How do you do it if you find or inherit a weapon?
Verified 13 October 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
If you find or inherit a weapon, the steps to take vary depending on whether you want to keep the weapon or not.
What applies to you ?
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You don't want to keep the gun
You have 4 possibilities to abandon the found or inherited weapon:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the weapon to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (service that the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand over the weapon to a police station or gendarmerie brigade for destruction or valorization. You must complete and sign the cerfa form n°11845.
In case of sale or deposit of the weapon for destruction with a gunsmith, you must present him a valid proof of identity. The gunsmith records your name, surname, date of birth and address.
You want to keep the weapon
The approach varies depending on whether the weapon is classified as Category A, B or C.
The approach varies according to the profile of the weapon holder: hunter, licensed sportsman, licensed for the practice of ball-trap or biathlon…
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You're a hunter
You have a valid hunting permit
You must create an account in AIS: titleContent if you have not already done so and declare the weapon in your digital rack.
Space holders of the Weapons Information System (AIS)
You must hand the gun over to a gunsmith in a 3 months delay from the declaration of the weapon. This gunsmith keeps the weapon for 1 year.
Before the end of this period of 1 year, you must obtain authorization to possess such a weapon. You can get a detention permit to practice sport shooting or if you are exposed to serious risks to your safety due to your professional activity.
If you do not obtain authorization to detain before the end of the period of 1 year, you must neutralize the weapon or divest you of it.
To neutralize the weapon, you should contact the National Test Bench.
Who shall I contact
Mailing Address
National Test Bench
Industrial Zone Molina La Chazotte
5 rue de Méons - CS 40147
42004 Saint-Étienne cedex 1
Mail
info@banc-epreuve.fr
To get rid of the gun, you have 4 possibilities:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the weapon to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (service that the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand over the weapon to a police station or gendarmerie brigade for destruction or valorization. You must complete and sign the cerfa form n°11845.
In case of sale or deposit of the weapon for destruction with a gunsmith, you must present him a valid proof of identity. The gunsmith records your name, surname, date of birth and address.
You're licensed as a sports shooter
You have a valid license for the practice of sport shooting issued by the French Shooting Federation
You have the required authorization to possess this weapon
You can keep the weapon if you meet the following 3 conditions:
- You have a valid authorization to acquire and possess weapons
- You have a valid license from the French Shooting Federation to practice shooting
- You have not reached the maximum number of weapons allowed through your SIA account.
If you meet these 3 conditions, you must add the weapon to your digital rack via your SIA account.
You have the required authorization to possess this weapon but you have reached the maximum number of authorized weapons
You must create an account in AIS: titleContent if you have not already done so and declare the weapon in your digital rack.
Space holders of the Weapons Information System (AIS)
You must hand the gun over to a gunsmith in a 3 months delay from the declaration of the weapon. This gunsmith keeps the weapon for 1 year.
Before the end of this period of 1 year, you must comply with the rules on arms quotas. If you do not do so before the end of the 1 year period, you must do so neutralize the weapon or divest you of it.
To neutralize the weapon, you should contact the National Test Bench.
Who shall I contact
Mailing Address
National Test Bench
Industrial Zone Molina La Chazotte
5 rue de Méons - CS 40147
42004 Saint-Étienne cedex 1
Mail
info@banc-epreuve.fr
To get rid of the gun, you have 4 possibilities:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the weapon to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (service that the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand over the weapon to a police station or gendarmerie brigade for destruction or valorization. You must complete and sign the cerfa form n°11845.
In case of sale or deposit of the weapon for destruction with a gunsmith, you must present him a valid proof of identity. The gunsmith records your name, surname, date of birth and address.
You don't have the required authorization to possess this weapon
You must create an account in AIS: titleContent if you have not already done so and declare the weapon in your digital rack.
Space holders of the Weapons Information System (AIS)
You must hand the gun over to a gunsmith in a 3 months delay from the declaration of the weapon. This gunsmith keeps the weapon for 1 year.
Before the end of this period of 1 year, you must obtain authorization to possess such a weapon. If you do not obtain authorization to detain before the end of the period of 1 year, you must neutralize the weapon or divest you of it.
To neutralize the weapon, you should contact the National Test Bench.
Who shall I contact
Mailing Address
National Test Bench
Industrial Zone Molina La Chazotte
5 rue de Méons - CS 40147
42004 Saint-Étienne cedex 1
Mail
info@banc-epreuve.fr
To divest you of the weapone, you have 4 possibilities:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the weapon to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (service that the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand over the weapon to a police station or gendarmerie brigade for destruction or valorization. You must complete and sign the cerfa form n°11845.
In case of sale or deposit of the weapon for destruction with a gunsmith, you must present him a valid proof of identity. The gunsmith records your name, surname, date of birth and address.
You are licensed for the practice of ball-trap or biathlon
You have a valid sports license from the ball-trap or ski federations (biathlon)
You must create an account in AIS: titleContent if you have not already done so and declare the weapon online.
Space holders of the Weapons Information System (AIS)
You must hand the gun over to a gunsmith in a 3 months delay from the declaration of the weapon. This gunsmith keeps the weapon for 1 year.
Before the end of this period of 1 year, you must obtain authorization to possess such a weapon. You can get a detention permit to practice sport shooting or if you are exposed to serious risks to your safety due to your professional activity. If you do not obtain authorization to detain before the end of the period of 1 year, you must neutralize the weapon or divest you of it.
To neutralize the weapon, you should contact the National Test Bench.
Who shall I contact
Mailing Address
National Test Bench
Industrial Zone Molina La Chazotte
5 rue de Méons - CS 40147
42004 Saint-Étienne cedex 1
Mail
info@banc-epreuve.fr
To get rid of the gun, you have 4 possibilities:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the weapon to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (service that the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand over the weapon to a police station or gendarmerie brigade for destruction or valorization. You must complete and sign the cerfa form n°11845.
In case of sale or deposit of the weapon for destruction with a gunsmith, you must present him a valid proof of identity. The gunsmith records your name, surname, date of birth and address.
You have a collector's card
You have a valid collector card
You must create an account in AIS: titleContent and declare the weapon online.
Space holders of the Weapons Information System (AIS)
You must hand the gun over to a gunsmith in a 3 months delay from the declaration of the weapon. This gunsmith keeps the weapon for 1 year.
Before the end of this period of 1 year, you must obtain authorization to possess such a weapon. You can get a detention permit to practice sport shooting or if you are exposed to serious risks to your safety due to your professional activity. If you do not obtain authorization to detain before the end of the period of 1 year, you must neutralize the weapon or divest you of it.
To neutralize the weapon, you should contact the National Test Bench.
Who shall I contact
Mailing Address
National Test Bench
Industrial Zone Molina La Chazotte
5 rue de Méons - CS 40147
42004 Saint-Étienne cedex 1
Mail
info@banc-epreuve.fr
To get rid of the gun, you have 4 possibilities:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the weapon to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (service that the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand over the weapon to a police station or gendarmerie brigade for destruction or valorization. You must complete and sign the cerfa form n°11845.
In case of sale or deposit of the weapon for destruction with a gunsmith, you must present him a valid proof of identity. The gunsmith records your name, surname, date of birth and address.
You're in a different situation
You have no hunting license, no collector's card, no sports license from the shooting, ball-trap or ski federations (biathlon), which are valid.
You must create an account in AIS: titleContent and declare the weapon online.
Space holders of the Weapons Information System (AIS)
You must hand the gun over to a gunsmith in a 3 months delay from the declaration of the weapon. This gunsmith keeps the weapon for 1 year.
Before the end of this period of 1 year, you must obtain authorization to possess such a weapon. You can get a detention permit to practice sport shooting or if you are exposed to serious risks to your safety due to your professional activity. If you do not obtain authorization to detain before the end of the 1 year period, you can neutralize the weapon subject to meeting the conditions for holding a Disabled weapon (category C9), or divest you of it.
To neutralize the weapon, you should contact the National Test Bench
Who shall I contact
Mailing Address
National Test Bench
Industrial Zone Molina La Chazotte
5 rue de Méons - CS 40147
42004 Saint-Étienne cedex 1
Mail
info@banc-epreuve.fr
To get rid of the gun, you have 4 possibilities:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the weapon to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (service that the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand over the weapon to a police station or gendarmerie brigade for destruction or valorization. You must complete and sign the cerfa form n°11845.
Please note
Possessing a category A or B weapon without a valid authorization is punishable by up to 5 years' imprisonment and €75,000 of fine.
The approach varies according to the profile of the weapon holder: hunter, licensed sportsman, licensed for the practice of ball-trap or biathlon…
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You're a hunter
You have a valid hunting permit
You must create a SIA account if you have not already done so and declare the weapon online.
You're licensed as a sports shooter
You have a valid license for the practice of sport shooting issued by the French Shooting Federation
You must create a SIA account if you have not already done so and declare the weapon online.
You are licensed for the practice of ball-trap or biathlon
You have a valid sports license from the ball-trap or ski federations (biathlon)
You must create a SIA account if you have not already done so and declare the weapon online.
You have a valid collector card
You have a valid collector card
You must create an account in the AIS: titleContent and declare the weapon online.
Space holders of the Weapons Information System (AIS)
You must attach a copy of your valid collector card.
You're in a different situation
You have no hunting license, no collector's card, no sports license from the shooting, ball-trap or ski (biathlon) federations in force
You must create a SIA account and declare the weapon online.
You need to reach a medical certificate to the declaration in a 3 months delay.
The medical certificate must less than one month old and certify that your physical and mental health is compatible with the possession of Class C weapons.
Space holders of the Weapons Information System (AIS)
If you do not provide the medical certificate within 3 months, you receive an order from the prefect to divest you of the weapon.
To get rid of the gun, you have 4 possibilities:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the weapon to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (service that the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand over the weapon to a police station or gendarmerie brigade for destruction or valorization. You must complete and sign the cerfa form n°11845.
In case of sale or deposit of the weapon for destruction with a gunsmith, you must present him a valid proof of identity. The gunsmith registered in the AIS: titleContent your surname, first name, date of birth and address.
Please note
Possessing a category C weapon without complying with the rules of declaration and proof is punishable by up to 2 years' imprisonment and €30,000 of fine.
On the same subject
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Rule for a category A or B weapon (Article L312-4) and C (Article L312-4-1)
Sanctions for non-compliance with arms rules
Category A or B weapon found or inherited (article R312-51)
Category C weapon found or inherited (article R312-55)
Divestiture of a weapon
Individualized account holder in the Weapons Information System (SIA)
Sanctions for non-compliance with arms rules
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