The collections of museums and heritage attractions in Sussex have benefitted from donations of historic knives, handed in under an amnesty during a Sussex Police operation to combat violent crime.
Under Operation Sceptre, police stations across the county have 'amnesty bins' where people in possession of knives can leave the weapons, without questions being asked.
A number of historic blades including World War 2 commando knives and a bayonet have now been given to Bexhill Museum.
Curator Julian Porter said:
"I was really pleased Sussex Police were able to pass these on to us."
A replica C14th mediaeval sword has been given to Battle Abbey, an English Heritage site.
James Witcombe, Operations Manager commented:
“I am very thankful to Sussex Police for this sword.
"We will be able to use it for education, display and exhibition."
A further donation of two early twentieth-century diving knives, dated to the earlier part of the 1920s, have been given to the Hastings Shipwreck Museum.
They're intended to accompany the attraction's existing diving exhibition.
Police Sergeant, Scott Walters, supervisor for Operation Safety said:
"I’m immensely pleased to have had some involvement in the rehoming of these historic blades and to know that they will be conserved for the future generations to see and learn about."
PCSO Daryl Holter echoed the sentiments of those who have taken the historic blades.
He added:
“History is too easily lost and artefacts such as this can link us to our 'shared heritage'.
"I couldn’t think of better places for these artefacts to go to."
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