Yes, blank-firing guns are legal in Austria but strictly regulated under the Waffengesetz 1996 (Weapons Act) and EU Firearms Directive 2017/853. Only devices marked as “signal pistols” or “alarm guns” are exempt from firearm registration, provided they lack rifled barrels and cannot chamber live ammunition. The Bundesministerium für Inneres (BMI) enforces compliance, with 2026 amendments tightening import controls for non-compliant models.
Key Regulations for Blank Firing Guns in Austria
- Registration Exemption: Devices must be certified as “signal pistols” (Signalpistolen) under §17(3) Weapons Act, with proof of intended use (e.g., maritime/aerial signaling). Uncertified models require a Waffenpass (firearms license).
- Barrel Restrictions: Rifled barrels are prohibited; smoothbore barrels are mandatory. Barrel length must exceed 30 cm to avoid classification as a “dangerous object” under §1(2) Weapons Act.
- Ammunition Limits: Only blank cartridges meeting CIP (Permanent International Commission for the Proof of Small Arms) standards are permitted. Possession of live rounds in proximity voids exemptions.