List of prohibited weapons

Prohibited weapons are items considered dangerous to the community, and unfit for general possession.

Learn about different types of prohibited weapons and the correct approvals and exemptions you need to possess them.

Prohibited weapons regulations

Prohibited weapons are regulated through the Control of Weapons Act 1990 and Control of Weapons Regulations 2021.

You must have Chief Commissioner's Approval or a Governor in Council Exemption Order to use certain prohibited weapons in Victoria.

You can be fined for the possession or sale of a prohibited weapon without the proper exemptions or approvals.

Self-protection or self-defence is not a lawful excuse to possess these articles. Alternative options are to carry personal alarm devices such as whistles or personal protection alarms.

Common prohibited weapons

Commonly known weapons that are prohibited.

A sword is defined under Schedule 2 of the Regulations as being a thrusting, striking, or cutting weapon with a long blade having one or two edges and a hilt or handle. A sword is still classified as a sword even if the one or both blades are blunt.
In order to possess a sword a person would need:
- Chief Commissioner’s Approval (CCP), or
- to be covered by a Governor in Council exemption (GIC).
To be eligible for a GIC, a person must be able to demonstrate at the time of purchase, that they are a member of a club, group, organisations, or a class of person which has been granted a Governor in Council Exemption Order.
For a list of clubs, groups, organisations and class of persons [EM1] covered under the GIC for Swords, read the General exemption to possess swords.
Sword
A crossbow is defined under schedule 3 of the Regulations as being a type of bow fixed transversely on a stock grooved to direct a dart, bolt or arrow and being, in particular:
- a Pistol Crossbow, being a crossbow that is reasonably capable of being carried or concealed about the person and of being raised and discharged by one hand; and
- a General Category Crossbow, being a crossbow that is not a pistol crossbow.
In order to possess a crossbow a person would need:
- Chief Commissioner’s Approval (CCP), or
- to be covered by a Governor in Council exemption (GIC).
To be eligible for a GIC a person must be able to demonstrate at the time of purchase, that they are a member of a club, group, organisations, or a class of person which has been granted a Governor in Council Exemption Order.
For a list of items covered under the GIC for Crossbows, read the Exemption to possess crossbows.
Crossbow

Crossbow
Laser tag and target shooting devices which have the appearance of a working firearm but do not function as such.
To possess an imitation firearm (laser tag and Infrared devices), a person would need:
- Chief Commissioner’s Approval (CCP), or
- to be covered by a Governor in Council exemption (GIC).
To be eligible for a GIC a person must be able to demonstrate at the time of purchase, that they are a member of a club, group, organisations, or a class of person which has been granted a Governor in Council Exemption Order.
For a list of items covered under the GIC for a laser tag or other infrared device, read the General exemption to possess laser tag and other laser sport devices.
A dagger, being a sharp pointed stabbing instrument (other than an oyster knife), ordinarily capable of being concealed on the person and having:
- a flat blade with cutting edges (whether serrated or not serrated) along the length of both sides; or
- a needle-like blade, the cross section of which is elliptical or has 3 or more sides, but not including instruments such as swords or bayonets.
To possess a dagger, a person would need:
- Chief Commissioner’s Approval (CCP), or
- to be covered by a Governor in Council exemption (GIC).
To be eligible for a GIC a person must be able to demonstrate at the time of purchase, that they are a member of a club, group, organisations, or a class of person which has been granted a Governor in Council Exemption Order.
For a list of items covered under the GIC for daggers, read the Exemption to possess daggers.
Dagger

Dagger

Imitation firearms

Imitation firearm means a device:

the appearance of which could reasonably be mistaken for that of an operable firearm; but
which is not designed or adapted to discharge shot or a bullet or other missile by the expansion of gases produced in the device by the ignition of strongly combustible materials or by compressed air or other gases, whether stored in the device in pressurised containers or produced in the device by mechanical means and is not capable of being made to do so.

For information and images of imitation firearms, read the Quick Guide to Imitation, Toy & Other firearm paraphernalia.

To possess an imitation firearm, a person would need:

Chief Commissioner’s Approval (CCP), or
to be covered by a Governor in Council exemption (GIC).

To be eligible for a GIC a person must be able to demonstrate at the time of purchase, that they are a member of a club, group, organisations, or a class of person which has been granted a Governor in Council Exemption Order.

For a list of items covered under the GIC for imitation firearms, read the General exemption under Section 8B – Imitation firearms.

Martial arts weapons

Certain prohibited weapons are used for the purposes of martial arts competition and practice.

To possess this group of prohibited weapons a person must possess a Chief Commissioners Approval.

Definitions and images of the prohibited weapons used for martial arts are as follows.

An article consisting of a handle and an edged blade, joined by chain or a combination of chain and metal pieces or steel rods, designed to be used as a whip.
This includes the martial arts weapon commonly known by the names:
- Chinese whip
- whip spear
- 7 piece iron chain
- 9 piece iron chai
- Bian Tzu Chiang
- Lien Tzu Chiang.
Chinese whip

Prohibited knives and blades

Knives and blades which can be classified as prohibited weapons can only be lawfully possessed if a person has:

Chief Commissioner’s Approval (CCP), or
a Governor in Council exemption (GIC).

The following definitions and images of the knives and blades are prohibited.

Under Schedule 2 of the Regulations a flick knife is a knife that:
- has been designed or adapted so that the blade is concealed when folded into the handle; and
- opens by gravity, centrifugal force, or by any pressure applied to a button, spring or device that is in, or attached to, the handle of the knife
A knife that fits the above description is still considered a flick knife even if the blade is partially visible when closed.
Flick knife

Flick knife
An article that is designed to include a concealed knife or sword blade.
This includes:
- a belt or similar article designed or adapted to hold a knife, dagger, or similar instrument so that the presence of the knife, dagger or similar instrument is concealed or disguised as part of the belt or similar article when it is worn (for example an article known as the "Bowen Knife Belt")
Bowen knife belt
- a swordstick, being a cane, stick or similar article designed or adapted to hold the blade of a sword so that it is concealed from view until withdrawn from the cane, stick or article
Swordstick
- a riding crop designed or adapted to hold a blade or spike so that it is concealed from view until withdrawn from the crop.
Riding crop

Body armour, extendable batons and disabling devices

Body armour, extendable batons, and oleoresin capsicum spray are subject to Governor in Council exemptions. These exemptions cover state and federal government employees, such as:

police officers
prisons officers and employees
lands and fisheries employees
Department of Sustainability and Environment employees.

Private security licence holders have an exemption for body armour and extendable batons, but only for the purposes of their lawful employment.

They do not have an exemption for oleoresin capsicum spray, or any disabling emissions device.

Definitions and images of body armour, extendable batons and disabling devices are as follows.

Other prohibited weapons

The following weapons are also prohibited and can only be possessed if the person has obtained a CCP.

There are no GIC exemptions in place for these types of prohibited weapons.

The definitions and images of all other prohibited weapons are as follows.

A slingshot designed or adapted to be used with an arm brace which fits or rests on the forearm to support the wrist from the tension of the elastic material used to propel the projectile.
This includes including the device commonly known as the saunders falcon hunting sling.
A catapult, shanghai or hunting sling that is manufactured and intended for commercial distribution.
A slingshot that is manufactured and intended for commercial distribution.
Catapult

Hunting sling

Slingshot
A device or instrument designed or adapted to be worn across a knuckle or knuckles of the hand, finger, fingers, or thumb so as to:
- increase the force or impact of a punch or blow when striking another person with that hand, finger, fingers, or thumb; or
- protect the knuckle or knuckles from injury when striking another person with that hand, finger, fingers, or thumb.