Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has warned that those who hold weapons illegally will now face severe penalties following the conclusion last night of a two-month weapons amnesty.
Provisional figures released yesterday afternoon showed that the amnesty, which ended at midnight, had yielded some 368 weapons, although a full tally will not be available until this afternoon at the earliest.
The arms surrendered to Garda stations around the country include shotguns, rifles, pistols and knives, as well as crossbows, swords, starting pistols and an old Civil War grenade.
All will be forensically tested by gardaí and any evidence they yield may be used in criminal prosecutions.
From this morning, anybody found in possession of an illegal weapon will face a mandatory jail term of up to 10 years.
Five other arms offences are also now on the statute books, representing "the toughest penalties for firearms offences ever introduced in the history of the State", according to Mr McDowell.
"The limited amnesty followed by the introduction of harsh penalties, combined with the continuing efforts of the gardaí in Operation Anvil, are all part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the incidence of crime in which weapons are involved," the Minister said.
An intelligence-led policing initiative, Operation Anvil targets those involved in serious crime through a combination of extra patrols and checkpoints supported by armed officers.
To date it has resulted in 3,000 arrests and the seizure of some 500 guns.
Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O'Keeffe said the successful Operation Anvil should be extended nationwide on a permanent basis following the "disappointing response" to the amnesty.
"The 370 or so weapons handed in during the weapons amnesty is not a spectacular result by any stretch of the imagination.
"Initial reports suggest a significant proportion of these weapons are relatively old and out of date, and include antiques and stage weaponry," he said.
"Given that there are 226,533 legally held firearms in the State. . . the weapons amnesty is just a drop in the ocean.
"Taking these weapons out of circulation is a welcome move, but it is also clear that hardened criminals have given the weapons amnesty a very wide berth."
A gun amnesty in the UK in 2003 resulted in 43,000 weapons and one million rounds of ammunition being handed over to police.