Rare heirloom guns given up in amnesty

The national gun amnesty has netted more than 12,500 unregistered firearms surrendered to police in its first month.

Australians have handed over more than 12,500 illegal guns in the first month of the national firearms amnesty.

Almost half of the unregistered firearms have been surrendered in NSW, with another 3500 given up by Queenslanders in the first national amnesty since 1996.

Guns handed in so far include heirlooms from WWI, WWII and the Vietnam War and one rifle dating back to 1874, and the amnesty will continue until September 30.