The Home Office underestimated how many zombie knives and machetes would be surrendered ahead of a recent ban, documents show.
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An MP said there were "huge flaws" in the government's original impact assessment for the scheme, while another queried why compensation was not capped.
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The ban was introduced by the previous Conservative government to cut serious violence and crime.
It widened the definition of zombie knives, which were already banned, to include knives that were 8in (20cm) long, if they had other specific features.
The Home Office opened a month-long surrender and compensation scheme before it became law on 24 September.
It offered to pay a minimum of £10 per knife to retailers and individuals handing in three or more.
But BBC research suggests knives of the type banned could be bought far more cheaply than this.
It comes after an investigation found illegal blades were still available to buy online, a month after they were outlawed.
An impact assessment shows the Home Office thought owners would hand in 472 blades, resulting in compensation of about £14,000.
Officials would not reveal the actual total but said the results of the scheme would be published "shortly".
However, partial data from several police forces in England and Wales shows at least 39,000 knives were surrendered.
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