NORTH ATTLEBORO -- Police seized a cache of firearms and illegal weapons and arrested a Spring Street man Sunday on domestic assault and weapons charges.

Among the firearms were five shotguns, eight rifles and five handguns. Some of the weapons were loaded.

Also confiscated were hundreds rounds of ammunition, including high-velocity ammunition and six large capacity ammunition clips, three double-edged knifes and a switch blade, according to police.

Arrested around 3 a.m. was Paul A. DiFiore, 46, of 102 Spring St., who police said did not have a license for the weapons.

He was held on $10,000 cash pending arraignment today in Attleboro District Court. DiFiore is accused of assaulting and threatening his 43-year-old girlfriend a few days ago. She moved out of the apartment and reported the alleged assault on Saturday night, according to police.

After an investigation by officers Craig Chapman and Christian Grunewald, DiFiore was arrested without incident.

Detective Lt. David Dawes said DiFiore, who was described as an avid gun collector, had applied for a weapons license several years ago but was refused for one by the police chief.

DiFiore kept the weapons locked in a room except for one loaded handgun which was found in his bedroom when police executed a search warrant, Dawes said.

The large capacity ammunition clips are illegal because they are capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. If convicted, he faces a 10-year prison term, Dawes said.

DiFiore faces charges of domestic assault and battery, uttering threats to kill and numerous weapons violation including possession of firearms without a license, possession of large capacity ammunition and possession of large capacity feeding devices.