Gun Dispersion

[TRX]

> 1. Fine worthy heirs -- a local kid who mows your grass might,
> if his parents agree, inherit one of your guns, for example.

A friend's son acquired a very nice scoped .243 in exactly that fashion. Though technically it belongs to his father until he reaches legal age...

 

[Agsalaska]

In your case, I would request that the go to a LGS on consignment or some kind of estate auction, depending on the size and value of your collection. That way you can give the proceeds to your family and they will not have to deal with the stuff they dont want to deal with.

I have a friend in the same situation you are in. He is in his seventies and has cancer though it is in remisison. He has been buying three or four guns a year since the fifties and now has a collection valued in the six figures. He also has no relatives that have any interest in them. So he has begun, in earnest, to thin the herd and is putting the money in 529s for a couple of grandkids. My guess is by the time he dies, unless something sudden happens, he will only have the guns he actually shoots left. Me and his other friends will probably split them up at that point.

 

[buck460XVR]

Just a question for all you guys about where your guns go when you eventually expire.
Time was when, a rifle, shotgun, maybe a handgun or a .22 was up for grabs.
Not much for a dispute! I have a TON of reloading stuff and NO INTERESTED heirs. Says NOTHING about the 50 or some , rifles, shotgun and handgun stuff herein. Truthfully, I need some advice.

My suggestion would be to get your heirs interested in your firearms. If not the sport of shooting them, then your history with them. Tying them to you in a personal way may keep them in the family until someone with a real interest comes along. Otherwise they are just property and part of the eventual estate. I like going to estate auctions when guns are for sale. What you find is either the family has no interest in the firearms other than the value at auction or they fight/bid tooth and nail over them, because they could not amicably agree on the dispersal. Most times when I see brothers/sisters bidding against each other for one of dad's favorite firearms I walk away and wait for another. Many of these bidding wars is not about the firearm, but because it was dad's. They don't want to shoot the gun, nor do they have interest in guns, but the possession of the gun keeps dad alive in their hearts. Many times the gun sells for multiples of what it's worth because of this. Then again, many times the kids just want the cash for a new car. Much of this boils down to how you have raised you kids and their appreciation for family.

 

[chicharrones]

There are several choices:


3. When you reach the stage where you can no longer enjoy them, sell them -- either face-to-face, one at a time (best option) or at auction.

Not a bad idea at all if I have no heirs interested. Of course, I hope I never reach the stage where I can't enjoy all of them.

My centerfire rifles and shotguns would go first I imagine, but if I have worthy heirs they may get those guns before I leave this world.

 

[aarondhgraham]

Every time I buy a gun,,,

Every time I buy a gun,,,
I immediately amend the spreadsheet in my will,,,
I too have no heirs but I have many good friends who shoot.

What's funny is that I have two handguns in my cabinet,,,
That I bought specifically for two friends of mine,,,
Hopefully they won't be happy when I die,,,
But they will inherit very nicely.

I'll keep my guns until I can't shoot them anymore,,,
Then I'll parcel them out to my friends,,,
But just in case I get no warning,,,
They are all listed in my will.

Aarond

.

 

[slumlord44]

I have accumulated a pretty large and varied collection. Family has no interest. Per my will dad's A5 goes to my nephew, his first grandson. Father in law's Remington 31 that he bought when he got out of the Marines goes to my nephew, his only grandson. Two of my best friends who have been going to gunshows with me for 40 years each get to pick one gun of their choice from my collection. The rest will be sold and the money goes into my estate to be divided per my will. Still have not totally figured out how to tell them to sell it all. Accessories, collectable ammo, reloading stuff, scopes, parts etc. Best would be Gunbroker a few at a time but that would be a lot of work for someone.

 

[JTHunter]

Zeke/PA - have you given any thought to trying some of the online auctions like gunbroker or armslist? If you can't get your kids interested, maybe those will work for you.

Or, as Ryanxia said in Post #2, you could list what you have and see what we offer you.

Just a thought - -.

 

[xfyrfiter]

If I pass on before my spouse, she will keep what she wants, and sell the rest to supplement the insurance. My son got into some trouble earlier in life and is a prohibited person. His children have not been raised into a gun family and would probably get into trouble if they had my small collection. If we should pass on together then the NRA is the beneficiary.

 

[Red Wind]

My wife is considerably younger and from longer living stock. She has already claimed them -- and insists that new purchases go in her name!

This is just not fair! Take Bubble's advice, sell them all, and go to Vegas,solo!

 

[km101]

All of my kids either enjoy shooting or know enough about guns to know what they are worth. So I have told my wife to get all of my guns together and let the kids decide what they want. Starting with the oldest, each kid may choose one gun until all have chosen. Then it starts over with the oldest again, until all the guns are gone. If something happens to both of us, my best friend will organize the "give away" for me.

Of course, my wife gets any/all that she wants first, but she just wants a couple of handguns and is not interested in the rifles or shotguns. I have told everyone that I would prefer that they keep the guns and pass them to their kids, but ultimately they can do whatever they want with them. This is the fairest and simplest way that I have been able to devise to pass them down.

Anything that the kids don't want/cant use, such as reloading equipment, parts, gunsmithing tools/equipment, chronograph, etc. can be sold on Gunbroker or similar.