# Gun cabinet grade 0 and 1: what the weapons law requires

> Gun cabinet under the WaffG: grade 0/1 to EN 1143-1, handgun limits by weight, old A/B grandfathering, checks and proof.
> Quelle: https://tresorrari.de/artikel/waffenschrank-klasse-0-1 · Stand: 2026-07-17 · Tresorrari Redaktion

For firearms possession, a clear line has applied since the WaffG amendment of July 2017: newly acquired gun cabinets must reach at least resistance grade 0 to EN 1143-1. The A and B cabinets that used to be usual are no longer enough for new purchases. The basic rules in compact form: long guns and ammunition may be kept in any grade 0 cabinet; for handguns, the combination of resistance grade and cabinet weight decides the permitted number. Binding answers always come from the competent weapons authority. This guide sets out the basics.

## The basic rules by resistance grade

| Container | Long guns | Handguns (basic rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 0 (EN 1143-1), under 200 kg | unlimited | up to 5 |
| Grade 0 (EN 1143-1), from 200 kg | unlimited | up to 10 |
| Grade 1 (EN 1143-1) and higher | unlimited | unlimited |

Ammunition may be stored together with the firearms in the grade 0 cabinet (or higher): a separate ammunition compartment is practical, but for these classes it is no longer a duty. What counts is the certificate: only the [VdS/ECB-S plate on the inside of the door](/artikel/tresor-sicherheitsstufen) proves the grade; official checks ask for it just as they ask for the invoice.

## Grandfathering for old A/B cabinets

If, before the cutoff date of the 2017 amendment, you were already lawfully using a security cabinet of the old levels A or B (VDMA 24992), you may keep using it under grandfathering. But: grandfathering is tied to the person and to the use. It ends if the cabinet is passed on or sold, and it does not apply to new license holders. When the cabinet moves to a new household, or when a collection is taken over, a grade 0 cabinet is in practice what is required. For the resale value of old A/B cabinets, that means: close to zero.

## Size, weight, anchoring

The classic mistake is a cabinet that is too small. Rule of thumb: the current number of firearms plus two. Telescopic sights need width, long barrels need height, and the next shotgun is sure to come. On weight, the same logic applies as for any certified safe: under 1,000 kg the cabinet must be [properly anchored](/artikel/tresor-verankern) to the manufacturer's instructions, otherwise a prepared team simply takes it away. And the handgun limit "from 200 kg" assumes in any case that the weight is really reached, or that the cabinet is anchored.

## Access: who may get to the firearms?

The WaffG requires that only authorized persons have access. In practice that means: key or code must be secured so that neither family members without a license nor visitors can get to them. Electronic locks with separate user codes are the cleanest solution here; keys must never lie "hidden" near the cabinet. Where a cabinet is shared (for example a hunting couple), each person allowed access needs an authorization of their own for the firearms in question.

## Checks by the authority

Weapons authorities may inspect storage without a particular suspicion. If you refuse the check, you put your reliability at risk, and with it the license. Keep proof of the certificate, the invoice, and where relevant the proof of anchoring ready in a folder (not in the gun cabinet itself, or the first thing you show the inspection is the open cabinet).

## Do not forget the insurance

A grade 0/1 cabinet also covers the insurance side: firearms are expensive, optics often more so. The [usual compensation limits](/artikel/tresor-versicherung-bargeld) apply in the same way, and so do the same duties: anchoring, key discipline, records.

## Conclusion

Grade 0 is the entry requirement, grade 1 the no-worry option for handgun owners looking further ahead. Old A/B cabinets are a privilege that is running out, not a selling point. And the two points that really decide checks cost no money: key discipline and complete records.

## Häufige Fragen

### Is a grade 0 gun cabinet enough for handguns?

As a basic rule: up to 5 handguns in a grade 0 cabinet under 200 kg, up to 10 from 200 kg. If you own more handguns, or plan to, choose grade 1 straight away: there is no piece limit there. The weapons authority's answer is the one that binds.

### May ammunition go in the cabinet with the firearms?

Yes. In containers from grade 0 to EN 1143-1, firearms and ammunition may be stored together. A separate inner compartment is practical, but not a duty.

### May you keep using your old B cabinet?

Only under grandfathering: if you were lawfully using it before the 2017 amendment, you may continue. The protection is tied to the person and ends if the cabinet is sold or passed on.

### Does the authority really check storage?

Yes, checks without a particular suspicion are allowed. A refusal puts reliability under weapons law at risk. Keeping the certificate, the invoice, and the proof of anchoring ready shortens the visit.

### Does the gun cabinet have to be anchored?

Under 1,000 kg of its own weight, proper anchoring to the manufacturer's instructions is the standard, also because otherwise theft of the whole cabinet threatens and insurance questions follow.