Category I—Firearms, Close Assault Weapons and Combat Shotguns
*(a) Nonautomatic and semi-automatic firearms to caliber .50 inclusive (12.7 mm).
*(b) Fully automatic firearms to .50 caliber inclusive (12.7 mm).
*(c) Firearms or other weapons (e.g. insurgency-counterinsurgency, close assault weapons
systems) having a special military application regardless of caliber.
*(d) Combat shotguns. This includes any shotgun with a barrel length less than 18 inches.
*(e) Silencers, mufflers, sound and flash suppressors for the articles in (a) through (d) of this
category and their specifically designed, modified or adapted components and parts.
(f) Riflescopes manufactured to military specifications (See category XII(c) for controls on night
sighting devices.)
*(g) Barrels, cylinders, receivers (frames) or complete breech mechanisms for the articles in
paragraphs (a) through (d) of this category.
(h) Components, parts, accessories and attachments for the articles in paragraphs (a) through (g)
of this category.
(i) Technical data (as defined in §120.10 of this subchapter) and defense services (as defined in
§120.9 of this subchapter) directly related to the defense articles enumerated in paragraphs (a)
through (h) of this category. Technical data directly related to the manufacture or production of
any defense articles enumerated elsewhere in this category that are designated as Significant
Military Equipment (SME) shall itself be designated SME.
(j) The following interpretations explain and amplify the terms used in this category and
throughout this subchapter:
(1) A firearm is a weapon not over .50 caliber (12.7 mm) which is designed to expel a projectile
by the action of an explosive or which may be readily converted to do so.
(2) A rifle is a shoulder firearm which can discharge a bullet through a rifled barrel 16 inches or
longer.
(3) A carbine is a lightweight shoulder firearm with a barrel under 16 inches in length.
(4) A pistol is a hand-operated firearm having a chamber integral with or permanently aligned
with the bore.
(5) A revolver is a hand-operated firearm with a revolving cylinder containing chambers for
individual cartridges.
(6) A submachine gun, “machine pistol” or “machine gun” is a firearm originally designed to
fire, or capable of being fired, fully automatically by a single pull of the trigger.
Note: This coverage by the U.S. Munitions List in paragraphs (a) through (i) of this category
excludes any non-combat shotgun with a barrel length of 18 inches or longer, BB, pellet, and
muzzle loading (black powder) firearms. This category does not cover riflescopes and sighting
devices that are not manufactured to military specifications. It also excludes accessories and
attachments (e.g., belts, slings, after market rubber grips, cleaning kits) for firearms that do not
enhance the usefulness, effectiveness, or capabilities of the firearm, components and parts. The
Department of Commerce regulates the export of such items. See the Export Administration
Regulations (15 CFR parts 730–799). In addition, license exemptions for the items in this
category are available in various parts of this subchapter (e.g. §§123.17, 123.18 and 125.4).
