On Friday, the 24-year-old Nowra man pleaded guilty in Port Kembla Local Court to three counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, items the court heard he had no intention of using.

Police spotted Kangas and a co-accused standing on the Berkeley M1 northbound on-ramp about 4am on August 20, 2014, and stopped to speak to the men, who appeared to be trying to fix a car tail-light.

The officers decided to carry out a search of the vehicle and Kangas volunteered a black trench knife with knuckle duster handle which he removed from a pant pocket and placed on the ground.

Inside a black leather satchel bag found on the front passenger seat, police found a push dagger knife and what they believed was an imitation pistol.

A push dagger is a small knife with a T-shaped handle, grasped so that the blade protrudes from a person's fist.

Defence lawyer Rajiv Baldeo told the court the imitation firearm was actually a torch and lighter, readily available to buy at service stations.

He said there was no suggestion Kangas had any intention to ever use or sell the items.

Although the charges did not stem from any use of the knives, prosecutors questioned why a person would carry this type of weapon.

"These aren't just kitchen knives," the court heard.

"If either of these weapons were used on a person they would cause significant injury, they are designed to do that."

Magistrate Michael Stoddart described the two knives as "mean looking implements" but said there was nothing to suggest Kangas had used them.

He was handed a two-year good behaviour bond and $3500 in fines.