Michael William Lewis, 56, was sentenced to a year-long good behaviour order in Tamworth Local Court earlier this week, after pleading guilty to possessing an unregistered firearm.

The court heard the historic "Diana spud gun" was sentimental to Lewis and he did not know it was technically a firearm.

Defence solicitor Geoffrey Archer explained the rifle-shaped gun uses compressed air to spit out a piece of potato, or orange.

He said Lewis's gun was an old one and was not working at the time.

He submitted the offending was at the lowest level of seriousness and said Lewis was remorseful.

Magistrate Julie Soars said the problem with firearms is how they look.

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She told the court weapons that replicate guns can be used by criminal groups to threaten others and even police.

"They can be misused in that way, so it's still serious even though it's at a lower level," she said.

"Even if people are holding onto it for sentimental reasons, it's serious, because it can fall into the wrong hands."

Police seized the spud gun - though its age has not be confirmed - after they found it inside Lewis's home leaning against a tallboy in early February.

A forensic ballistics team confirmed it fell into the firearms category.

Mr Archer said Lewis was planning on applying to police to get the family spud gun back, but the court heard it may have already been destroyed.

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