Giving in to Old Age

[Patocazador]

At age 77, I realize that my days are numbered. However, I ain't giving up any of my guns! My heirs can dispose of them any way they wish and, indeed, forcing them to do so will be my last revenge against them.

I'm 78 and still hunt. Like you I'm afraid my wife and kids are going to have to deal with the guns. I think that selling them would be an admission that I have given up hunting and being active outdoors.

I'm not ready to throw in the towel.

 

[usaral63]

I'm three years older than you and still runnin' my walkers!

 

[Remington1911]

At age 77, I realize that my days are numbered. However, I ain't giving up any of my guns! My heirs can dispose of them any way they wish and, indeed, forcing them to do so will be my last revenge against them.

In a nutshell this is how I feel, I enjoy them, I enjoy just holding them, working the action, the noises they make and the history they hold. In my case the wife and kid both know what is what for the most part, they may not know values, but the wife is smart and has a ball park idea on values.

If I was/become alone I think I would give it to something I care about, let them sell them off and enjoy the profits from the sale. Animal shelters are high on my list.

 

[Conelrad]

My goal is to eventually die with a bunch of worn-out guns and vehicles.

The leftovers can go wherever then.

Conelrad

 

[J-Bar]

Flatbush Harry,

I admire your courage. You and I are on the same road. I sold my cowboy action competition guns. A few heirlooms will go to interested nephews and cousins. I hope I can wear out a couple of S&Ws before my number is called.

Godspeed, Sir.

 

[d2wing]

I am 74 and still buying. My shooting took a big hit in Aug. of 2020 when I broke my hand, wrist, toe and damaged both shoulders, concussion and tore up my left arm in a motorcycle accident. I also had cataract surgery on both eyes. So I am done with surgeries and therapy as of last week. I did try a pistol match last year and did a little hunting. This summer I expect to be fairly healed up and still shooting. I have a hunt and some shooting already planned. But also I am considering that I was nearly killed. I am blessed to be alive and near fully recovered. Some day I will be done shooting. I have already given my Son and grandsons some guns. I imagine 2 of my daughters and husbands will want some. I would like to give some away but they barely shoot or hunt. Maybe I will just let them worry about it after I am gone. I sold both Harleys but am sorely tempted to buy another motorcycle, maybe a dirt bike, but my family says no.

 

[Buzznrose]

Something to consider…..

So I’m in a bit of a different boat. I’m 59 and in the slow process of trying to “right size” and add on “heirlooms” I plan to pass on to children and grandchildren.

My safe is the result of 28 years in the military, and buying guns and selling them when things got tight, especially when moving from place to place. My only two guns I never parted with are a Mossy 500 bought new in 1982 and a Win 70 I used for hunting in MT and AK. I left a lot of great guns behind as life issues demanded. And not being from a shooting family, I had no where to leave anything when overseas so guns I did keep had to be stored for years at a time.

My current firearms are largely black rifles and pistols bought in the last 8 years for carry, home defense, and a little training and shooting sports. Military Discount programs helped so I went for them. No complaints and I like my firearms.

But I probably have more than I need, and I am behind on the more classic stuff like revolvers, 1911’s, lever guns, and nice shotguns. I want a better balance and am slowly making progress.

In the last couple years, I found good deals in a Win 92 30-30 and a Rem 1100 20g, both from the 70’s. Both used but in nice shape and cleaned up well. These are the types of classics I’m looking for to pass down. So I’m in the hunt as time and money permits. But helping out my kids, grandkids, and playing catch-up on retirement makes it all a balancing act.

To be clear, I have a great life, and great family, and am Blessed with a great wife and good health…and am Saved, so this is just a small thing.

But…what I’d suggest for folks that have lots of nice guns, lots of cash on hand, few shooting years left, and no one to pass the guns on to who will appreciate them is to look for someone who appreciates the classics, maybe has kids to pass them on to, and is looking for a good deal, but may not have a ton of disposable cash.

If you need the funds, by all means, get the most you can out of them. For sure!!!

But if you want to make sure they go to a good home, maybe ask around and find a buyer worthy of a good deal on your classic guns.

If my kids do a 180 and decide they don’t want guns, this is what I’m planning to do, and I’ll probably pass with just a pair of Glocks and AR’s left in the corner…

Again, just a thought.

 

[AlexanderA]

Hope they don't turn them in to get destroyed.

My relatives don't care much for guns, but they love money! They will find a way to maximize their return.

 

[jdsingleshot]

Some of my grandkids are interested in shooting, but they are all too young to have their own guns and I don't feel confident that their parents would take good care of the guns for them--too careless.

I only have a dozen or so firearms, but every one of them has some change I have made to it. Some have had barrels replaced, and or stocks that I made, adjustable triggers that I made, and one that I made from scratch, so I wouldn't feel comfortable just leaving them to be sold at an estate sale. So, I think I will alert my kids to pay attention to the grandkids so I can know of firearms interests and a sense of responsibility.

 

[d2wing]

Something to consider…..

So I’m in a bit of a different boat. I’m 59 and in the slow process of trying to “right size” and add on “heirlooms” I plan to pass on to children and grandchildren.

My safe is the result of 28 years in the military, and buying guns and selling them when things got tight, especially when moving from place to place. My only two guns I never parted with are a Mossy 500 bought new in 1982 and a Win 70 I used for hunting in MT and AK. I left a lot of great guns behind as life issues demanded. And not being from a shooting family, I had no where to leave anything when overseas so guns I did keep had to be stored for years at a time.

My current firearms are largely black rifles and pistols bought in the last 8 years for carry, home defense, and a little training and shooting sports. Military Discount programs helped so I went for them. No complaints and I like my firearms.

But I probably have more than I need, and I am behind on the more classic stuff like revolvers, 1911’s, lever guns, and nice shotguns. I want a better balance and am slowly making progress.

In the last couple years, I found good deals in a Win 92 30-30 and a Rem 1100 20g, both from the 70’s. Both used but in nice shape and cleaned up well. These are the types of classics I’m looking for to pass down. So I’m in the hunt as time and money permits. But helping out my kids, grandkids, and playing catch-up on retirement makes it all a balancing act.

To be clear, I have a great life, and great family, and am Blessed with a great wife and good health…and am Saved, so this is just a small thing.

But…what I’d suggest for folks that have lots of nice guns, lots of cash on hand, few shooting years left, and no one to pass the guns on to who will appreciate them is to look for someone who appreciates the classics, maybe has kids to pass them on to, and is looking for a good deal, but may not have a ton of disposable cash.

If you need the funds, by all means, get the most you can out of them. For sure!!!

But if you want to make sure they go to a good home, maybe ask around and find a buyer worthy of a good deal on your classic guns.

If my kids do a 180 and decide they don’t want guns, this is what I’m planning to do, and I’ll probably pass with just a pair of Glocks and AR’s left in the corner…

Again, just a thought.

Like you, I have had many ups and downs financially. That resulting in me selling many guns that I wish I didn't have to. One I really regret selling is a Remington 1100 20g LT. Fortunately I achieved financial stability of sorts in my old age. Most of my guns are working class good quality. The most expensive gun I have is a Beretta 686 Onyx O/U. I hunt with shotguns much more than anything else. My daughter in law covets my Fausti 20g O/U

 

[Buzznrose]

I'm 78 and still hunt. Like you I'm afraid my wife and kids are going to have to deal with the guns. I think that selling them would be an admission that I have given up hunting and being active outdoors.

I'm not ready to throw in the towel.

My main shooting partner these days is my friend Pat. He is 81 years young, drives himself to the range in his F350 dually, and buys ammo like he’s going to shoot for many years. He had me mount red dot sights on several pistols last year and he shoots them well, albeit from a table.

We generally shoot for 3-4 hours at a stretch. I do all the lifting, set up, pack up, and target setting. He mainly loads magazines (gave him an Uplula…he loves it) and shoots. I mainly carry stuff and help him move around.

He’s had a couple close calls these last two years…pneumonia last year and a digestive system block a few months back that drove emergency surgery and left him with 14 staples…but we’ve been to the range twice since.

So stick to it…better to wear out than rust away!

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

God bless you. Maybe you can find a few younger boys and girls and teach them gun safety and give them a little something. You never know what kind of relationship you may build with kids. When I was young there was an older guy from Maine who used to take me and my friend hunting in his yellow Scout with no heater. He sold that Scout to me for $300. I will never forget him.

 

[Bruce D Pease]

Mine will go to my second son. He’s the one who likes shooting and is a gun owner. He has 2 sons who we are teaching about firearms now and who enjoy them. Mine and his will eventually go to them.

 

[Jeff62]

Peace of Christ Sir

 

[3Crows]

Fate is the hunter and tomorrow is not guaranteed for anyone, young or old. I will give away my guns when I can no longer use them or enjoy holding them and working on them.

God bless.

3C

 

[redneck2]

forcing them to do so will be my last revenge against them

I fail to understand this attitude. I used to work at the LGS. From time to time we would have relatives of those that had passed literally bring guns in by the armload like a pile of trash and dump them on the counter to get whatever they could. I don’t want mine treated like that

I knew a guy that bought about sixty guns for $6,000. Some were valuable military collectibles, some high end customs. The seller had planned to take them to the local police to have them destroyed and this guy stumbled across them.

I’m 71. About 80% of my firearms are gone. I have a son in law that has already gotten several.

I’m making a list of what I currently have. I have three guys that will end up with them. I’ve made a list and having each guy rank which ones they would like in their preferred order.

 

[AlexanderA]

I think that selling them would be an admission that I have given up hunting and being active outdoors.

It's worse than that. Selling my guns would be an admission that I'm giving up on life itself! (Not ready to do that yet.)

 

[AlexanderA]

In my case the wife and kid both know what is what for the most part, they may not know values, but the wife is smart and has a ball park idea on values.

My wife has been scouring the Internet, checking the values of everything I own. (And I collect a lot of things besides guns.) Should I be worried?

 

[redneck2]

My wife has been scouring the Internet, checking the values of everything I own. (And I collect a lot of things besides guns.) Should I be worried

My wife asked if I wanted to be cremated. I said yes

She said “good....I have an appointment for you for Tuesday”

 

[mgmorden]

I'm likely a lot farther from the end than you (I'm 40), but IMHO when you start planning for the end you're basically lowering your quality of what life you have left. About as far as I would go would be to make a will.

Now, if you're hurting for cash and don't need the guns then sure, get some money and use that to make your twilight years better, but I just find it kind of depressing to plan to die. Almost like giving up. Even though obviously everyone dies eventually I plan on living as if I'm immortal. Death is gonna have to surprise me .

 

[jdsingleshot]

Part having peace about one's departure is knowing that things that matter to us will be in the custody of someone who cared about us.

 

[doubleh]

Time treats us all differently but all the same in the end. I'm only 84 but about 25 in my mind. Unfortunately my body keeps disagreeing with my mind but I am still in excellent health according to the people that check me over twice a year. I'm off to finish up my latest rifle build shortly if the scope rings I've been waiting on for two weeks arrive today as they are finally supposed to. My extended family all like to shoot except for one and have made some choices of the guns they want. I have already passed on some of them. There are written instructions for the others to go to the ones I want them to go to. Will my instructions be followed? I expect they will be but it certainly won't matter to me since I will be gone.

Harry, congratulations on your advance planning and best wishs for what the future brings.

 

[375supermag]

Hi...
I am 67 years old and have had some nasty health issues over the years. I know that there are not near as many days ahead for me as have passed.
I have spent my adult life acquiring a somewhat interesting collection of firearms.
Most if not all wil be passed down to my son...he has been referring to them as his ever since I started him shooting at around the age of 8 or 9. He is 28 now and has a fair number of firearms if his own, as well.

I am not giving them away or selling...in fact, I am still in the acquisition mode. I have a Pietta SAA clone in .45Colt on layaway right now that I am waiting to pick up the first of the month when my pension checks are deposited.
Probably have half a dozen other guns that I am looking to acquire if I can find the right deal on them plus I can always be talked into buying a new gun that I didn't even know I "needed" until I stumbled across it somewhere.

 

[d2wing]

My BIL recently died. He had an extensive collection of quality guns. And reloaded a large amount of ammo. He had loaned me guns and equipment when I was younger but I gave them back. He and my sister had a large family with 4 generations and many sportsmen. He gave away some nice guns to the oldest son and others while alive, but he had an extensive list of where the remaining guns and equipment went. All were very happy except one. He thought he was entitled to everything he wanted. Fights over your stuff can breakup families. That's common. Or in some cases, nobody wants anything. I have seen collections of stuff be donated to charity or thrown out.

 

[Patocazador]

I am still in excellent health according to the people that check me over twice a year.

Yeah but they leave out "for your age." When they tell me that, I take it with a grain of salt.