I was wondering how many of you have seen this sad trend, it's seems to be fairly common. I don't know if it's a cultural, regional think or what but it seems sad and I hope it doesn't happen to me as I don't have children and I do have a small family. Will time maybe?
I have seen and have experienced buying guns from people who have acquired them from a deceased relative. I myself have done so,regretted it a little but they were guns that grandpa owned but never really shot or carried or cared about, kind of like his dress shoes I see it, I didn't keep those either. Now if gramps carried the gun every day as sheriff of some town I'd not get rid of them.
Of the 2 guns I did sell/give away though one went to a family friend and one I got back. What I'm referring to more are guns that were brought back from a war or were important to the life of a deceased relative.
Coworker of my dad has a interesting situation. Gun collecting relative, a WW2 vet, died and left a rather sizeable collection to coworker. Family does not care about guns and only sees it as a source of easy $. The collection is sorted out piece by piece, being cherry picked by relatives as well as their non gun knowledge lets them. I cringe to think what I don't get a crack at but it can't be helped.
I gave the guy some guidelines he does not follow, no Spanish or Chinese guns, no milsurp from non US countries, try to pick up some o/u shotguns and anything Colt, S&W, Browning. Very vague and I'm aware there is good Spanish guns and foreign milsurp but how would you tell someone with zero gun knowledge how to pick out guns from a collection? I told him to call me but I don't know if family will let him while he is picking the guns.
So my dads friend shows up with trash(Ruby .32, Chinese Tokarev with custom grips and triggershoe of all things!) and treasure, S&W 27 and High Standard 22 automatics.
Guy told me to go with him on next round of gun pick out but I feel that is kind of vultuish and I feel the family won't like it. That being said I should show up with a loupe and in a labcoat and green eyeshade and say I'm from Sothebys!
Most of the guns have period customization and were well used but not too abused,the sign of a man who loved guns. Now I'm sure he is spinning in his grave to have his guns being sold out of a trunk of a car!
The guy I got some guns from is not interested in top dollar or consigning them, just wants cash asap to finance getting a new apartment I believe. However my conscious will not allow me to screw him on the guns. I tell him what they are worth and how much he could get if he took the time and how much I'm wiling to give, much less usually but still fair.
One thing that blew me away though is one of the guns, a 1922 Browning had Nazi markings. Guy wanted to destroy gun because the serial# number on the barrel was obscured and renumbered. When I pointed out the frame # is what mattered and the gun had Nazi proofs which might add 25% or so he mentioned the gun was probably his grandpas WW2 bringback but still wanted to sell it and not keep it for a heirloom or for a future great grandchild.
I felt that was wrong but to each his own I guess. I have heard of people selling off WW2 stuff like bringback katanas but I don't think I could bring myself to do this.
As an aside guy gave all the ammo to a gunshop and not to me
but as much may have been reloaded thats ok I suppose and I'm trying to get any accessories I can use, I did get a free CZ52 mag but nothing else yet. Reloading stuff is possible but pwder was probably poorly stored so I'll pass I think.
Anyways wish me luck everyone and I'd be interested to hear opinions and observations on this. And should I buy the Browning?
I have seen and have experienced buying guns from people who have acquired them from a deceased relative. I myself have done so,regretted it a little but they were guns that grandpa owned but never really shot or carried or cared about, kind of like his dress shoes I see it, I didn't keep those either. Now if gramps carried the gun every day as sheriff of some town I'd not get rid of them.
Of the 2 guns I did sell/give away though one went to a family friend and one I got back. What I'm referring to more are guns that were brought back from a war or were important to the life of a deceased relative.
Coworker of my dad has a interesting situation. Gun collecting relative, a WW2 vet, died and left a rather sizeable collection to coworker. Family does not care about guns and only sees it as a source of easy $. The collection is sorted out piece by piece, being cherry picked by relatives as well as their non gun knowledge lets them. I cringe to think what I don't get a crack at but it can't be helped.
I gave the guy some guidelines he does not follow, no Spanish or Chinese guns, no milsurp from non US countries, try to pick up some o/u shotguns and anything Colt, S&W, Browning. Very vague and I'm aware there is good Spanish guns and foreign milsurp but how would you tell someone with zero gun knowledge how to pick out guns from a collection? I told him to call me but I don't know if family will let him while he is picking the guns.
So my dads friend shows up with trash(Ruby .32, Chinese Tokarev with custom grips and triggershoe of all things!) and treasure, S&W 27 and High Standard 22 automatics.
Guy told me to go with him on next round of gun pick out but I feel that is kind of vultuish and I feel the family won't like it. That being said I should show up with a loupe and in a labcoat and green eyeshade and say I'm from Sothebys!
Most of the guns have period customization and were well used but not too abused,the sign of a man who loved guns. Now I'm sure he is spinning in his grave to have his guns being sold out of a trunk of a car!
The guy I got some guns from is not interested in top dollar or consigning them, just wants cash asap to finance getting a new apartment I believe. However my conscious will not allow me to screw him on the guns. I tell him what they are worth and how much he could get if he took the time and how much I'm wiling to give, much less usually but still fair.
One thing that blew me away though is one of the guns, a 1922 Browning had Nazi markings. Guy wanted to destroy gun because the serial# number on the barrel was obscured and renumbered. When I pointed out the frame # is what mattered and the gun had Nazi proofs which might add 25% or so he mentioned the gun was probably his grandpas WW2 bringback but still wanted to sell it and not keep it for a heirloom or for a future great grandchild.
I felt that was wrong but to each his own I guess. I have heard of people selling off WW2 stuff like bringback katanas but I don't think I could bring myself to do this.
As an aside guy gave all the ammo to a gunshop and not to me
but as much may have been reloaded thats ok I suppose and I'm trying to get any accessories I can use, I did get a free CZ52 mag but nothing else yet. Reloading stuff is possible but pwder was probably poorly stored so I'll pass I think. Anyways wish me luck everyone and I'd be interested to hear opinions and observations on this. And should I buy the Browning?
