My Attitude Towards Guns Has Changed!

Carl Levitian said:

About ten years ago, I did a giant downsize of all my stuff. I was going into retirement, and wanted to lightenmy load. I gave guns, knives, tools, fishing gear, to my kids, grandkids, friends, and old co-workers.

Never missed a bit of it!

I had collected an insane amount of guns and a knife collection, more than I needed for anther three lifetimes. Had a couple gun safes loaded to the gills, and more stashed all over the place. I ended up owned by my possessions.

I kept a couple of my favorite rifles, a few handguns, one set of fishing gear, and a cigar box full of my favorite pocket knives. The better half did the same, and now I can find anything in the house in a minute or two. I felt lighter, free.

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What' more, I had the huge pleasure of giving all of it to my family members while I was still alive to see the pleasure and experiance it myself. I can't begin to describe how great it felt to make sure it all went to the people I wanted it all to go to without any agreements or hassles. It was like a huge rock off my back.

Do it! You won't regret it. It's all just stuff in the end. What's really important in your life is the people.

Carl.

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I love your attitude about this, our possessions really can come to own us if we're not careful. I downsized substantially a few years back, selling off a bunch to help my best friend in a time of dire need, and I don't miss a thing.

As to the original poster, I'm aiming for something around a bakers dozen total, which reflects a number of duplicates of the guns I consider essential, knowing that if I ever have to use a weapon for protection I'll lose it at least temporarily. I especially like having the duplicates when my brother or friend come to town and I can outfit them for a day at the range. My collection now is very much a working collection, chosen for effectiveness and durability, maybe not so much on looks but proven and reliable.

I cleaned out my dad's house, and that was a challenge, and required several dumpsters of useless "collections". After returning home from that adventure, I decided to go through every room of our house and fill at least one box of extra crap to give away. I do this every six months, only keeping the things that either have extra sentimental value or we have actually used since the last clean out.

Remember that our friends and family will have to clean up all of our messes and collections when we're gone. We cannot take it with us.

Re-sale Value

I understand that there is no 'blanket" answer to this, but in general did you guys who unloaded some guns find that you lost, broke even or came out ahead $$$?

Several years ago I had a "SHTF" situation - massive rainstorms had brought local rivers to historic flood levels, and we were awakened at 4 am by the police telling us we had 15 minutes to grab what we could and leave. Managed to get the majority of my collection out, but showed I really needed to downsize. I've tried to keep my collection down to a realistic size since then.

I understand that there is no 'blanket" answer to this, but in general did you guys who unloaded some guns find that you lost, broke even or came out ahead $$$?
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PT92, to answer your question, most guns I had that were 20 years old or older, that I had bought back in the 60's and 70's, I made money. In fact, on the guns I did sell, I had so much that the better half and I took a month long trip in the car around the country for a second honeymoon. Camped out at Yellowstone, Badlands, Bryce, Arches and Conyon Lands. Stayed in the Bright Angel Lodge at the edge of the Grand Canyon. Had a ball.

Some of the guns, I made back triple what I spent on them 25 years before.

"I cleaned out my dad's house, and that was a challenge, and required several dumpsters of useless "collections". After returning home from that adventure, I decided to go through every room of our house and fill at least one box of extra crap to give away. I do this every six months, only keeping the things that either have extra sentimental value or we have actually used since the last clean out.

Remember that our friends and family will have to clean up all of our messes and collections when we're gone. We cannot take it with us."
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I had to do the same, and that is partly what influenced me. I looked around at all the stuff Ihad accumulated, and it was scary. I didn't want all that stuff. When I was cleaning out the couple gun safes and closets and shelves, I found stuff that I had actually forgot I had. Other stuff I looked at, and couldn't remember the last time I had used it. It was time for a major clean out.

PLus the better half and I are making plans on selling the house, and downsizing to a small one level little retirement place for our winter years. We don't need a large home now that all the kids have lives and homes of their own, and we don't feel like dealng with stairs, landscaping, lawns, and the maintenance anymore. We're too busy spending our children's inheritance traveling and seeing the sights we always wanted to see. I finally got to treat that little gal I married 41 years ago, to a nice dinner at a sidewalk cafe in view of the Eiffel Tower. She always wanted to see Paris, and after putting up with me for all these years, she deserved it.

statelineblues said:

Several years ago I had a "SHTF" situation - massive rainstorms had brought local rivers to historic flood levels, and we were awakened at 4 am by the police telling us we had 15 minutes to grab what we could and leave. Managed to get the majority of my collection out, but showed I really needed to downsize. I've tried to keep my collection down to a realistic size since then.

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This is a real concern should anyone ever face a true "bug-out" situation. What does one do with the K's $$$ of guns they have? Obviously you can't move 10's of guns as well as hundreds of pounds of ammo and accessories...I think many people will just try and 'stand their ground' instead of seeing not only their gun collection but property as a whole become ransacked. Problem is (obviously) staying is not always going to be an option (it literally hurts to think there would ever be a scenario whereby I would have to abandon a collection accrued over thirty years!).

Remember that our friends and family will have to clean up all of our messes and collections when we're gone

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a gun collection is not like green stamps or salt shakers.

Besides, my daughter teases me all the time, encouraging me to buy more guns because "it's just a matter of time".

I reached a natural limit a few years ago. I have no room for guns I don't shoot so I don't buy another gun unless I sell one first.

It makes for some tough decisions, but I basically know who's always hiding out in the back of the drawer or cabinet when it's time to go to the range.

Tinpig

Guillermo said:

a gun collection is not like green stamps or salt shakers.

Besides, my daughter teases me all the time, encouraging me to buy more guns because "it's just a matter of time".

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When "that time" comes I hope my kids appreciate all the hard work it took for me to find just the right gun at the right price . It's hard work yanno

I hope my kids appreciate all the hard work it took for me to find just the right gun at the right price

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I know mine does

perhaps too much

My collection is simple; a couple of pistols for SD, a couple of fun to shoot handguns, a couple of guns to make meat and the guns that are my personal connection to the memories of the past .

I'd have to go through the records and check, but I went from about 65-80 guns down to around 25-30. Don't miss any of the others one bit. Easier to find things in the safe and I shoot most of what I own now.

I understand that there is no 'blanket" answer to this, but in general did you guys who unloaded some guns find that you lost, broke even or came out ahead $$$?

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I came out way ahead. We moved houses not too long after the "Obama scare" started . . . downsizing everything that was black and semi-auto not only helped the move but helped pay for the down payment on the new house.

The funds also helped buy guns I never thought I would be able to afford. I sold off several old 870s to buy my first O/U. Those 870s were good guns, but I could only shoot one at a time and I much prefer hunting with the the O/U.

I wish I had enough to have to think about downsizing. Maybe I'll get there eventually.

Of course what Waterhouse is not telling you is that 1/3 of those are HK P7s.

So he still has the "collector" gene, even if he is oppressing it.



(Waterhouse, thought of u this am and am wearing my one p7 today)

I'm down to 4 personal p7s. Still have several more in the business inventory though

Business inventory

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And yet they are not for sale

I cleaned out my dad's house, and that was a challenge, and required several dumpsters of useless "collections". After returning home from that adventure, I decided to go through every room of our house and fill at least one box of extra crap to give away. I do this every six months, only keeping the things that either have extra sentimental value or we have actually used since the last clean out.

Remember that our friends and family will have to clean up all of our messes and collections when we're gone. We cannot take it with us.

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This is why I hate gift holidays. 95% of the stuff I get sits in my closet until the next cleanout. I'm doing something similar right now - going through my condo room by room and cleaning, organizing, and getting rid of stuff. I have some things I'm going to have to go through - like the 3 or 4 huge boxes of books (some text books) that I don't think I'll ever look at again and all these old clothes that sit in a lonely drawer.

Remember that our friends and family will have to clean up all of our messes and collections when we're gone. We cannot take it with us.

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My father in law was a "collector" of many things and an "accumulator" of everything. He literally threw nothing away. Almost three years after his passing the family is still sifting through literally many thousands of items to organize enough for sale/auction/disposal/donation. Thankfully the weapons were divided amicably amongst the children within a month or so of his passing.

Thankfully the weapons were divided amicably amongst the children within a month or so of his passing

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and unlike other types of items, I bet no one whined because there were too many

guns are usually treasured items of which there are never too many

larryh1108 said:

...I have sold some but I still have around 25 handguns. That's probably 15 too many. Once I decide what I truly wish to keep I will sell off what I like but have no use for. I'm sure the final list will be around 10 ...

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That sounds about right. You can easily cover just about every major niche with 10 guns or less. For me, I currently own 9 and this is the most I've had had at one time. I basically have every primary area covered and even have two that are really just fun guns that don't fill any other need than just that.

I have 5 handguns: .22, .380, 9mm, .45 and a Judge. Plus 4 carbines/long guns: 12 ga, .22lr, mosin and 9mm carbine.

If I had 10 I'd throw in a AK/SKS type rifle. But realistically, since I'm not a hunter, I could easily lose a couple, notably the Judge and 9mm carbine and probably not notice. But for the time being they are fun and the carbine does make a good HD weapon. But then again so do a couple of the handguns plus the 12 ga.

For me I'm trying to juggle what I want vs. what I need/use. Sometimes due to a lack of time/availability I don't get to shoot as often as I'd like and hate spending $$$, even if I can afford to, on things I just dont' get the use out of. Personally I can't justify having multiple guns in the same round and likely will always maintain 10 or less. Right now I'm pleased with what I have, just would like to shoot them more.

You can easily cover just about every major niche with 10 guns or less.

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What niches you need to cover is entirely dependent on the person. For me, I'm looking to cover long gun for HD, duty pistol for SD, and pocket pistol for BUG. That's 3 niches, although I do want backups in case something happens to one of them.

For someone else, "niche" might be a gun in that caliber, or a gun in that configuration in that caliber. "Well, I have a 5-shot, 6-shot, and 8-shot .357 revolver, so I need to get a 7-shot to fill that niche."

Skribs said:

What niches you need to cover is entirely dependent on the person. For me, I'm looking to cover long gun for HD, duty pistol for SD, and pocket pistol for BUG. That's 3 niches, although I do want backups in case something happens to one of them.

For someone else, "niche" might be a gun in that caliber, or a gun in that configuration in that caliber. "Well, I have a 5-shot, 6-shot, and 8-shot .357 revolver, so I need to get a 7-shot to fill that niche."

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There's definitely a number of specific sub-niches and even the major ones may vary from person to person. I'm sure a hunter would have many various caliber rifles and types of shotguns as opposed to a non-hunter who may just want one "high powered" rifle in his collection.

It would be an interesting topic, which I'm sure is covered on here somewhere, discussing what most consider are the primary/major niches.

There are many niches. For HD, you may want a 12ga handy but what about a nightstand gun? Then there is the living room gun and a garage gun and a basement gun. If you carry, there is a summer carry, a winter carry and a suit carry. Hunting is a different ball game which depends on what you hunt. Varmit guns, water fowl, foxes, coyotes, deer, moose, etc. What about a bug out gun and the best gun in case the SHTF scenario comes about. You then have your "fun" range gun or guns. Guns come in all shapes and sizes for a reason and a well-rounded collection has most categories covered, IMO. Some are happy with 3, a .22, a .357 and a 12ga. If needed, I could do that and be content. Having a small enough collection to take in a hurry, like the poster above mentioned, is a good point. If you have 5 minutes to gather your needs, what would you take and what would you leave behind? If you can leave it behind, do you really need it? Ammo is a totally different thread but how much ammo can you grab and carry in an emergency?

Guillermo said:

and unlike other types of items, I bet no one whined because there were too many

guns are usually treasured items of which there are never too many

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Very true Senor Bill Grandad, as everyone called him, was a stickler about "condition" and even if something was well used it still was well cared for and treasured. We lucked out and drew his favorite shotgun and rifle though we missed out on the Colts . How did my wife reach into the hat and manage to avoid every single Colt? :banghead: