Gonna sell some of my collection to help get another car.

Only the ones that were bought at a really good price with the whole intention that would be sold for the right price. The true ones in my collection are not for sale and have no intention of selling them. I have only sold one gun in my life that I really liked but at the time saw no need to keep it any longer and at the time did not regreat but as time has passes wish I never would have. Biggest thing is how do you feel about guns...are they "part of the family" for lack of better terms or are they just objects. If they are just objects let them go, can always replace in the future. But if your luck is like mine you will never replace them for what you get for them now.

I sold my Anschutz 3-position rifle to another competitor (when I left college and that competition world) to purchase an engagement ring.

I've only ever sold one or two other guns, and those to fund new guns.

Not recently,,,

Not recently,,,
But back in the mid 80's,,,
My wife and I lost our jobs within one week of each other,,,
I ended up having to peddle most of my guns to make a few mortgage payments.

The only one I really hated to see go,,,
Was the J. P. Sauer & Sohns Drilling my parents got me for my 14th birthday.

Double barrels in 20 gauge,,,
9.3 by 57 (I think) for the rifle barrel.

All of the other guns I sold were generic firearms,,,
Some were excellent shooting guns,,,
But nothing rare or valuable.

I managed to keep the 8mm Mauser my uncle brought back from the war,,,
And the 8mm Lebel revolver I bought when I was a teenager.

If that's what you need to do to get by,,,
Then part with some and replace them later on.

Aarond

.

I haven't had to sell a gun since the kids grew up and left the nest Unemployed at Christmas was my motivation

Now I'm more likely to trade and when it comes to autos we're down to one and that's plenty.

I swore for a long time I would never sell anything. Then I wound up with multiple family members hit with expensive health issues. Priorities shift and at some point it is just stuff.

My only advice is to sell smart and for smart reasons.

By selling smart I mean face to face or as close to that as is legal in your area, not to a dealer or pawn shop where you get $0.10 on the dollar.

By smart reasons I mean buy based on needs, not wants.

I sold my HK-94A3 to buy my .50 and everything that I needed for it including the Nightforce scope sitting on top of it. Of all guns I hated to sell it was that one as I live in CA and will never be able to replace it unless I move out of the state.

The HK was in 90% condition or better, had all the factory parts, collapsable stock... When I bought it in the early 80's it was only $550 dollars! I sold it at the peak of the frenzy during the AW ban.

Luckily.................................no.

I sold one to get some money to buy oil one winter as I didn't want pipes to freeze. Had been recently laid off at that time and holidays around the corner.
Sold others, but only for buying other guns wanted.
Gave 2 away, 20ga O/U and 30/30 to son.

As, If, When my interests change I sell or, more likely, trade something off.
About 10 yrs ago I decided I didn't need 2 MG 42s so I sold one. Took the $$$ and bought a new Ranger pick-up. Had money left over so bought another gun.
Sarge

I've had to sell guns several times to pay bills, and it's hurt every time. Nothing hurt as bad as when I had to sell all my Nikon cameras and lenses. That one really hurt.

I was young, had a mortgage and ecomomy went south. I sold my first handgun, a ruger stainless single six. Things improved and I regreted ever selling it. I have since picked up a used one. I vowed to never do it again and hopefully I can stay that course but I have some changes in life coming up.

I only sell guns to purchase other guns. Never had to for any other reason. I believe in upgrading when a good deal comes your way, unless you have the extra money to buy it outright. As I get older my tastes change, and unfortunately I like more expensive guns. I have cut down to only 2 calibers for pistols, 9 and 45, although I still keep ammo for several more, "just in case, one comes my way"

I cringe when I hear of a shooter having to sell part of his collection to do something besides buying another gun.

I know that sometimes life gets in the way and you have to do it, but I still feel bad for those that have to. Hopefully they get back on their feet and can replace what they had to sell.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

I buy and sell as needed. I didn't marry any of them and promise to keep them regardless. Some guys get too sentimental, the gun doesn't miss me a bit. If I can sell something that is not being used regularly at a good price I have no problems selling some to finance other things. My guns are not the most important things in my life. They are tools that I use to do other things that are more important than the guns themselves.

There are a few with family history that are off limits, but all the others are just stuff that can be replaced. Usually with something better.

I only had to sell a few guns a number of years back when I was going to college. Most of them I haven't really missed but there were a couple of revolvers that I wouldn't mind having back in the collection.

Gonna sell some of my collection to help get another car.

I enjoy shooting, and like the firearms I have, but there are a few that I can let go and be fairly okay with. But cars are expensive to purchase and a sizeable downpayment amount is nearly required, these days, so something has to give.

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Buy a used car, keep the guns

Not yet, but might have to for school bills.

I want to start by saying that I'm basically a member of the no-sell camp.

I had a situation where I had a rifle I had some misgivings about after purchasing, and at the same time I was in a spot and kind of needed the money more than I needed the gun. Guess what happened?

In my case, I had already decided I was going to replace the item in question with something "better" when my lot improved. That was a big factor in me actually making the sale.

I actually also have an advantage in a great LGS that will give me fair value on any sales. That was another huge factor for me.

I eventually followed through and got the "better" thing that I wanted later on. I am very happy now - though I wasn't really so much when I was selling. As I said, I very rarely sell anything I have bought; just that fact that it has proven that it works properly is valuable to me.


Anyway, say all that to say... you do what you have to do. Since that has happened, I always keep in mind the 2 or 3 items I have that I would be willing to let go of if I absolutely HAD to. I think it is a good practice for the working-class man, because you never know. Filter out and prioritize the 5-6 you have on the block, and let go of the least amount you can to comfortably make your down payment. That's my final advice. Good luck.

To me, guns fall into one of three categories

(1) Sentimental. Given as a gift, inherited, etc. Non-negotiable
(2) Non-replaceable. I have a Browning BPCR that is one of 328 made. Unfired. Would be impossible to replace
(3) Chunks of wood/plastic and steel.

Unless it's one of the rare ones in the first two categories, it's always for sale at the right price. Why in the hell would I care if I sold a Glock 17 (unless it falls into category 1).

You make your money when you buy, not when you sell. That's why I almost always buy used at super low prices. Right now I've got a used (but never fired) $1,200 rifle/scope combo on lay-away at the LGS for $450

If it isn't a screaming deal I move on. That way if I ever sell, I'm good. I've sold dozens and dozens of guns in my life. Don't miss any of 'em. If I need to sell this latest one, I can get all my money, maybe more.

Work in a gun shop for a while and you'll figure out that, for the most part, they're just a commodity.

Never. I have planned well.

Sam1911 said:

I sold my Anschutz 3-position rifle to another competitor (when I left college and that competition world) to purchase an engagement ring.

I've only ever sold one or two other guns, and those to fund new guns.

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Still married?

Yup! Certainly got more than my money's worth out of that rifle.