Accessories & bans

Accessories, bans and sensitive parts

Not everything freely available abroad is also allowed in Switzerland. The WG bans certain accessories explicitly - others are borderline or handled differently by canton.

Important legal notice

This is not legal advice. The information on this website is for informational purposes only. For legal questions, contact your cantonal weapons office, fedpol, or the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG). Laws and ordinances may change - always check the current legal texts on admin.ch.

Official sources

Translation in progress

This page was machine-translated from the German original and may contain inaccuracies. The German version and the official legal text on admin.ch always take precedence.

Silencers

Real silencers are banned

Silencers with actual effect count as banned weapon parts (Art. 4 para. 2 lit. b WG, Art. 5 para. 2 lit. c WG). Acquisition, possession and import are generally prohibited.

Pure "mock suppressors" (dummies without dampening effect) are tolerated in Switzerland as long as they have no sound-suppressing function. When in doubt: abstain or clarify with the dealer / fedpol.

Lasers, IR pointers and night vision (weapon-mounted)

Laser, infrared and night-vision aiming aids designed to be mounted on a weapon count as banned accessories (Art. 4 para. 2 lit. b WG).

Important distinction

Hand-held night-vision devices (e.g. a helmet-monocular setup) or purely civilian thermal cameras are allowed as long as they are not mounted on the gun and not used as aiming aids.

Since 2019, laser pointers of class 2 and above are generally forbidden in Switzerland (Art. 22, 23 V-NISSG). Only class-1 lasers up to 1 mW are exempt - of little practical use in airsoft.

Weapon lights

Weapon and flashlights are generally allowed in Switzerland - including when mounted. Caution on cross-border travel:

Germany: blinding effect prohibited

In Germany, weapon lights may be classed as forbidden accessories depending on interpretation (blinding effect). When crossing the border, observe the respective regulations.

Stuffed imitations / functional dummies

Imitation and soft-air weapons modified to mimic real firearms (e.g. with a realistic muzzle, actually shooting, with stuffed internals) may violate additional bans. Realistic looks alone are unproblematic - function is the decisive factor.

Airsoft "rocket launchers" and large-format replicas

Sensitive territory

Airsoft replicas in the format of rocket launchers, grenade launchers and similar military launch devices are on the borderline of Art. 4 para. 2 lit. c WG (grenade and rocket launchers) or Art. 5 para. 3 lit. b WG. Always clarify with the dealer or fedpol directly before acquisition.

CO2 / gas grenades and mines

Gas / CO2-operated training grenades and mines generally do not fall under the Weapons Act since they have no explosive effect. Nevertheless they must:

•never be carried or shown in public,
•only be used on authorised playing fields,
•be stored safely (same standard as replicas).

Pyrotechnics (smoke, bangers, blanks)

Observe the Explosives Act

Pyrotechnic items (smoke grenades, banger petards, blank-cartridge effects, etc.) fall under the Swiss Explosives Act. Both import and use are largely subject to authorisation.