Article R311-1 of the French Internal Security Code defines weapons according to their types and characteristics:
Weapon: Any object or device designed or intended by nature to kill, wound, strike, neutralize, or cause incapacitation.
Smoothbore firearm: A firearm whose barrel bore is circular and incapable of imparting rotational movement to a single or multiple projectile(s). Smoothbore shotguns.
Rifled barrel firearm: A firearm whose barrel bore is not circular and has one or more conventional or polygonal riflings designed to impart spin to a single or multiple projectile(s). Rifled barrel firearms.
Firearm: A weapon that fires a projectile by means of the combustion of a propellant charge.
Fully automatic firearm: Any firearm that automatically reloads after each shot and is capable of firing a burst of multiple rounds with a single trigger pull.
Manually repeating firearm: A firearm that is reloaded manually after each shot by inserting ammunition into the chamber from a feeding system via a mechanism. Manual repeating firearms.
Semi-automatic repeating firearm: A firearm that automatically reloads after each shot but cannot fire more than one round with a single trigger pull. Semi-automatic firearms.
Single-shot firearm: A firearm without a feeding system, manually loaded before each shot by inserting ammunition into the chamber or a designated slot at the barrel’s entrance. Single-shot firearms.
Melee weapon: Any weapon whose piercing, cutting, or striking action is due solely to human force or to a mechanical force transmitted to it, excluding explosions. Bladed weapons.
Concealed weapon: Any weapon disguised as another object, including another type of weapon. Concealed weapons.
Shoulder-fired weapon: A weapon that is fired from the shoulder. Shoulder weapons.
The overall length of a shoulder weapon with a detachable or folding stock is measured with the stock removed or folded. The barrel reference length is measured from the rear end of the chamber to the other end of the barrel, excluding detachable parts.
Handgun: A weapon held by a grip with one hand and not intended to be fired from the shoulder. Handguns.
The reference length of a handgun is its overall length.
Projectile-based incapacitating weapon: A weapon designed to cause incapacitation by projecting or emitting a disabling substance or mechanism. Projectile-based incapacitating weapons.
Contact incapacitating weapon: A defensive weapon that causes incapacitation on direct contact. Contact incapacitating weapons.
Deactivated firearm: A firearm that has been permanently rendered incapable of firing any ammunition, using technical methods ensuring that all components essential to firing are permanently unusable and impossible to modify.
Primed cartridge case: A cartridge case containing a primer but no powder charge.
Loaded cartridge case: A cartridge case containing a powder charge.
Essential firearm component: A part of a firearm critical to its functioning, including the barrel, frame, receiver (including upper and lower parts, if applicable), bolt (including any additional mobile assembly), cylinder, locking systems, and conversion devices. Firearm components.
Deactivated firearm component: An essential firearm part permanently rendered unusable by defined technical processes.
Ammunition component: A critical part of ammunition, such as the projectile, primer, cartridge case, primed case, loaded case, or a case both primed and loaded. Ammunition components.
Expanding projectile ammunition: Ammunition with a projectile specially shaped to expand, spread, or mushroom on impact. This includes hollow-point bullets. Ammunation
Explosive projectile ammunition: Ammunition with a projectile containing a charge that detonates on impact.
Incendiary projectile ammunition: Ammunition with a projectile containing a chemical mixture that ignites upon air contact or impact.
Armor-piercing projectile ammunition:
a) Shoulder weapon ammunition with a projectile (visually identifiable by color code, if applicable) containing a hardened core made of hardened steel or tungsten carbide;
b) Handgun ammunition with a hardened steel or tungsten carbide core;
c) Handgun ammunition with a monolithic metal projectile designed to penetrate standard-issue soft body armor (aramid or equivalent) used by internal security forces.
Deactivated ammunition: Ammunition with a projectile under 20mm in diameter, a powder chamber with a side hole at least 2mm wide, no remaining powder, and a struck primer.
Ammunition with special-purpose loading, such as explosive or incendiary, is always considered functional.
Firearm feeding systems: These include magazines built into the weapon (tubular or integrated into the receiver), as well as detachable magazines, reservoirs, clips, and belts, either fixed or mobile during firing. Feeding systems.
Blank-firing weapon: An object or device, with or without the appearance of a firearm, designed to produce only a sound effect when a blank cartridge is struck. Its characteristics prevent it from firing or being converted to fire projectiles without industrial-level modification. Starter pistols.
Alarm gun: An object or device resembling a firearm, designed solely to fire blank cartridges, irritants, other active substances, or pyrotechnic signaling devices. Its design prevents it from firing or being converted to fire any other type of projectile.
Signaling firearm: A firearm designed to launch a pyrotechnic signaling device, with characteristics excluding the firing or conversion to fire any other projectile.
Theatrical weapon: Any firearm specifically modified to fire only blank ammunition, used in theatrical performances, photo shoots, film productions, television recordings, historical reenactments, parades, sports events, or training sessions. Despite modifications, it retains the classification of its original category.
Demonstration weapon: A real firearm made transparent or open to reveal its internal mechanisms, without being operationally altered or neutralized.
Replica weapon: An object that resembles a firearm and can expel a non-metallic projectile with muzzle energy below 2 joules.
Scale model: A scaled-down reproduction of a firearm (not 1:1) that guarantees the non-interchangeability of parts.
Inert ammunition: Dummy ammunition that cannot be converted into live ammunition.
Paintball launcher: A non-pyrotechnic device designed to project a paintball, leaving a visible mark at the point of impact. Paintball markers.
Reproduction firearm: A firearm that is an exact reproduction, both in form and function, of a historical weapon. Replica firearms.
Firearms of significant historical importance: Firearms manufactured before January 1, 1946, which are not considered "historical firearms" under paragraphs e or g of Article R.311-2, Section IV.
Classification
Weapons are categorized based on their size, type (rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver, etc.), mode of operation (automatic, semi-automatic, manual, single-shot), and level of danger. All items and devices listed above are considered weapons or ammunition under the law.