Ever Thin Out Firearms Collection?

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I have said many times on this forum it is not how many you own.

It is how many you have owned!!!

You can only shoot one at a time!

Experience as many as you can and try something different. Every time I think I have seen every variation out there I discover an old previously unknown variant.

As you consolidate, trade up to the ones you liked the most.
 
I recently slimmed my collection from 73 down to 12 handguns, 10 rifles, and 4 shotguns so basically I reduced my numbers by half. But I wound up with some really nice guns by consolidating.
 
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Yup,I've sold a few that I bought for investments. Also sold some that just did not meet my standards.I have tried to replace any that I sold with something better,or that I liked more.I have also sold a few that I would like to have back,so be careful when thinning the herd. Lightman
 
Cleaned up 3 firearms just this morning to try and sell them for new stuff. We will see how it goes.
 
I don't buy anything that I don't want so why would I want to liquidated any.

The only exception is a Beretta SSA 357 Mag with a 3 1/2 bbl and birds head grip. I like the gun/style, but not this one that's POS and I'll never buy another Beretta of any kind. May just sell it after Jan 1 or trade for something decent. But, that's not really thinning the herd.
 
I don't thin because I have too many (this condition cannot exist - it's impossible). But I do thin out because my collecting interests change. I've collected groups and types - .22 target rifles, SBT shotguns, German and Austrian SxS shotguns, etc. Switch one group out, accumulate another...
 
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I'm seriously considering thinning the herd of S&W revolvers...mainly to help pay for the Morton building planned for this coming spring.
These revolvers are some really desirable and hard to find models that took some time and $$$$ to own...we're talking 617s, 3" big bore N frames, 3" CS-1, 66s, etc. It's a thought, but I know that deep regret would set in if i had sold them
(p.s., this is not an ad. :D)
 
I do so to upgrade what I have. I sold a perfectly good Taurus .40 and bought a Glock 22 (for instance). Generally, I'm going in the other direction. FWIW, the current public climate, just like August 2008 through November 2010, make it a great time to find collectibles that are not at risk of an AWB. I will also buy low and sell high when I (rarely) tire of something. Good post!
 
A few years ago I thinned out my collection of deer hunting rifles. Made more room in the safes for other type long arms. No regrets as none of them had sentimental value or were anything that was rare or special. Still have a few "deer guns" but they are too pretty to drag around the woods, so use my SOCUM II M1A now if I go deer hunting.

Next time things get tight in the safes, will buy another safe and keep everything.
 
I got tired of insuring guns that I never shot. Having to inventory too many calibers. Having guns bang against each other while trying to get one in and out of the safe. Sold probably 20ish guns. I just got to the point that I had them just to have them. If I'm not gonna pull them out to shoot, what's the point?? I'll upgrade to something I'll use.

A few seasons back I sold a couple and bought a custom upper in .358 WSSM for deer hunting. Shoots three into .4". That's one I use every year now. A lot.

Just gave a Browning BLR Grade II .22 to my S-I-L. Had maybe the nicest wood I've ever seen on a production factory rifle. That was one I really liked, so I figured I'd keep it in the family. It's his first gun. Pretty cool.
 
Only when I'm offered silly money for guns. So far it has happened twice during last 25 years; an USAS 12 and a highly modified Colt Gold Cup IPSC race gun went for way, WAY over their realistic market value.

Otherwise I rather keep what I have, which drives my wife crazy. I honestly can't remember how many gun safes I have and most of them are packed full, to twice their rated capacity.
 
I got out of the 40 S&W caliber and sold my Sig 229 and Ruger PC4. Of course, I've since replaced it with 45 ACP and got a Marlin Camp 45. By this time next week I should have a 45 handgun. So it's a push...
 
I own about 20 firearms of all types so I sold off three bolt rifles this fall to fund mr AR Varmint rifle build.
 
I never thin the heard when it comes to my gun collection. I may replace a gun due to finding a gun in better condition. I have guns that I bought new and have never fired yet. Others are to old to fire such as an Ithaca side by side with damascus barrels that was made in 1914. The number currently stands at just under 50 guns. I look at them as investments that I can enjoy shooting or just fondling when I can't make it out in the field.

Jim
 
Absolutely.

My arsenal is "thinned" only enough to the weapons I can field strip and clean quickly and have ample ammo for. Aside from a couple of old wheel guns from my dad, of course.

A while back I found myself with six .40 cal, and realized that I usually had to reacquaint myself with a few of them due to to lack of attention. It is much easier and more practical; less holsters, less everything. When you have several other hobbies, it pays to keep it simple.
 
You can reach a certain point when routine maintenance becomes a real time consuming ordeal. I take a monthly inventory (mainly to make sure everything is where it's supposed to be). But the worst is the oiling. Once burned by rust (it will happen at some point), you begin to get paranoid, handling guns with gloves on and stuff.

I'm an avid collector.. I have over three dozen firearms I've never even shot. They serve a purpose -- I enjoy looking at them. That, and it's a comforting thought to know you can, in a pinch, outfit an entire infantry company if you need to. :D
 
I spent most of this year doing just what you are asking. As I've gotten older my taste and purposes concerning guns had changed. So I gave a few away, decided which would never go anywhere for various reasons, auctioned 1 off for a charity and the rest went on the trading block. What happened was I reduced the total number of guns I own but the quality went up and I ended up with new guns that better suited my current interests. I got into reloading and by consolidating I've also cut my expense for the new hobby also. It's nice to be able to fit all the high value guns into one safe and the wall hangers into just a couple of racks. I also learned while doing this your gun has far more value in trades than they do just selling. Sure I'm down a dozen or so guns but the overall value of my collection ($$$$ wise and personal use value) went up.
 
yes, sold out some nice pieces as they were not being used and had no chance of being used. took proceeds and upgraded to firearms that see constant range time (and concealed carry). also committed to only 2 calibers--22lr pistols and 45acp.pistols and uzi 45 s/a. only thing i would contemplate purchasing is something like an H & R single shot slug gun for hunting--cheap and effective.
 
Thinning out a collection by selling them to dealers = losing money. Dealers need to make money so they won't off you top dollar or going rate on firearms.

Consignment is one option, you're losing some % but not as bad as an outright sale to a dealer.

The other option is to take your time and sell things individually face to face, or orchestrate trades with people. Trades are a lot tougher since you have to find someone that has something you want, AND has an interest in something you've got. :)
 
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