Downsizing/"Culling"..?

[Jack B.]

Only have guns we like to shoot. I guess we're lucky by never having been impulse buyers. Every gun purchase we have made has been well thought out. Don't like owning things we don't use.

 

[bikerdoc]

Like I said in the death thread, at 69, it is all written down. Atty has copy of will as do the kids. Wife will keep a few, kids already have what they want, but some are for nephews and grandkids.
LGS ( good family friend) will sell the remaining on consignment.

The reaper always wins but he has no say in who gets what.

 

[jmorris]

I think we could all die at any second. If your 2 or 102, today could be your last day on earth.

I have never regretted selling something I didn’t.

If I want something specific to happen when I die, it’s on paper and likely a computer file as well.

 

[BSA1]

Between the "Hunter or Collector?" thread and the "What happens to the guns when ya die" thread it's got me thinking about the best way to downsize an accumulation/collections.

I'm thinking that if you have duplicates, say two Garands one a Winchester and the other a Springfield sell the more valuable one and keep the other as the shooter...?

Any thoughts..?

My thoughts?

I think you guys are the life of the party in your old folks nursing home.

As for duplicates I am a believer in "3 is 2, 2 is 1 and 1 is None" which means I have been acquiring more of the same guns I already have.

My vault is big enough to take the gun theotherwaldo doesn't have room for.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

My thoughts?

I think you guys are the life of the party in your old folks nursing home.

As for duplicates I am a believer in "3 is 1, 2 is 1 and I is None" which means I have been acquiring more of the same guns I already have.

My vault is big enough to take the gun theotherwaldo doesn't have room for.

And that's a good thing.
The younger generation of shooters/collectors is needed to carry on the fun and Freedom of firearm ownership.

 

[quest4perfection]

Or you keep fewer nicer guns and shoot them. If I could arrange to sell off all of my guns and redo what I have, I would go the route of that thought. I could easily get by with 2 high-end shotguns, 2 rifles and 4 handguns for carry/HD.

I had to sell off much of my collection but kept favorites. But each time I sold off I had seller's regret. So many rifles out there, so little money to buy them all.

 

[huntsman]

Right now the only thing keeping me from liquidating a couple of handguns is the profit magin, I’m hesitant to sell in a weak market where I can break even at best.

 

[AlexanderA]

Remember that there are tax implications in selling your guns, if they have substantially increased in value over what you paid for them. (This, of course, is assuming that you are honest in reporting your gains. We are all law abiding here, right? And dishonesty can come back to bite you.) However, there's a step up in basis upon the owner's death, to the fair market value at the date of death. That means that the heirs can then sell them with no gain being recognized. This is one more reason to hang onto your guns and let your heirs dispose of them.

 

[George P]

Sold FTF what is there to report? If you look at most, based on inflation, they still are worth less over time.

 

[vito]

I never had very many to begin with, as I never thought about a "collection", only about what I wanted for different purposes. I started selling off or trading some I don't care for or use and eventually I think I will get down to six handguns, and a 12 Gauge Mossberg 500 for home defense when society falls apart. I have three needs, and by having two guns for each need I know I will be covered even if any one gun is being repaired or otherwise unavailable. My three needs are concealed carry, home defense, target shooting at the range. Apart from the basic six, eventually I will get down to those plus the only gun that I have emotional attachment to, a S&W Model 19, nickel, 4 inch barrel that I always felt was as close to a perfect handgun is was ever made.

 

[George P]

I have three needs, and by having two guns for each need I know I will be covered even if any one gun is being repaired or otherwise unavailable

Might want to make it 3 for each need in case 1 goes down, you still have a back-up

 

[hdwhit]

There will be no problem finding buyers for the guns my wife and sons don't want (with the possible exception of the 5.7mm Johnson carbine).

I would just tell my wife to bury the Johnson with me, but I've asked to be cremated.

 

[WestKentucky]

There will be no problem finding buyers for the guns my wife and sons don't want (with the possible exception of the 5.7mm Johnson carbine).

I would just tell my wife to bury the Johnson with me, but I've asked to be cremated.

Tell the wife to have you smelted with the Johnson then. Simple fix.

 

[Armored farmer]

I have guns to shoot for fun, if it is no longer fun, cull 'em.
Its like i tell my boys about hunting, we do this for fun. If you're not having fun, stop hunting.

 

[JTHunter]

I'll be 60 in a few weeks. I started downsizing about 10 years ago. Sold several (8-10) that I didn't use and bought one or 2 better ones. Upgraded some optics and bought a couple of McMillan stocks for the favorites and still put money in the bank. No regrets at all. In fact I still have a few more that I'd let go, or use for trade bait on something better. I gave my son, daughter, and their spouses 5-6 guns each along with a safe to keep them in about 5 years ago.

I'm a couple of years older and I'm still collecting. In 2011, I got a used GP-100 in .357 Magnum, then, after 2.5 years of looking and bidding. I added a Marlin 1894 levergun to go with the GP-100.
Two years ago, I got a Keltec PMR-30 pistol in .22 Magnum. This is paired with a Marlin bolt-action rifle and/or the Ruger Single Six single-action revolver. I am also considering the Keltec CMR-30 carbine as it uses the same magazines as the PMR pistol.
So, no, I'm not done yet.

 

[bannockburn]

Still feeling good about what I have and have an active interest in what's "new" (and some "oldies but goodies" too), out there on the market these days. Have sold a few that weren't getting much use over the last few years (mainly hunting and trap shooting), have asked the kids what guns they want, and have plans to give away a few more to family and friends before the time comes.

 

[redneck2]

At one time I had maybe 40-50 guns total. After a while, I figured that I would never shoot all of them, or even most of them. I either had to get another safe or leave some sitting loose. Either way, I was paying almost $1,000 a year in insurance.

I’m 67 and had my fourth heart surgery a few weeks ago. Nothing major, just a stent. I still get around great, but I’ve realized that guns are just chunks of wood and steel. At some point they will be sold, either by me or somebody that has no interest in the outcome.

Once I’ve sold my Savage 99, it will be four gone and the four replaced with one good new big game rifle with a really nice scope

In the end, we never really own anything. Your house and land was probably owned by somebody else before you got it, and will be sold when you’re gone. You just get to use it for a while.