A man with a cache of antique weapons and pyrotechnic equipment had the potential to become a gangland 'armourer'.
Michael Green had access to a de-activated machine gun, three rifles and 'empty' grenades.
He also possessed the components and explosive materials needed to turn many of them into deadly weapons.
Prosecutors did not argue that he planned to use the guns, make explosives, or transfer them to criminals.
But it was accepted his haul - which also included the "infamous" bomb-making guide the Anarchist Cookbook and a booklet on making fertiliser bombs - went well beyond that of a memorabilia collector.
Across two addresses linked to the 31-year-old, from Toxteth, police found three rifles, a sawn-off shotgun, the de-activated machine gun, "inert" grenades, boxes of ammunition and tubs of explosive substances.
Of the three rifles, two were more than 100 years old.
However, all were capable of firing and one, a Schmidt-Rubin Bolt Action Rifle, was fitted with a modern device to aid accurate shooting. Ammunition capable of being fired by that gun was also discovered with the haul.
Simon Parry, prosecuting, said: "The prosecution’s case is that Michael Green has a detailed knowledge of the world of firearms and munitions which led him to acquire firearms, both legal and illegal, ammunition, and items that can be used to construct explosives.
"Furthermore, the seizures revealed the type of engineering equipment that can be used to adapt or engineer weapons, together with books, manuals and diagrams of the same nature.
"He was someone who, the prosecution says, was an armourer.
"He had available to him weapons, ammunition and the wherewithal to construct explosives so that should anyone require such items he was in a position to provide them.
"Whilst the prosecution accepts that Mr Green himself has not used such items in a criminal way, those who would seek to obtain weaponry from him would most certainly have used it for nefarious purposes."
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When questioned over the findings, Green told detectives the stash of guns, explosives and equipment belonged to a man he helped to care for.
His claims initially led to that man being prosecuted before detectives realised that Green was behind the stash.
And with his DNA found on much of the equipment, he eventually admitted a string of counts of possession of a firearm without a certificate, possession of ammunition without a certificate and possessing an explosive substance.
Mr Parry told Liverpool Crown Court: "There is no evidence that the particular weapons or ammunition have actually been used by Green, including for any criminal purpose. There is no evidence that others have used the particular weapons or ammunition.
"Mr Green’s possession meant that the weapons were available for others to use should they approach Green, and should Green agree to supply them."
Damian Nolan, defending, said his client did not possess the items for any "aggressive" purpose and the court heard claims Green would not have made them available to criminals if he was approached.
He said Green, a dad-of-one who had lost his home and job as a result of the prosecution, was remorseful for his actions and highlighted a host of positive letters sent to the court on his behalf.
Judge Louise Brandon accepted there was no evidence Green planned to use or transfer his cache of weapons but said that while many of the guns were old, the antique rifles were viable and as a result "maintain an attraction to the criminal fraternity".
The judge added: "There was, therefore, a real danger of these weapons falling into the hands of serious criminals."
Judge Brandon said: "This is not a case where the collection was born out of curiosity or a desire to experiment."
And she ruled the extent of that collection placed Green at risk of being approached by criminals who would desire his haul and could be "persuasive" in their attempts to obtain it, adding: "There was that risk that explosives would have been provided if you were asked and if you were so willing to do so."
Judge Brandon said she had not been given any information about any circumstances in which Green "would not be willing to supply the armoury".
Green was sentenced to two years and nine months for the firearms offences and five years and three months for the explosives offences. The terms were ordered to be served consecutively, meaning his total sentence was eight years, of which he will serve at least half.
He was also made the subject of a Serious Crime Prevention Order.
