The court heard Malcolm Garth Benson, 56, kept a circa World War I rifle, which was unusable and couldn't be fired because the firing pin had been removed, on display in his home.

Police were called to his Princes Highway residence on May 31 after reports of a domestic dispute.

Following protocols, police asked Benson if he was a registered firearms owner or had any firearms.

Police were shown a Carl Gustaf 1896 bolt action centre fire rifle which was on display resting on top of cattle horns.

Benson told police the rifle was unusable and couldn't be fired because the firing pin had been removed.

He believed the firearm was safe and therefore didn't have to be locked up.

Benson claimed to have got the rifle from his grandfather in the late 1970s, who had told him he had got it from a soldier in World War I.

Police records showed the gun had belonged to Raymond Prendegast, who had died in June 2010 and when officers went to seize the rifles, the gun had been missing, however, the firing pin had been located.

Benson pleaded guilty to the charges in Nowra Local Court on September 2, with Magistrate Robert Walker on Monday, September 16 placing him on a 12-month conditional release order, meaning he must be of good behaviour for 12 months.

The magistrate did not record a conviction.

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