Another question of etiquette...

Figure it this way, nothing ventured and nothing gained. I would make a fair and reasonable offer.

During the early and mid 90s my wife and I owned a gun shop. My worst nightmares were when a widow dragged in her deceased husband's guns for appraisal and sale. I always was fair and always told them the actual sell values and would make an offer explaining I buy most guns for resale. If not you someone else so it may as well be you. Just be gentle and be fair. I doubt the widow has any use for the stuff and unless kids or family is involved the stuff is going somewhere so it may as well be you.

Ron

Though certainly not a major faux pas, I personally wouldn't make any comment or offer on the ammo. Over the decades I've lost quite a number of family members, including some last year. Spouse and I are presently wrapping up a somewhat complex estate of one of the aforementioned departed. Someone asking to buy stuff now would be "just one more thing".

I'd politely bring it up in a fashion similar to Big Bore's posting.

Elderly people tend to be very matter of fact about these issues (death). They've lived their life and fully understand the cycle of life...when it's "time", it's "time".

And they're usually fairly matter of fact about material property, as well. They know they can't take it with them. And someone who is honest and open about matters like this and show themselves to be respectful and fair are likely to be received fairly well.

After respectfully approaching her, paying her your condolences and bringing up the ammunition question, I'd present her with the current retail market value, discuss the age of the ammunition, and make a fair offer based on that. Print up a price page from a website to show her.

You said case quantities. You can show her new price per case, preferably for the same brand if possible, then say "I'll offer you 75% of the retail for new ammo for this." As old as it is, it's likely to be several times the original price.

She gets a fair deal on the ammo she'll never use, plus it gets removed from her house. You get ammo at a wee bit below new market price, while paying several times it's original value to her.

The whole thing sounds

Swing said:

Though certainly not a major faux pas, I personally wouldn't make any comment or offer on the ammo. Over the decades I've lost quite a number of family members, including some last year. Spouse and I are presently wrapping up a somewhat complex estate of one of the aforementioned departed. Someone asking to buy stuff now would be "just one more thing".

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I agree. Personally (and, I'm old school), I think it's rude and ill mannered. If my mom passed and the maid asked if the jewelry or other collectables were for sale, I'd be very offended.

But that's just me.

^^^^ Agreed. She may not even know it's there.

DustyGmt said:

I can see this side of it, but Jewelry and other items are more "heirloom" status. Ammo to an elderly woman I would think would be a "what the hell am I supposed to do with this now" kind of thing.

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An elderly woman would think of it as her husband's "stuff." The "stuff" that represented him and she's likely not going to be in a hurry to get rid of it.

I would consider it obtuse and ghoulish.

I mean, are we talking about reading the guy's obituary this morning and confronting the widow before the poor fella's even in the ground?

If it's been a couple of months or more, there's absolutely no harm in inquiring, delicately and tactfully. If she gets upset or put off by it, then she has an emotional attachment and that's fine. For every person that wants to hang on to every memory, there's someone else completely overwhelmed with "stuff" they were left with.

Any of you yahoos reading this outlive me, offer mama something fair for the crap that's not useful to me when I'm dead. She most likely won't know what the hell it is, and if she gets upset tell her I said it's ok.

SunnySlopes said:

The whole thing sounds


I agree. Personally (and, I'm old school), I think it's rude and ill mannered. If my mom passed and the maid asked if the jewelry or other collectables were for sale, I'd be very offended.

But that's just me.

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We can also look at it that way. About 11 years ago my sister lost her husband to cancer. Damn I miss him, a great guy and shooting buddy. He made it clear his reloading stuff was to go to his gun club so when he passed away my sister took all the reloading stuff to his gun club. In short order several members called her asking what her plans were for his guns. Her husband had just passed and long before he died he spelled out his wishes to my sister. I did think that was tacky to say the least. In this case I have no clue of the timeframe or much else? Sometimes there is family and sometimes not. Unless before his passing he made his wishes known it leaves a widow deciding. My wife knows my wishes and they are clear. Certain guns to specific family and sell off the rest, everything else.

Ron

I once sold property to a painting contractor . He was very proud of all the guns,boats,campers,trucks,etc. he owned . He was a cocky drunk and bragged of preying on widows once he got inside their homes . He died in prison, he messed with the wrong widow . Her son was a powerful lawyer ,

Goulish? We're not talking about the suit the deceased wore at their wedding - we are talking about a bunch of ammo stashed in a crawlspace. Not high on the list of sentimental possessions , not something she will dwell over because of the memories.
Be civil and polite. If she declines , thank her and be on your way.

Side note : What the heck is the point of post # 36? Why the implication of evil intent?

hso said:

She might need the money and offering her a fair price could be a blessing.

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I came to say this.

edwsardware said.

His approach is honest, straightforward, and interested. He notifies the owner (if they might not know), and if they seem receptive he says he's interested if they ever decide to sell. 95% don't care, 5% ask for or makean offer. He has a neat collection.

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There you go. "Straightforward." Once you find out for sure who owns the place, make your honest pitch. Don't forget to offer to help them go through other potential hidey-holes.

I was 17 or so when I found a muzzle loading shotgun in the attic eaves of our new/old house . I used to play up there and found a lot; a huge spool of 32 GA magnet wire, a charcoal-fired pressing iron, etc I also found goodies in the cellar, up in the floor rafters.

I knew the shotgun was loaded by using the ramrod, but with no caps. My mother, fervently anti-gun, gave it to the neighbor next door who was a retired machinist. That was the last I ever heard of it. If my father had still been alive, I'm sure the story would have been different.

I'm also sure it would have had a different outcome it I had found it a year smarter.

Terry, 230RN

I have ended up with 2 shotguns and a 30-30 in this manner. I just mention that there is a firearm up there I wanted them to be aware it is up there and it is getting ruined. And if they don't want it, I offer to buy it. I have been given all three.

Forget you ever saw the stash.

DustyGmt said:

It's a 2nd home, empty most of the time to my knowledge. It's been about a year since I've been there and a while before that since his passing.

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Is the 2nd house for sale?

My primary career was law enforcement so I have a point of view based on that. General rule is one keeps business apart from private life. Insider trading and all that. Misuse of official access to information, etc.

Should the transaction come up, be totally honest about the current value and make a decent offer. You will never regret doing the proper thing.

I believe I would approach Her in some fashion or variation of what BigBore44 posted. I would be courteous and respectful and I would inquire about any family members who may be interested before I bought anything.

Besides being a Lineman I was also a licensed electrician and ran a decent sideline business. I once found a S&W 38-44 Heavy duty revolver in a ladies attic. I inquired about it and a family member of hers ended up with it. They were grateful that I found it and didn't just keep it. I also agonized over the decision to ask the lady about it or to just forget about it. It turned out well even though I was not able to get it.

DustyGmt said:

It's scary to think of what could come of your guns if your wife is totally ignorant about firearms. There was a woman who hauled an entire Coleman cooler full of .38spl ammo to the scrap yard and was asking if she could dispose of it. My "buddy" offered to take it off her hands and then sold it to a different buddy for like $150 because he owed me $50 and apparently didn't want to address his debt with me at the time.

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Every man's fear is that the wife will sell the guns/fishing equipment/ham radios for what he TOLD her he paid for it!

N9NWO said:

Every man's fear is that the wife will sell the guns/fishing equipment/ham radios for what he TOLD her he paid for it!

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Nonsense.

.308 Norma said:

Nonsense.

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It’s an old joke among gun enthusiasts.
As far as the op’s predicament, I would just ask if she realizes the ammo is there and get her reaction. Proceed depending on how she reacts.
It’s possible that a previous owner put it there
and even the old man didn’t know about it.
I can’t imagine a real gun enthusiast storing ammo under the house.
You might not even want it if it’s been under there a while.

N9NWO said:

Every man's fear is that the wife will sell the guns/fishing equipment/ham radios for what he TOLD her he paid for it!

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She knows exactly what I paid for them and also has a good listing of their current values. Hell she watched me buy the ones over the past 30 years and knows exactly what the PK (Pre Kathleen) guns are worth. She also knows what everything else we have is worth so that's one less thing to worry about as I am dying.

Ron