Firearms that mean more than money?

[DFW1911]

The other day I was going through my firearms to make sure I have accurate info / photos / in my inventory files.

As I was working my way through the project, I came across a Ruger P-85 which was one of the first - or maybe the first - semi auto I ever bought. Because it is a charter member of my collection is not why I wouldn't sell it.

The reason: the P-85 got my girlfriend (at the time) and me out of a spot wherein I'm certain of one simple thing: it saved our lives. I'll spare you the details because I don't like talking about them, so maybe I'm sparing myself the details...not a "fun" event to re-live or discuss.

On the open market that particular gun wouldn't fetch a lot of $, but to me it's priceless.

How about you? Any experiences wherein the "elements or circumstances" of the firearm are worth a great deal than money?

Thanks,
DFW1911

 

[GunsAmerica Fan]

I think a gun is always worth more than the money just because of what it represents. I have dozens of guns I should get rid of but I can't because I have developed an attachment to them. I also have some special attachments to certain guns that are worth not much that I would never let go of. I have a Navy Arms (uberti) Henry that was my second replica cowboy gun (I sadly let go of the first when I was still trading guns just to have new ones every once in a while). I blew the side of the mag tube out loading rounds in from the top of barrel. I had nobody to tell me not to load round nose bullets into it and **boom** I learned the hard way, next to my reloading table with 20 lbs of powder. Thank G-d nothing happened lol. My Henry has never seen smokeless powder and I will probably keep it forever. With the hammered back mag tube it is worth a fraction of what it should be anyway, but I still shoot it whenever I cowboy shoot.

I could write a whole thread about guns I let go and wish I never did.

 

[Webbj0219]

Makes me think of a good credit card commercial:: S&W 642; $550 at gun store. Box of .38 special ammo $27; walmart. CCW permit $10; application fee. Watching hardened criminal walk away with wet spot on pants; priceless

 

[Tommygunn]

Sometimes guns are more valuable than any monetary assessment because they were inherited. I wound up with a number of my father's guns: I would never sell any of them no matter how much $$. It's not that they're especially valuable -- they're not.
Except to me.

 

[Gouranga]

I have a Remington 1100 12 gauge, which was the first shotgun I owned. It means the world to me, not because it was my first, or because it is a real good gun, but because it was given to me by my grandfather.

A little background, my grandfather, was a WWII vet, he had 3 kids 2 daughters and a son. His son died when he was 18 in a tragic accident. His daughters, had a total of 4 kids, 3 girls and me. I was the only boy in the family. Me and him always had a special bond and he was a good and honorable man. I really treasured the time I had with him before he died.

Anyway, when I took up hunting, my first year I borrowed this horrendous bolt action 12 gauge. It jammed each and every time I pulled the trigger. Was no fun at all. The next year when I was getting ready to go hunting, grandpa called me over and he passed this gun to me. I used it for a number of years before I gave up hunting (another long story). When he passed I got a lot more long guns from him but that 1100, he gave me personally, will always be a reminder of him for me.

 

[rattletrap1970]

Got to agree with you there Tommygun, I got several guns when my Dad passed away this past Veterans day. None of them were expensive guns, but I wouldn't sell a single one of them for any amount of money. Every time I look at them I see him and remember shooting with him, just couldn't part with them.

 

[LoneCoon]

I'd sell any one of my guns for the right price. I'm least likely to give up my Marlin, because it was the first new gun I'd bought, but none of them have an particular sentimental value.

 

[XCastleX]

My favorite/most meaningful gun is a WWII Army issue Colt 1911 that was my fathers. he was in a motorcycle accident when i was 3 and died from that accident when i was 6 (2 years 11 months in a coma). my mom had to sell all of his guns to make ends meet for herself, myself and my sister. she sold all but that 1911. she says that she chose that one because she knew it was one of his favorites and she felt like that one should be mine when i grew up for some reason.

its one of the very few things i have left of his and i have every intention of giving it to my son someday (providing i have one, im only 20 right now).

its probably worth a decent chunk of change but no dollar ammount could ever compare to the personal significance it has to me.

 

[IllHunter]

My 870. The first long gun I bought new, now the go to hd, and for some external reasons and some personal reasons, I'd never sell it. It has probably lost value since the new versions have tactical stocks, and other refinemnets. There are millions out there but it's like a body part.

 

[Wheeler44]

I have several "Heirlooms" some of them have real monetary value (The folks liked well made firearms)....and I have some "heirlooms" that're not worth much money....

My son told me that I own none of the above mentioned heirlooms....but he appreciates the effort that I've put into saving them for his kids..(he's just 17)

 

[armoredman]

My stepfather's Model 10-8. Nothing special, just a refinished old 38 Spl with Pachmayer grips. I bought it for him years ago, and right before he passed away, he gave it back to me. Nothing special...to anyone else, but an irreplaceable link to my stepdad for me.

 

[Jonah71]

I recently received a gift from an old friend of many years. An old 1888 Merwin Hulbert 5 shot .38. I have absolutely no plans to sell it, even though right now things are extremely tight financially. Once sold, the money would be gone in a flash and I'd be regretting the sale. I wouldn't feel right about selling a gift in the first place.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Sentimental value....I have a Remington model 81 (30 Remington) that my Grandad bought me when I was a kid.

It is in near mint condition but I don't know or even care what its worth...its priceless to me (even more so now that I have found out I can use 6.8 SPC brass to reload it)

 

[hso]

Sure

 

[mcdonl]

Armored man... has anyone ever told you that you take great pictures?

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, got a couple.

 

[Ala Dan]

Like olther's here, I own several of 'em myself~!

 

[Hunterdad]

I have 3. A 1972 870 Wingmaster and a Remington Nylon 66 that my grandfather gave me. Also my Marlin 336 in .30-30 that my parents get me a couple years ago for Christmas.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

My granddad's 1890 Winchester, my dad's Springfield single shot .22, bought used by my granddad in 1939 as a gift for dad when he was 12 (there was a depression going on).

Also, dad's pre-64 Winchester M70, bored out to 300 Win Mag in 1963, known as "Grandpa's Elk Medicine". Almost no finish left on the wood, and dad's handprint worn into the barrel where he carried it.

My son has that one now.

 

[Seven©]

All my "priceless" guns are cheap hand-me-downs...

Top: Great-grandfather's on dad's side
Middle: Grandfather's on mom's side
Bottom: Grandfather's on dad's side

I was raised by a family of quail hunters.

 

[AJChenMPH]

Sometimes guns are more valuable than any monetary assessment because they were inherited.

+1

I inherited this from my dad:



I lost him when I was 8 years old to a car accident. My aunt (his sister) just returned this to me last summer, some 28 years later. It's one of a very few items that links me back to him.

 

[tasco 74]

almost every gun i have is worth more than money to me..... the 1022 custom my best friend help me build that shoots one hole groups at 40 yds, the smith&wesson model 27-2 1968 vintage which is to my mind the holy grail of .357 magnum handguns..... the old colt det spl owned by my wife that was handed down to her from her father who was a town cop here for years.......the unfired ruger mkII stainless target model new in the box with all the papers that was sold to me by a friend whose brother had died and ownded it (also a friend) for the same price he had given for it years ago.... these guns are all very special to me and almost priceless to me....... i hope everyone has a gun that means lots more than money to them.........

LIFE IS SHORT.....

 

[Morgo]

I have quite a few that I have become attached to and will likely never sell unless I really have no other choice.
Then there are some that I will never sell (my first guns/favourite few, my grandfathers and my fathers)

 

[FROGO207]

Every one of my firearms has a story attached about how, where, and when. I plan on keeping them all. Call me selfish if you want I'll still keep em all. Priceless every one.
Still trying to figure how to take them with me when I go.

 

[Magic_Man]

None of mine have any sentimental value or anything close to it. They are tools. This is a hobby. I sell something when I am bored w/it to buy something else.

With that said, unless I carry rig I deem better comes alone or a better AR comes along making it worthwhile to sell mine, I won't be selling those, but never know w/the rest of what I own.