Statute Details
- Title: Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Ornamental Use — Class Licence) Order 2025
- Act Code: GEWCA2021-S379-2025
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021
- Enacting Authority: Minister for Home Affairs
- Enacting Power: Section 56 of the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021
- Commencement: 1 July 2025
- Made Date: 26 May 2025
- Legislative Citation: No. S 379 (SL 379/2025)
- Status / Version: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Provisions: Sections 1–4 (Citation and commencement; Definitions; Class licensee; Conditions of class licence)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Ornamental Use — Class Licence) Order 2025 (“the Order”) creates a specific licensing pathway under Singapore’s Weapons Control framework for certain “defined weapons” that have been “blunted”. In plain terms, it allows eligible persons to possess particular edged or pointed weapons—provided they are modified so they cannot cause serious injury or death—and provided the possession is for narrow, non-combat purposes such as ornamentation or curio/collection display.
This Order sits within the broader Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (“the Act”), which regulates the possession, use, and transfer of weapons. Rather than requiring an individual licence for every case, the Order establishes a “class licence” regime: once a person meets the statutory conditions, they are authorised to possess the relevant blunted weapons for the permitted purpose, and only for that purpose.
Practically, the Order is designed to balance two policy objectives: (1) public safety and prevention of weapon misuse, and (2) allowing legitimate cultural, historical, thematic, or heirloom display of weapons that have been rendered incapable of serious harm. The conditions focus heavily on maintaining the “blunted” state, preventing loss or theft, and preventing unauthorised access.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation and commencement (Section 1)
Section 1 provides the formal name of the Order and states that it comes into operation on 1 July 2025. For practitioners, this matters for compliance timelines: possession arrangements that rely on the class licence should be aligned with the commencement date and the definitions/conditions in the Order.
2. Definitions (Section 2)
Section 2 is central because the class licence only applies to “blunted defined weapons” and only to certain categories of weapons. The Order defines several key terms:
- “bayonet”: a thrusting, striking or cutting weapon designed to be attached to or at the muzzle of a gun.
- “blunted”: in relation to a defined weapon, the cutting edges and points are modified to be blunt and not capable of causing serious injury or death.
- “defined weapon”: a closed list including:
- a bayonet;
- a sword or dirk;
- a sharp pointed stabbing instrument with specified blade geometry and design features (including push knives/push daggers, throwing knives, and trench knife/knuckleduster-type designs), but excluding a karambit;
- a spear;
- a spearhead.
- “display to the general public”: display as part of an exhibition open to any member of the public as of right or by express/implied permission, whether or not for a fee.
- “spear”: a thrusting, throwing, striking or cutting weapon propelled by human power without a device, including halberd, glaive, and martial arts weapons such as “Guandao” or “Yanyuedao”.
- “sword”: a long-blade thrusting/striking/cutting weapon with one or two cutting edges and a hilt, including bolo, kukri, and hooked swords, but excluding machete and parang.
For legal analysis, the definitions operate as gatekeepers. If the item does not fall within “defined weapon”, the class licence framework in this Order may not apply. Conversely, if it does fall within the defined categories, the “blunted” requirement becomes decisive.
3. Class licensee and permitted purposes (Section 3)
Section 3 sets out who is a “class licensee” and what the permitted purposes are. The core rule is:
- Unless exempt by or under sections 87 or 88 of the Act, and subject to section 66(1) and (2)(c) of the Act, every person who possesses one or more blunted defined weapons for specified purposes is subject to a class licence authorising possession for that purpose only.
The permitted purposes are limited to:
- (a) Ornament for display to the general public or otherwise; and
- (b) Curio or collection due to commemorative, historical, thematic, or heirloom value.
Two practical implications follow. First, the class licence is purpose-bound: possession for ornament/collection is authorised, but possession for other motives (for example, self-defence, training for combat, or any functional use) is outside the scope of the class licence. Second, the Order expressly contemplates disposal: a class licensee may dispose of any blunted defined weapons if it is no longer required for that purpose. This is important for estate planning, collection turnover, and museum-style curation.
4. Conditions of the class licence (Section 4)
Section 4 imposes ongoing compliance obligations. A class licensee may possess a blunted defined weapon only if all conditions are satisfied.
Section 4(1)(a): Maintain the blunted state at all times
The class licensee must ensure the weapon remains blunted at all times. This is a stringent standard: it covers not only the initial modification but also any later deterioration, re-sharpening, accidental damage, or restoration that could restore sharp edges or points. In practice, counsel should advise clients to document the blunting process and to implement controls preventing re-sharpening or alteration.
Section 4(1)(b): Prevent loss, theft, and unauthorised access/transfer
The class licensee must take all reasonable steps to ensure the weapon is:
- not lost or stolen; and
- not accessible or transferred to anyone else who is not authorised by or under the Act to possess it.
The Order includes an illustrative example: if the weapon is kept in a container with a keyed lock or keyed padlock, the class licensee must take reasonable precautions to ensure the keys are not lost or stolen and are not accessible to unauthorised persons.
This provision is likely to be a focal point in compliance audits and enforcement. “All reasonable steps” is fact-sensitive, but the example suggests that basic security measures (locked storage, key control) are expected.
Section 4(1)(c): Protect others from alarm
The class licensee must take all reasonable steps to protect other people from alarm relating to the class licensee’s possession of the blunted weapon for a permitted purpose. This is a softer-sounding requirement but can be legally significant. It implies that even if a weapon is blunted and stored securely, the manner of display, transport, or exhibition should not cause public panic or misunderstanding.
For example, counsel may consider advising on display practices (e.g., secure mounting, clear contextual signage, controlled access during exhibitions) and on transport procedures between storage and display locations.
Section 4(2): Meaning of “authorised by or under the Act”
Section 4(2) clarifies that for the purpose of preventing unauthorised access/transfer, “authorised by or under the Act” means authorised to possess the blunted weapon without committing an offence, because of:
- a provision in the Act;
- a licence or class licence; or
- an exemption under sections 87, 88 or 89 of the Act.
This definition matters because it links “authorisation” to criminal liability outcomes. It is not enough that a person claims permission; the legal basis must be one that avoids an offence under the Act.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is short and structured around four provisions:
- Section 1 sets the citation and commencement date.
- Section 2 provides definitions that determine the scope of “defined weapons” and the meaning of “blunted” and related terms.
- Section 3 identifies who qualifies as a class licensee and specifies the permitted purposes (ornamental display and curio/collection value).
- Section 4 lists the conditions that must be met at all times, including maintaining blunting, preventing loss/theft/unauthorised access, and preventing public alarm.
Although the Order itself is concise, it is tightly integrated with the Act through cross-references to exemptions and related restrictions (notably sections 66, 87, 88, and 89 of the Act).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to “every person” who possesses one or more blunted defined weapons for the permitted purposes of ornamentation or curio/collection value. It is not limited to individuals; it can apply to collectors, private owners, and potentially entities (depending on how “person” is treated under the Act and related provisions) that hold such weapons for the specified non-combat purposes.
However, the class licence is not automatic for all holders of blunted weapons. Section 3 expressly excludes persons who are exempt by or under sections 87 or 88 of the Act (and is subject to section 66(1) and (2)(c) of the Act). Accordingly, practitioners should assess whether a client’s situation is better characterised as falling under an exemption regime rather than the class licence, and should verify that the possession is strictly within the permitted purpose.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Order is important because it provides a legally workable route for possession of certain weapons in a modified, non-lethal form—without requiring an individual licence for each holder—while still imposing meaningful safeguards. For collectors, museums, and heritage-focused organisations, the class licence can reduce administrative friction, but only if the statutory conditions are met.
From an enforcement and risk perspective, the Order’s conditions are designed to address the most common pathways to harm: (1) weapons becoming functional again (hence the “blunted at all times” requirement), (2) diversion through theft or unauthorised access (hence locked storage and key control expectations), and (3) public fear or disorder (hence the “protect other people from alarm” condition). A practitioner should treat these as compliance pillars.
Finally, the purpose limitation in Section 3 is a practical compliance boundary. If a blunted weapon is possessed for a permitted ornamental or curio/collection purpose, the class licence authorises possession for that purpose only. If the purpose drifts into training, defensive use, or any other non-permitted activity, the legal basis may collapse, exposing the holder to liability under the Act.
Related Legislation
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (authorising Act; relevant cross-references include sections 56, 66, 87, 88, and 89)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Ornamental Use — Class Licence) Order 2025 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.