Weapons Policy

Cosplay Weapon Policy

Please read this entire policy before attending the New York Anime Festival. Failure to follow this policy may result in your removal from the convention without refund.

The following items are forbidden at the New York Anime Festival:

• Functional firearms (including air soft guns, BB guns, cap guns, paintball guns, and pellet guns)
• Functional projectile weapons (including blow guns, crossbows, long bows, silly string, slingshots, water balloons, and water guns)
• Metal-bladed weapons (including axes, daggers, hatchets, knives, kunai, shuriken, swords, sword canes, and switch blades)
• Explosives (including firecrackers and fireworks)
• Chemical weapons (including mace and pepper spray)
• Blunt weapons (including brass knuckles, clubs, and nunchaku)
• Hard prop weapons (including props made of metal, fiberglass, and glass)
• Whips

Prop weapons will be allowed providing they are composed of cardboard, foam, wood, or other light materials. Prop firearms are allowed only if they cannot be mistaken for real weapons. The barrel of all prop firearms must be covered with a brightly-colored cap. Prop bows will be allowed providing all arrows have soft tips.

Basically, don't be an idiot. If you bring a prop that could maim, damage, or cause serious bodily harm, we're going to take issue. If you're smart, come to the New York Anime Festival to have a good time, and have a Zangetsu made out of wood instead of steel, we're going to welcome you to the show.

Weapon Sales Policy

For the safety of all convention attendees, volunteers, guests, and staff, there are restrictions on what can be bought or sold at the New York Anime Festival. Please read this entire policy before buying or selling weapons at NYAF. Failure to follow this policy may result in your removal from the convention without refund.

The following items are forbidden at the New York Anime Festival:

• Functional firearms (including air soft guns, BB guns, cap guns, paintball guns, and pellet guns)
• Realistic replica firearms (including any reproduction, fake, or toy guns that can be confused for functional firearms)
• Functional projectile weapons (including blow guns, crossbows, long bows, silly string, slingshots, water balloons, and water guns)
• Sharpened metal-bladed weapons (including axes, daggers, hatchets, knives, kunai, shuriken, swords, sword canes, and switch blades)
• Explosives (including firecrackers and fireworks)
• Chemical weapons (including mace and pepper spray)
• Blunt weapons (including brass knuckles, clubs, and nunchaku)

Metal-bladed weapons can be bought and sold provided they are not sharpened, remain in their sheathes while on display, and are placed in sealed boxes immediately upon purchase. Replica firearms can be bought and sold only if they cannot be mistaken for real weapons. The barrel of all replica firearms must be covered with a brightly-colored cap.