Thoughts on letting go...

I once sold a S&W 1006 and bought two good guns with the proceeds. No regrets. It became a collector's item over the time I owned it, and at that point it was no longer fun to own. I worried about scratching it and lowering the value, or, god forbid, some piece breaks that I couldn't replace. To me, firearms or tools, or tools with some history, but I don't want something that I just dust off and stare at - like Cameron's father's Ferrari. If I were rich and money was no object - different story, but until then, I don't want anything I am afraid to dent or scratch. Life is too short for headaches from worrying over replaceable material objects.

I've sold a bunch of guns, usually to fund something I want more or will use. I only regret selling some Colt 1911s, and some Colt revolvers. Everything thing else could easily be replaced if I wanted to.

I'm not married to any of them. A firearm either makes me happy or it will go. My collection is constantly evolving to suit my wants and needs.

fireside44 said:

I don't like feeding rare and expensive weapon/calibers. Dust collector gun collections gotta go, waste of space in my world. Handloading necked cartridges is for the birds. So is sentimentality. A grown man making tools a fetish seems commonplace these days, it's silly. If you don't need or use it then it's just self indulgent to sit on it. All material things can be replaced with something that approximates what is sold/lost/stolen, don't hold special attachments to inanimate things. I consolidated years ago, no regrets. It's stuff, and means nothing. Sell and get what you can use and what serves your household. Duplicate weapons and calibers are boring but practical so that has been my mindset for a few years.

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Funny thing is I mostly agree with this. Stuff is just stuff. I come from a family that hasnt thrown anything away since they got here, and they cant figure out why I don't want great grandma's whatever..

Guns, however are my one weakness. To the OP I went thru a culling several years ago. I generally do not shoot and had a lot of shooters. I hunt a lot, but I may go to a gun range once year. So I took a look at my overflowing gun safe and pulled out the guns that actually get used. I kept a Glock, two S&W .38s, a .22 revolver we use for rats, my 30-06, and my bird gun. All of those get used. Everything else that was redundant or just another shooter I sold a couple of Glocks, a few well used rifles, etc. that had no value to me, or were worth more in cash.

I do, however, keep a decent collection of guns that will never be shot as long as I own them and I am alive. Some of them are nice collectors stuff. Some are family guns. Others I just like. But, to the point of the poster I quoted, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to sell them if I needed the money. I may sell them one day.

I have bought a few over time just for resale later. A SKS, cheap AK, and dare I say it my only AR. I remember the panic buy. ARs going for $1400.00. SKS going for $800.00. Some I will pass on to my son/daughter. Mostly pistols. A few rifles mostly pistol round carbine's. Only one I regret letting go was my granddad's charter .38 kids are expensive. It was food and diapers or the .38 chose the first.

I have been in a selling mode for some time now. Just not shooting stuff as much and I have a lot of collector stuff that should be moved to a good new home. I don't want to die with all these toys.

When I married my wife 36 years ago I promised to keep and love her, and I have. I make no such promise when I buy a gun. If something better comes along I have no problem selling/trading and upgrading. I have some with family history that my kids will get. And I've already given them several guns to use to thin out my collection.

But over the years the type of hunting and shooting I do has evolved and changed. The type of firearms, optics, etc has changed to meet those needs. I'm not keeping a gun I don't use unless it has family history, or in the case of a classic guns will dramatically increase in value.

James Fonteneaux said:

Hello all. I was going through the armory the other day and came to the realization that I had a few things that could be moved to fund new projects, etc. I am interested in the group's thoughts on what I would call "churn", especially given the political landscape these days. Btw, nothing I would be moving is collectible, rare, etc.. Mainly things I started with and have replaced with better. Thanks in advance, and have a good day!

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Literally went through this yesterday. At my age I am holding on to what I seem to have some attachment to - be it style, feel, caliber or whatever.

In days gone by I often collected things on a different, emotional level, such as the anti 2nd Amendment crowd did not want me to have it.

I now leave that worthwhile battle to the future freedom fighters.

Big_Al said:

I've done it with a few firearms, then usually a little later I wish I would have kept them.

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Ironicaintit said:

I'm in this camp. I hate later saying to myself, "what was I thinking?"

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I have sold firearms to cull the herd only to later regret my decision. But usually the regret doesn’t last long except for one. I sold a Glock 34 Gen 3 that was the perfect shooter for me right out of the box. I regret selling that gun most.

The only guns that I have sold that truly made me think about the sale have been collector grade guns. I spent 30 years buying this stuff.... I wouldn't have purchased them if I didn't truly like them. The basis of this "like" was obviously shooting them, but these guns never got shot for any reason as I made a point to have shooters available to fit every need I felt I had. You could say they were investment pieces, but I didn't buy them as investments. I bought them because I liked them. They were more for my personal museum. So, selling makes me feel that a hole has been inflicted, but down deep, I know I should do this because it is the right thing to do in my circumstances.

I used to buy guns like some people buy a record, tape, or CD.... just to try out. If for whatever reason I didn't care for the gun enough, it got sold.and usually within a few months after my acquisition. It was fun and it gave me a good feeling of freedom. It was never about the money lost or gained.

larryh1108 said:

For a discussion purpose, to those who will never sell any gun. What is it that makes it irreplaceable? Let's not talk about heirlooms or rare collector guns. I mean the everyday gun that are out there if you want one. If you sell a gun and regret it later (for whatever reason) then why can't you just buy a similar one? Almost any gun can be found unless it is rare or collectible. Regretting selling a special or collectible gun makes sense but why regret selling a 3rd Gen Glock 19? Or a Kimber 1911 Custom? Or a Beretta M92? What is the regret? That is what I don't understand. If you regret a sale, go buy another one, right? Or am I totally wrong?

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I'm a sentimental fool by nature, so once I own it, it's part of my history too. And it could potentially be an heirloom, as well. I plan for my boy (and 2 of my BFFs and a cousin) to inherit my stuff. So unless it really makes no sense at all, I keep it.

My dad had a WG series Para Ordnance P14 that he built from a kit with mostly Colt parts, and he had it with him everywhere. He could have sold it, but then I'd be missing out on it's sentimental value. He bought just the frame, and built it himself. Now, he isn't around anymore....but he left it to me, and that ugly hunk of steel isn't going anywhere!

The only one I dont really regret is the Mosin I gave to a friend who lost everything in a house fire, and a HiPoint 45 I gave to a niece for home protection. (which she later pawned, so I actually regret that one too)

JeeperCreeper said:

I believe guns are tools, they need to be used.

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I too believe guns are tools. They need to be of quality, have a purpose, and stored properly.

But they all don't need to be used necessarily. I have many tools in the garage I may not use very often...sometimes for years...but when I need to use it, I'm glad I have it, even if it's been idle for a few years.

Ironicaintit said:

My dad had a WG series Para Ordnance P14 that he built from a kit with mostly Colt parts, and he had it with him everywhere. He could have sold it, but then I'd be missing out on it's sentimental value. He bought just the frame, and built it himself. Now, he isn't around anymore....but he left it to me, and that ugly hunk of steel isn't going anywhere!

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I quoted myself to add a picture of the Para P14 I was talkin about.
Paras have a bad reputation, but this one sings a fine tune.
carry on

I don't usually sell anything on, but occassionally I'll have something I just truly don't want anyone and I'll pass it on.

I had a savage 22 I sold to a friend- decent rifle but I wanted a really nice match rifle and didnt need two bolt 22s when one was going to be a much nicer rifle.

I also had a keltec p-11, wound up moving it on for a p-32 and a glock 26.

Usually though I don't wind up with guns that don't have a nice or I wouldn't have gotten them in the first place. And I've learned to save my money and buy once cry once.

larryh1108 said:

For a discussion purpose, to those who will never sell any gun. What is it that makes it irreplaceable? Let's not talk about heirlooms or rare collector guns. I mean the everyday gun that are out there if you want one. If you sell a gun and regret it later (for whatever reason) then why can't you just buy a similar one? Almost any gun can be found unless it is rare or collectible. Regretting selling a special or collectible gun makes sense but why regret selling a 3rd Gen Glock 19? Or a Kimber 1911 Custom? Or a Beretta M92? What is the regret? That is what I don't understand. If you regret a sale, go buy another one, right? Or am I totally wrong?

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First of all, sorry I missed this when you first posted it.

For me, a lot of it has to do with price and value. Some of the guns I sold were guns I bought at phenomenally low price points. The combination of great deal and inflation makes it very difficult for me to be able to afford them again, even though almost all of them were run of the mill mass production guns.

Another problem is availability. All of the guns I've sold were either out of production when I sold them, or went out of production shortly after I sold them. That leaves me with only the secondary market.

Another problem is I just don't value used guns as high as others do. Anytime I try to buy something used, the item in question sells for for 80% of the price of a new item. But when I sell a used item, people want to pay me pennies on the dollar. In the past ten years I have moved completely away from buying or selling used items. (Not just guns). I will actually throw things away rather than go through the bother of trying to sell them.

So I will probably never own those guns again. =(

sequins said:

And I've learned to save my money and buy once cry once.

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Same here. I went years looking for a Ruger Redhawk, because they were just too expensive. And no way no how was I going to buy Taurus Tracker. Redhawks were running about $700 when I first started looking for one. After about four years, I gave up and paid $900 for one. I should have bought one four years earlier.

I've been culling the herd lately. Getting ready for my gun club's annual swap meet. Have recruited 2 other guys who are doing the same thing. We'll have quite a spread of guns at our table. Each is selling for different reasons...get rid of guns we don't use, sell to get money for other projects, sell to buy better guns....we are actually all selling for the same reason; needs change. Over the years I have bought and sold lots of guns and can't honestly say I regret any of them.
Second story: A friend of mine is a COLLECTOR. His wife asked him one day why he never sells anything. He responded, "I buy them to have, not to sell." And I must say, each time I visit his home and view his extensive collection, I love every minute of the experience.

When I first started buying guns I got a thrill out of getting a new gun. I wanted to buy all the guns I saw on TV growing up but over time I lost interest.
About five years ago I sold off most of my guns and decided to go in a different direction and I haven't looked back once.

The only gun I even nominally regretted selling was my S&W model 915 but even then I wouldn't replace it because it would sit in my safe and draw dust

Trunk Monkey said:

The only gun I even nominally regretted selling was my S&W model 915 but even then I wouldn't replace it because it would sit in my safe and draw dust

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That’s my thing. I had dozens of guns just taking up room in the safe. For no particularly good reason that I could see.

Kinda like all those olde pharts on American Pickers that have barns and barns full of “treasure”. They’re 80 years old and haven’t touched the stuff for forty years, but by god “some day I’m gonna use that......for something”

Uh huh.....and some day I’m gonna be an astronaut

I'm not an impulse buyer and carefully consider any gun purchase I make. Future use or need is always thought about before I lay down any hard earned money. Have never sold any of my guns as I have a use for them all. I have inherited several that I would never buy, but hey have sentimental value to me and will never be sold by me. I own less than 20 and at the moment don't see anything coming up that I would need. Seem like I'm set. There are always some that I would like but have no need for.

I sold my M1A recently because I had gotten a bit over my skis on a custom built rifle project and I needed to move something to keep harmony on the home front.

It was largely a symbolic gesture

I’m at a point in my shooting hobby where if the rifle won’t hold five shots 1/4 MOA or less I’m not very interested in it so there may be some more house cleaning in the near future

^^ I have a long way to go before I get to that point! I still draw the circle at one MOA ... at least for my hunting rifles.

Legionnaire said:

^^ I have a long way to go before I get to that point! I still draw the circle at one MOA ... at least for my hunting rifles.

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Hunting rifles are different.

I've gone through a few collect/sell cycles, when cash flow was better, then I suffered some financial hardship that necessitated paring down the "accumulation" as it really wasn't a collection per-se, it was just an assortment of "good deals" or "that'd be neat to own"

unfortunately, i'm back heading towards a financial difficulty again, due to unforeseen medical expenses, and I may have to start making hard decisions again, problem is, i'm still pared down to a minimal collection, and anything further would really *hurt*...

there are about 5 guns that are family heirlooms that will *NEVER* be sold, there are some that are rare/hard to find now (H&R Topper Deluxe 20G single shot, CZ-452 Ultra Lux and Ruger Design Contest Winner 10/22 that I've done a few strategic, but reversible, mods to) and a "politically relevant" rifle that is currently under threat), amongst others in the Accumulation of Varying Size

On top of that, i'm still in a minor "minimalist" mindset no and have to fight off mild "hoarding" tendencies, and am planning on potentially moving to another house in the mid future, and would rather not have to transport a massive accumulation of durable goods to the next house, and further downsizing would help that, but replacing anything I sold now would be exceedingly difficult to replace...

the funds recovered in such a sale wouldn't last too long either as none of the sellable stock is particularly pricey, so if sold, i'd be out the firearms, the money would eventually disappear, and eventual replacements would be more difficult to acquire, so i'd end up with a smaller bank account *and* smaller collection...

..it's the same reason that selling my 1999 Yamaha V-Star 650 Clasic I got in a equal swap (traded my Jonboat for the bike) makes no sense, the minimal cash i'd get from the sale would be consumed in bills, and when I got out of the financial difficulty, i'd have a smaller bank balance, and no bike to boot...

at the moment, selling any guns is a short-term gain, long term loss...

At some point in time, to me at least, it's all just stuff. This applies to more than guns, but the guns still fall under the same header. I can replace/swap/sell/move things.

I'm definitely an accumulator more than a collector. If something strikes my fancy or is interesting in some way, I'll probably acquire one at some point. This is how I've ended up with multiple CZ .22 rifles, and I'm beginning to lose track of the S&W K-frame revolvers that have come and gone. Also why I now have a Colt 1903 in .32 ACP.

What I have trouble reconciling are the "sentimental" pieces. I have my late-grandfather's Ruger 77 hunting rifle in .308. It's a very early one, with the dog-leg bolt handle and all. Recently I've accepted that the odds of me hunting again are roughly the same as me becoming a professional basketball player at this point in life. (I'm 5' 8" and not very good at stick and ball sports, if that gives you any indication of those odds...) So rationally, a long, heavy .308 sporter with a 14" LOP isn't a useful piece to me. But at the same time, it was my grandfather's rifle, I have fond memories of hunting with him up at the camp while he carried that rifle, and he gave it to me freely several years before his passing.

There's also the Remington 514 single-shot .22 rifle that was given to my brother and I by an uncle when I was about 12, which resides next to the .308 in the same. Objectively I have several more "useful" .22 rifles these days, scoped too, and the 514 rarely comes out for exercise. But it isn't particularly valuable and I can see some utility to having an iron sighted, single-shot .22 rifle around for teaching new shooters. So it stays for the time being too.