Any Other Weapon (AOW)

Any other weapon 2
any other weapon

(Photos courtesy of Heritage Auctions, HA.com)

“Any Other Weapon” (AOW) is a term used by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which includes:

  • Any weapon or device capable of being concealed on the person and from which a shot can be discharged through the energy of an explosive
  • A pistol or revolver having a barrel with a smoothbore designed or redesigned to fire a fixed shotgun shell
  • A weapon with combination shotgun and rifle barrels 12 inches or more, less than 18 inches in length, from which only a single discharge can be made from either barrel without manual reloading
  • Any such weapon which may be readily restored to fire

This term does not include a pistol or a revolver having a rifled bore (or rifled bores) or weapons designed, made or intended to be fired from the shoulder and not capable of firing fixed ammunition.

The information contained on this website is provided as a service to USCCA, Inc. members and the concealed carry community, and does not constitute legal advice. We make no claims, representations, warranties, promises or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information disclosed.