Small Arms and Light Weapons
Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) is the English term for small and light weapons .
Definition according to UN
As small arms and light weapons all portable deadly are weapons referred to eject the grist, bullets or projectiles, or drop by producing an explosion, or that have been designed for this purpose or can be rebuilt. Antique small arms, antique light weapons and their reproductions are excluded. The designation antique weapon is subject to national regulations. In general, however, weapons that were invented after 1899 should not count as antique weapons.
Small arms
Small arms are intended for use by individuals and include revolvers and self-loading pistols, rifles and carbines , submachine guns , assault rifles, and light machine guns .
Light weapons
Light weapons are intended to be used by multiple people working together as a crew. Light weapons include heavy machine guns , portable grenade launchers mounted and mounted under the barrel , portable anti-aircraft guns , portable anti-tank guns , light guns , portable launchers for anti-tank missiles and rockets , portable launchers for anti-aircraft missiles and mortars with a caliber of less than 100 mm.
Definition according to OSCE DSALW
This document aims at SALW proliferation control through the introduction or compliance with minimum standards for the control of SALW production, labeling and registration, the fight against the illegal SALW trade through export controls and criteria, the administration of weapons storage facilities and the reduction or destruction of excess SALW. The document also opens up the possibility of applying for support from other states in this matter. MANPADS are not explicitly addressed, but are also affected as a SALW sub-category.
Small arms and light weapons are portable weapons that have been manufactured or modified according to military requirements for use as deadly tools of war.
The German government is bringing both categories together and defines small arms as follows:
“Small arms and light weapons (SALW), in the following small arms, are weapons and weapon systems that are manufactured or modified according to military requirements for use as war weapons and are to be reserved for military use. "
Small arms
Small arms are to be understood in the broadest sense as weapons that are intended for use by individual members of the armed forces or security forces. These include revolvers and self-loading pistols, rifles and carbines , submachine guns , assault rifles and light machine guns.
Light weapons
Light weapons are broadly defined as weapons intended for use by multiple members of the armed forces or security forces working together as a crew. They include heavy machine guns , light barrel mounted and heavy grenade launchers , portable anti-aircraft guns , portable anti-tank guns , light guns , portable anti- tank missile and missile systems launchers, anti-aircraft missile system portable launchers, and less than 100 mm caliber mortars .
Definition of the EU countries
The EU does not differentiate between small arms and light weapons, but between prohibited and permitted weapons. This distinction is based on the complete abolition of controls and formalities at intra-Community borders. This assumes that certain basic conditions are met, u. a. an approximation of the gun law.
Small arms
One person operated weapons:
Category A - Prohibited Firearms
- Explosive military weapons and launchers;
- Fully automatic firearms;
- Firearms disguised as other objects ;
- armor-piercing ammunition, ammunition with explosive devices and incendiary devices and projectiles for these ammunition;
- Pistol and revolver ammunition with expansive projectiles and projectiles for this ammunition with the exception of those for hunting and sporting weapons by persons who are authorized to use these weapons.
Category B - Firearm subject to approval
- Semi-automatic handguns and short repeater ;
- short single- shot firearms for ammunition with center fire ;
- short single-shot firearms for rimfire ammunition with a total length of less than 28 cm;
- Self-loading rifles with a magazine and chamber that can hold more than three cartridges;
- Self-loading weapons whose magazine and chamber cannot hold more than three cartridges, whose magazine is interchangeable and for which it is not ensured that they cannot be converted with commonly used tools into weapons whose magazine and chamber can hold more than three cartridges;
- long bolt - action rifles and self-loading shotguns with a smooth barrel, the barrel of which is no longer than 60 cm;
- civil semi-automatic weapons that look like fully automatic weapons of war .
Category C - Notifiable firearms
- Long repeaters other than those listed under category B number 6;
- long single-shot rifles;
- semi-automatic long guns other than those listed under category B numbers 4 to 7;
- short single loader for ammunition with rimfire ignition, from a total length of 28 cm.
Category D - other firearms
- Long shotguns (single or double barrel without magazine);
Non-firearms
Items that meet the definition, but that
- a) have been permanently rendered unusable by technical procedures, the effectiveness of which is guaranteed by an official body or which are recognized by such a body;
- b) are built for alarm, signaling and rescue purposes, for slaughter purposes, for harpooning or are intended for industrial and technical purposes, provided that they can only be used for this purpose;
- c) are considered to be ancient weapons or reproductions thereof unless they fall under the above categories and are subject to national law.
Essential parts of these firearms
The locking mechanism, chamber and barrel of the firearm as separate items fall under the category in which the firearms they are intended to belong to are classified.
Light weapons
Weapons that can be operated by a team:
- belong to Category A - Prohibited Firearms
Web links
- Forum for Security Co-operation
- International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (PDF; 173 kB)
- Council Directive 91/477 / EEC of June 18, 1991 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons , accessed on September 21, 2017