITAR Part 121 that are otherwise allowed on eBay can only be listed on the US eBay site (eBay.com) by sellers registered in the US offering domestic (within the US) shipping only. ITAR Part 121 items can't be listed on other eBay sites under any circumstances.
Why does eBay have this policy?
For safety concerns and in order to follow laws and regulations, we restrict the kinds of weapons and accessories that can be sold on eBay. Be sure to follow all laws and regulations—as well as eBay policies—before buying or selling these items.
Contact Customer Support
You can contact Customer Support to report a listing you think violates this policy. Go to that listing, and then click the Report item link on the right side of the page.
We'll review your report and take appropriate action.
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