All items · Sharps & weapons
Guns and other weapons, including replicas
Also covers: air rifle, bb gun, replica gun, sword, crossbow, samurai
Can you donate guns and other weapons, including replicas to a UK charity shop? No.
Why shops may refuse it
Firearms controls, age restrictions and staff safety mean the charities tracked here refuse these items.
What to do instead
Call police on 101 or contact them online before moving or bringing in any firearm, ammunition, replica or other weapon, and follow their instructions. If it was found or may be evidence of a crime, do not touch or move it; call 999 if there is immediate danger.
Charity by charity
66 mentions-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Weapons”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Sharp knives, weapons or replica weapons”
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Can't accept
Guns and ammunition also not accepted. Weapons can be dropped off at a local police station instead.
Their wording
“Weapons (swords, sword sticks, crossbows, realistic toy weapons)”
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Can't accept
Firearms (incl. starting pistols), realistic toy weapons, swords, daggers and axes.
Their wording
“Firearms and ammunition”
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Can't accept
The list also separately refuses swords, sword sticks, crossbows and other offensive weapons.
Their wording
“Guns (including replica unless obviously toys)”
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Can't accept
Also axes, crossbows, catapults, firearms (incl. airguns), and replicas unless obviously toys.
Their wording
“Swords, sword sticks Axes, crossbows, catapults Firearms including airguns and ammunition, accessories (incl. replicas, unless obviously a toy) Knives, daggers, stabbing or martial arts related weapons Martial arts-related weapons Hunting-related weapons”
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Can't accept
'Replica firearms' are refused as a separate bullet on the same list.
Their wording
“Firearms including air guns”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Weapons”
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Can't accept
Includes replica guns unless obviously toys
Their wording
“Guns and ammunition (including replica guns, unless obviously toys)”
- Can't accept
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Can't accept
'Replica guns' also listed as excluded.
Their wording
“Guns and ammunition”
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Can't accept
Includes real or imitation firearms, swords, crossbows, air rifles and BB guns
Their wording
“Firearms –real or imitation”
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Can't accept
The same list also separately excludes 'Air Weapons'.
Their wording
“Weapons/Realistic or Imitation/Firearms”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Weapons or firearms”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Guns, knives and weapons, replica or otherwise”
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Can't accept
Replica guns excluded unless obviously a toy.
Their wording
“Weapons of any kind, including: Bladed items including knives, Guns, crossbows and ammunition (including replica guns unless obviously a toy)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Guns and ammunition”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Knives and firearms (including replicas), explosives (including fireworks) or any weapons or sharp objects”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“firearms, ammunition, weapons or realistic toy weapons”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Legal Restrictions: Weapons, sharp knives, or items without fire labels attached.”
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Can't accept
The same section also states: 'Guns and ammunition (including replica guns, unless obviously toys)' — i.e. replica guns are accepted only if obviously a toy.
Their wording
“Swords, sword sticks, crossbows”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Knives & firearms (including replicas)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Firearms, ammunition, weapons, knives or objects that could be used as weapons or replica weapons, bladed tools”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Potential Weapons – Flick knives, Butchers knives, swords, daggers”
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Can't accept
Swords, sword sticks, crossbows and catapults are also listed as not accepted.
Their wording
“Firearms of any kind, including airguns, ammunition (including replica guns, unless obviously toys)”
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Can't accept
Replica guns are refused unless they are obviously toys.
Their wording
“Guns (including replica guns unless obviously toys)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Guns and ammunition (including replica guns)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Weapons”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Weapons (including pointed objects that could be used as a weapon) and realistic toy weapons”
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Can't accept
An earlier line under 'Children's items' also states 'Toy weapons like swords and guns.' are refused.
Their wording
“We cannot accept any weapons, including toy, fake or replica weapons like knives, guns or swords.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Weapons”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Sharp knives or swords”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Guns, crossbows and ammunition (including replica guns)”
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Can't accept
Includes swords, sword sticks, crossbows, guns and replica guns
Their wording
“Guns and ammunition (including replica guns)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“General Weapons and realistic toy weapons (legal reasons and undesirability).”
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Can't accept
Also refuses swords, sword stocks and crossbows.
Their wording
“guns and ammunition (including replica guns, unless an obvious toy)”
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Can't accept
Swords, sword sticks, crossbows, guns (incl. replicas), antique or otherwise.
Their wording
“swords, sword sticks, crossbows, guns and ammunition, antique or otherwise (including replica guns)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“firearms/ammunition/weapons”
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Can't accept
Shown when searching 'Firearms' (also 'Air Weapons', 'Replica Gun').
Their wording
“Thank you for thinking of us. Unfortunately, we’re unable to accept this item because of legal restrictions. Some things need special licences or checks that we’re not able to have in place.”
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Can't accept
Obvious toy guns are not covered by this refusal.
Their wording
“Guns and ammunition (including replica guns, unless obviously toys)”
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Can't accept
Includes swords, martial arts gear and replica firearms.
Their wording
“Weapons and related items: Knives, swords, martial arts gear, and replica firearms.”
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Can't accept
Same page also refuses 'weapons; swords, crossbows etc'.
Their wording
“Guns, ammunition and replica guns”
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Can't accept
Includes guns (replica guns accepted only if obviously toys), swords, sword sticks and crossbows
Their wording
“Guns (including replica guns unless obviously toys)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Firearms or any type of weapon (including real and replica)”
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Can't accept
Includes firearms and replicas
Their wording
“firearms (including replicas)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Razors, broken or chipped glass or china, corkscrews, scissors, weapons”
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Can't accept
Includes swords, crossbows and replica guns
Their wording
“Guns and ammunition (including replica guns)”
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Can't accept
Weapons listed under items the charity cannot take; toy guns are separately excluded in the Babies & Children's items list ('soft toys without the CE label or toy guns').
Their wording
“Underwear, safety equipment, safety helmets, safety harnesses, cycle helmets, life jackets or buoyancy aids, weapons, prescription glasses, items made from ivory, personal items, such as shavers (unless unused and in a sealed box)”
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Can't accept
Also separately listed: 'Firearms and ammunition'.
Their wording
“Guns, crossbows, and realistic toy weapons”
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Can't accept
Guns, including replicas.
Their wording
“Knives, swords, crossbows, guns (including replicas)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“weapons”
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Can't accept
Guns also refused separately (see 'Guns and ammunition').
Their wording
“Knives, Swords, sword sticks, crossbows”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Swords, sword stocks, crossbows Guns and ammunition (including replica guns)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Weapons”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Firearms, ammunition, weapons or bladed items”
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Can't accept
Covers swords (incl. replicas), crossbows, bows and arrows, catapults, guns and replica toy guns.
Their wording
“swords (including replicas) Crossbows, bows and arrows or catapults guns or realistic replica toy guns”
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Can't accept
Also excludes swords, sword sticks, crossbows (including replica swords) and toy weapons such as toy swords and guns.
Their wording
“Guns, ammunition (including replica guns, ammunition)”
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Can't accept
Includes swords, crossbows and replica guns.
Their wording
“Weapons, knives, swords, sword stocks, crossbows. Guns and ammunition (including replica guns).”
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Can't accept
Swords, sword sticks and crossbows are also listed as unable to be accepted under the same Weapons heading.
Their wording
“Guns and ammunition (including replica guns unless they are obviously toys)”
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Can't accept
From their furniture-collection can't-collect list; flammables and hazardous liquids are covered separately.
Their wording
“Weapons, flammables or hazardous liquids.”
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Can't accept
Crossbows, guns, swords
Their wording
“Knifes/crossbows/guns/ammunition/swords”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Firearms / fireworks or any explosives”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Weapons (including knives and sharp items)”
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Can't accept
Wales Air Ambulance category-wide rule
Dangerous items generally not accepted for legal and safety reasons
Their wording
“We cannot sell dangerous items for legal and safety reasons.”
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Can't accept
A separate list item also excludes 'Firearms and ammunition.' (see ammunition-fireworks); this line is used as the primary quote as it more directly matches 'guns and other weapons, including replicas'.
Their wording
“Weapons and realistic toy weapons.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Weapons i.e. knives”
Not mentioned in 87 charities' guidance
Absence from a charity's list doesn't mean they accept it — it just isn't singled out. Ask your local shop.
- Acorns Children's Hospice
- Age UK
- Ardgowan Hospice
- Ayrshire Hospice
- Barnardo's
- Barnsley Hospice
- Blythe House Hospice
- Bolton Hospice
- Butterwick Hospice
- Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS)
- Cransley Hospice Trust
- Crisis
- Derian House Children's Hospice
- Dogs Trust
- Douglas Macmillan Hospice
- Dr Kershaw's Hospice
- East Lancashire Hospice
- FARA Charity Shops
- Farleigh Hospice
- Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity
- Garden House Hospice Care
- Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
- Helen & Douglas House
- Highland Hospice
- Hope House & Ty Gobaith Children's Hospices
- Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland
- Hospice in the Weald
- Hospice of the Valleys
- Katharine House Hospice (Stafford)
- Katharine House Hospice, Banbury
- Keech Hospice Care
- Marie Curie
- Martin House Children's Hospice
- Moya Cole Hospice
- North Devon Hospice
- North London Hospice
- Nottinghamshire Hospice
- Oxfam
- PDSA
- Pendleside Hospice
- Phyllis Tuckwell
- Pilgrims Hospices
- Primrose Hospice
- Prospect Hospice
- Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People
- Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care
- Rotherham Hospice
- Royal Trinity Hospice (London)
- Saint Francis Hospice
- Samaritans
- Save the Children
- Scope
- Sense Scotland
- Severn Hospice
- Shelter
- Shooting Star Children's Hospices
- St Catherine's Hospice (Lancashire)
- St Columba's Hospice
- St Cuthbert's Hospice
- St David's Hospice Care
- St Helena Hospice
- St John's Hospice (London)
- St Luke's Cheshire Hospice
- St Luke's Hospice (Harrow & Brent)
- St Luke's Hospice Basildon & Thurrock
- St Luke's Hospice Plymouth
- St Margaret's Hospice Care (Somerset)
- St Michael's Hospice (North Hampshire)
- St Peter & St James Hospice
- St Raphael's Hospice
- St Richard's Hospice
- St Vincent's Hospice
- Strathcarron Hospice
- The Kirkwood
- The Myton Hospices
- The Prince of Wales Hospice
- The Shakespeare Hospice
- Traid
- Weldmar Hospicecare
- Willen Hospice
- Willow Wood Hospice
- Willowbrook Hospice
- Wirral Hospice St John's
- Wisdom Hospice
- Woking & Sam Beare Hospices
- Woodgreen Pets Charity
- YMCA (England & Wales)