From Bazookas to Tanks — 14 Surprising Weapons You Can Legally Own in America

While the Second Amendment gives the American people the right to keep and bear arms, the National Firearms Act, established in 1934, was the first to regulate the manufacture and sale of firearms. Since that time, other regulations have built on the original act, such as the Gun Control Act of 1968 and the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act and Child Safety Lock Act of 2005. The National Firearms Act allows civilian ownership of various weapons (some of military grade) with a tax and registration process. For weapons that aren’t so hard to obtain, check out the top-selling guns of all time.

24/7 Wall St. compiled the following list of 14 weapons that are legal to own in America. From bazookas to tanks to many more, you may be surprised at some of the weapons that are legal for Americans to own. Note that these are federal laws, and some of the following weapons may be banned or restricted at a local level.

It may be hard to imagine what a private citizen would want with a weapon such as a bazooka or flame thrower. These weapons wouldn’t be feasible to hunt with and are likely excessive when it comes to home defense. On the other hand, a collector may want to own a rare item for a private collection. However, owning something like a bazooka comes with a lot of regulations and paperwork at the Federal and State levels. By understanding the National Firearms Act, and what weapons it allows ownership of, you can approach discussions from a more informed perspective. 

Check out 14 weapons that are legal to own in America: 

With the rise of 3D printing, privately made firearms are all the rage. Known as “Ghost Guns,” they are surprisingly legal. While there are ATF regulations that govern homemade guns, they can be notoriously difficult to enforce. President Biden introduced executive action on Ghost Guns in 2022 to serialize them so they are easier to track.

First popularized in movies with plots set hundreds of years ago, crossbows are perfectly legal to own in the United States. No federal law prohibits them, provided they have been purchased for target shooting or hunting.

While laws vary from state to state, owning a tactical baton or a “telescopic” model is generally legal nationwide. You might need a concealed weapons permit in certain states like Florida, but this follows the same process as gun ownership.

Interestingly, while silencers on weapons like pistols are not outright banned in the US, they are heavily regulated under the NFA. To own one, you must undergo an approval process, undergo a background check, and pay the appropriate tax. 

It might come as a surprise to learn that owning a sawed-off shotgun in the US is perfectly legal as long as you pay the appropriate tax to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. The NFA prohibits shotguns with a barrel under 18 inches, so you must register the weapon to maintain legal possession. 

You can own a stun gun across the US as long as you are 18 years of age and only plan to use it in self-defense. In states like Florida, ownership of a stun gun is a felony if you have previously been convicted of a crime; otherwise, there are few restrictions outside of not taking it into a school or airport. 

One weapon that frequently comes around ownership is the katana blade, which you can own in the US. The only caveat is that if you purchase one in Japan, it requires legal paperwork to import; otherwise, ownership is lawful, with some restrictions on carrying it in public in some states. The same goes for short knives like switchblades, which are generally legal in most states. 

Private citizens in the US can own a decommissioned tank, albeit with some caveats. First and foremost, the main gun has to be disabled, and, of course, the tank cannot be currently in active service. However, if you have a “Destructive Device” permit, you can own a fully functioning tank, though these permits are notoriously difficult for private citizens. 

While the NFA classifies a grenade launcher as a “destructive device,” you can still own one, assuming you have the permits, passed a background check, and purchased through legal means. Firing a grenade launcher might be more questionable and is not recommended. 

Ownership of a machine gun in the US is interesting as it is legal and illegal. Per the NFA, federal law prohibits the ownership of machine guns manufactured after May 19, 1986. However, machine guns manufactured after this date can be transferred to a new owner pending approval by the ATF. 

Somewhat ambiguous at the ownership level, multiple states prohibit ownership of brass knuckles. California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania are some states where you cannot own brass knuckles. Brass knuckles are more famous in movies than in real life, but they can be carried for self-defense. 

While Flamethrowers are banned in California, you can surprisingly own one in most states. States like Texas, Florida, and New York permit ownership without specialized documents or licenses. Legal ownership became a central topic after Elon Musk’s The Boring Company sold a flamethrower online.  

If you have been considering buying a Bazooka or a U.S.-made Rocket Launcher in your state, the good news is that you likely can. As with many weapons on this list, it just requires a $200 transfer tax, completing some forms, and you can own this weapon. 

According to the National Firearms Act, amended in 1934, you can surprisingly own a cannon in America. So long as it was manufactured before 1898 and is a muzzle-loading model, you must pay a $200 tax stamp, fill out forms, and ownership is perfectly legal under federal law.

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¹ https://www.fdic.gov/national-rates-and-rate-caps

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