Started downsizing

I think you should make plans for the nickel M19 to keep it in the family eventually and not just sold.

All of us who are collectors eventually need to make similar decisions. Been putting off making my decisions, but I need to. The collector stuff just sits and I'm not adding to it. It is probably time to make some changes.

At age 72 (almost), I'm still adding to my collection. If the time comes for me to "downsize," I might as well give up on life altogether. If I die still owning a lot of guns, I certainly won't care. My heirs will sort it out.

AlexanderA said:

At age 72 (almost), I'm still adding to my collection. If the time comes for me to "downsize," I might as well give up on life altogether. If I die still owning a lot of guns, I certainly won't care. My heirs will sort it out.

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While that certainly your choice, it's quite short sighted IMO. I worked at the LGS for a while. About once a month, some young guy or girl would come in with an armload of guns. Usually treated them like a bunch of useless goodwill clothing. Dump them on n a pile on the counter. "These worth anything?"

They'd inform us that they were left by dad/grandpa/uncle Jim etc. and they made it quite obvious that all they wanted was any money they could get. Never quibbled over money. Give me cash and get the hell out of here.

Talked to a widowed woman a few weeks ago. She had a custom shop Colt that brought $100 at a dealer.

Have an acquaintance that bought a first generation Colt SAA in .38-40 for $200 from a widow. He's current got it for sale on Gunbroker for $7,000. He's a damned thief IMO, but they're out there.

I have some collector grade Brownings, some very high end AR's. Scopes worth over 1k alone. Theryre not gonna end up getting dumped on a counter for $100 each.

I'm only 54 but when I get to my 70s or an age when I am not shooting them much, I will sell them all off and just keep an HD gun. I agree, it's a crime to leave valuable guns to relatives who are clueless about their worth.

The best thing to do is gather up your guns, do some research and write up a value for each. Then when you go to the big shooting range in the sky, your family will know about what they should get for them.

Have a sit down and tell them all how offended you would be if they just dumped them on a counter and that you will come back and tickle their feet while they sleep for the rest of their lives if they do.

I've started downsizing like you and am only in my 30's. I came to the realization that I only shot a few of my guns and the rest were just my attempt at having more stuff than the next guy. If I were to die suddenly I'm not too worried about my wife selling my guns for cheap though. She knows that I keep a notebook with gun information including what I paid for it and how much I think it can be justifiably sold for.

Vito, the OP, still has 7+ guns.

It would be wise to address those too.

Hang a note with some basic values where ever you keep them or make sure the she knows a friend of your to help. Or dont tell her who and just talk with a friend and ask him to approach her and offer help.

I think a lot of time the survivor is a bit over whelmed and doesn't want, or isnt able, to invest the time and emotions to getting rid if them on the best way.

vito said:

I'm approaching 74, and not only is my wife of 50 years not at all into guns, only one of my five grown children has any interest in guns at all (and that one is not in a position right now to responsibly keep more than one gun in a small lockbox in his apartment). I never had a big collection, and in fact could hardly call what I owned as a collection at all by most gun collector standards, but I have started to downsize to avoid having my wife at some point be overwhelmed with disposing of the guns.

I started by selling the guns I didn't care for (like the Ruger LCP which I hated to shoot) or never fired because they were virtual duplicates of other guns that I used more often. So now I am almost done (I still have one to give the one son who wants one) with the process, leaving me with two home defense handguns (in addition to a Mossberg 500), two concealed carry smaller handguns, and two 22 handguns for target shooting at the range. I also will hold on to the only gun that I have sentimental attachment to because it is such a beauty, in my opinion it is the standard of what a gun should look like (a nickel 4-inch S&W Model 19). This also allows me to only stockpile four calibers of handgun ammo (9mm, 45acp, 38 Special, and 22 LR). Life is simpler now and I actually feel better. I guess its a bit like downsizing from a big house to a small condo, having everything you need and nothing you don't.

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I'm 65 and am also starting to downsize. I've got 18 handguns and about 15 long guns. I can get rid of many, but it will be hard to let go of many more.

At 63 I have more handguns than ever. One .380, one 9mm, and one .45. Much as I like the 9mm - and I sold guns to buy it - I understand it's the extra one thats unnecessary.

Dad had none but the issue with an "estate" is that when we are done and gone those left behind usually have NO clue how to sort it all out. So it goes to auction or those who seem to appear from the sidelines who make money off it selling it to others.

Case in point, disposing of Mom's stuff - watching furniture we sold flip thru two other dealers and triple in price, Dad's old steamer trunk which gaveled down $60 appearing in a resale booth for $400. The reality is that for those who can't be bothered to sort it our themselves and spare their wife and children beforehand, they are also blowing the considerable profit that some of their possessions have enjoyed by the serious increase in value.

Those $200 guns purchased years ago may be $1200 guns now. Might as well write a will to say they should be sold and the money tossed onto the funeral pyre, too. Family won't get anything for them.

I'm reminded of the scene in Scrooge where the people who got into his house were selling off his drapes etc and the chortling over what they had gotten. Their gain was the nicest thing the old guy had ever done - supporting thieves and grifters. I'm quite sure the heirs will sort it all out - but they will get pennies on the dollar and Mom will get bilked out of most of it. Won't even be there for her heating bill next winter.

That's not an expression of caring for her. And the lesson is heard every time some collector passes, but nobody learns. What did she do to deserve that?

Don't wait that long - parcel it out and if you want to shoot them, call up the kids and invite them to the range. That's more important than sitting on a pile of junk being sold by the pound. Or a living auction - better off cash in the final distribution than heartache and family fights over who blew it not realizing they had the last Singer 1911.

I exaggerate, of course, but then again - A Colt Custom Shop gun sold for $100? Don't be that guy.

OP did the right thing - might even consider selling a .22 and or even dropping all but the carry gun. Better than sticking it to the family and them remembering how much a hassle it all was.

Because, it's a major hassle and it's not going to be fun.

Even though I'm on the fair side of 70 I'm still not ready to start downsizing yet. Like looking at all the new stuff at the SHOT Show and always love a trip to my favorite toy store just to see what's new and interesting in the display case.

At 57 I've got pretty much all I need or want and since my accumulation totals a dozen I don't feel guilty leaving them behind, but if need be I could live happily with 3 or 4 guns.

As things stand at the moment my wife is co-owner of our guns. When she decides to the two kids will divide up my guns. Everyone gets along well so there will not be a big family fight.

I have lectured everyone about having "friends" offer to take the guns off of their hands. The only bad news is my son lives in Maryland. I keep telling him he needs to move to Virginia before I will start giving him some of my guns. The kid in Texas will get most of the guns unless my son moves to a gun-friendly state.

Everyone will be home this summer. I am going to take the kids to the gun vault and start to let them pick out their favorites for when I decide to start letting them go.

The Gun Santa Claus will be busy as I get older.

Good to see this, I've been thinking about this myself. I'm 68 and have probably 30 pistols, 2 shotguns 5 bolt rifles not counting rimfire rifles and an AR. Been thinking about this because I don't want to see my son dump them on a LGS counter and get pennies on the dollar. Plus the fact that out of all these guns there are only about 3 I shoot anymore. I still varmint hunt and shoot Trap and occasionally a pistol, but I see no reason to leave all these guns sitting in a safe.

And I'm also wondering about how I should sell what I no longer want.

I will continue to do the things I enjoy as long as I can. I have never known anyone who passed over that could decide what happened to his "Things".
The American Indians and the Vikings had everything buried with them. Most of these items were dug up by their friends.
I would rather enjoy my life than planing it around that "Mortal Call".

What my wife has asked me to do is to photograph each one and price them out as to what they would be worth now. As well as a little history.
That goes for all my hobby stuff. The kids can sort it when the time comes. If they keep stuff great, if they dump it all that’s fine too.
But you don’t want them to get screwed.

Stop collecting? Are you nuts??

That being said, at 62, I have acquired two guns in the last 18 months, one of which I've trying to get since 2012. That is a Marlin 1894 in .38 Sp./.357 Magnum and I pair it with the GP-100 I bought in 2011.

The other was a Keltec PMR-30 in .22 Magnum. I like to "combine" guns so I have a bolt-action in .22 Mag as well as a Ruger Single Six in .22 LR/Mag. I also have a 10/22 and a bolt-action rifle to go with all of those.

I also have a .380ACP, 2-12 ga. shotties, a .243 bolt-action, and an AK.

Many of you probably have some "one-of-a-kind" firearms that mean something to you but not to your heirs. While nothing exotic, I do too. I have inherited several, starting with a little Colt Jr. in .25 ACP that was NiB when I got it 15 years ago. It shoots quite well for its short barrel. Then, another Colt in .32 ACP that, according to the serial number, is about 95 years old. It still functions but the rifling is worn out and it isn't accurate. Another .38 (not a Special) has been retired due to mechanical problems. It also has no bluing left but it is sentimental as it was the one my grandfather kept in his store under the register. Then there is the one that isn't that powerful a gun nor is it that old. But when I took it to a gun show a couple of years ago and two different vendors checked their "blue books" for me, it got retired! It's a Colt in .32-20 and both rated it at 95-98%, only docking it because I didn't have the original box. This gun is carefully cased, with that information on an index card in the case, along with the value those vendors placed on it 6 years ago. That value is why I quit shooting it, despite having a box and a half of ammo for it!

List your guns on a Word document with left & right photos, as well as close-ups of serial numbers. List the guns with those pictures and the guns history (if interesting) as well as the blue book values at that time for your heirs to reference.

I've posted about this same dilemma a few times,,,
I'm single and have no gun loving family,,,
So I made a detailed will for my guns.

Every gun I own has a small paper folder with all of the pertinent information in it,,,
Pictures of the gun, it's manual, and it's accessories,,,
Who the gun goes to and their contact info,,,
Receipt(s) if any and a letter from me.

My brother and sister know where all of my important papers and records are,,,
Everything important in my life is in those three fireproof boxes,,,
I make certain that the contents are current at all times.

Although lately I've decided to give some away before I take the dirt nap,,,
I'm 65 years old and know I'm not guaranteed even one more breath,,,
So why not get the enjoyment out of seeing the recipient smile.

A few I might end up selling if I get a need for some cash,,,
But most will be given away to good friends,,,
What they do with the guns is on them.

Aarond

.

Don't worry about what will happen to your firearms. That said, you can worry about a young horse, young bird dog or a young wife.

Life is simpler now and I actually feel better.

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See, that's just dandy.

Very early 60's, here. I certainly don't act like it. May I never, in most cases. That said, I echo bannockburn's sentiments; while I endeavor to keep it to a dull roar, there are still a few pieces I look forward to acquiring in the future.

danez71 said:

....I think a lot of time the survivor is a bit over whelmed and doesn't want, or isnt able, to invest the time and emotions to getting rid if them on the best way.

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That is true. For many, it is just a pile of money that they want. Ultimately, it is the size of the pile that matters. They often have no conception of the effort and cost it took to put together a collection. It is far better just to put them up to auction at one of the gun auction houses and see what they fetch. Remember, anything is better than nothing....

I'm not saying I won't buy another gun but I have guns that have sat in the safe for over 15 years without being fired.

For instance,

1. Remington 700 Classic in .300 H&H Mag that I bought for a hunting trip that I never went on. I no longer hunt big animals and not even sure I want to feel the recoil from this one anymore.
2. S&W 624, 6.5" and 4" that I've maybe fired a couple times.
3. S&W 24-3 4" fired one time.
4. Colt Officers Model Target .22rf first year made 1930. I shot it fairly often but I don't shoot it often enough to keep it.
5. S&W 18 that I fired a few times.
6. S&W 28-2 6" hasn't been fired in 15 years, I like the 4" more.
7. Ruger Red Label All Weather that I don't shoot at all.
8. S&W 29-2 6" that I don't shoot often enough to keep.
9. Remington 77c nylon.
10. Marlin 60 from the 1960s hasn't been fired in 30 years.

I'm sure there's more that I've forgotten but you get the idea that I've got guns that sit to much. That leaves me with about 4 bolt action rifles that I do use or may use. Plus there are still S&W revolvers that I do shoot and would keep. Selling the above would simplify life.

redneck2 wrote:
He's a damned thief IMO,...

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You're not alone in that opinion, see Matthew 23:14 and Mark 12:40.