So I have 1 son that is almost 3 and another one due in just a few months and I am looking to start a tradition of handing down guns to my boys. My dad wasn't really into guns/hunting until I showed interest when I was 12 or so and so I got my first shotgun for Christmas. I recieved a 20 ga mossberg 500 that year and have had 15 years of use out of it so far and killed many, many pheasants with it over the years. When my first born is old enough I will hand this gun down to him as his first but that's where my conundrum starts. What should I give to my next boy when he gets old enough to make it even with him? I'd like to give him something similar but makes me feel bad passing my first to one and not to the other. I've debated buying a similar gun now and using it as to have something to pass to the second son when he becomes of age. I realize this is many years from now and why am I worrying about it but it's been bothering me. So I was curious how other folks have done it with multiple children.
Handing down guns
- Thread starter Jwych
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Apachedriver
Member
Unless you plan to buy two of everything you might leave them, then you pass down to each something that's special in its own way. Even if you purchased a second one now, it's not your first anyway so it still not even.
Teach them neither one of them is your favorite child but that each is special in their own way to you. This balances out the pass downs.
Teach them neither one of them is your favorite child but that each is special in their own way to you. This balances out the pass downs.
1911 guy
Member
Agreed. You will only ever have one "first" of anything. Pass down to your boys, first, a love of the outdoors. That might take the form of hunting or fishing, or maybe they'll pursue mountain climbing or hiking. Doesn't absolutely have to be hunting. But i do think that a working knowledge of firearms and safety is a must, even if they choose to go a different route when they grow.
Secondly, pass down things they will use or have sentimental value. Both of my kids will have a .22 rimfire, shotgun and centerfire rifle when they come of age. They're sitting in the safe now and my oldest is only 11 at the moment. None of these were my first guns. All those have been traded away over the years in upgrades. However, two guns from my grandfather are also sitting in my safe. While not particularly "useful", they have great sentimental value to me because of the memories made with my granddad.
Secondly, pass down things they will use or have sentimental value. Both of my kids will have a .22 rimfire, shotgun and centerfire rifle when they come of age. They're sitting in the safe now and my oldest is only 11 at the moment. None of these were my first guns. All those have been traded away over the years in upgrades. However, two guns from my grandfather are also sitting in my safe. While not particularly "useful", they have great sentimental value to me because of the memories made with my granddad.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I sold the first gun my father gave to me nearly 60 years ago, a few years ago, because it was no use to me any longer, and it had no interest to me from a collection standpoint.
But I still have and will always have my fathers old beater Winchester 06 pump .22 the rest of my life.
Both of the .22 Cricket rifles I bought for my two sons 30 years ago are both gone too.
One of the guns you own and use now may mean much more to your son 20 or 50 years from now then anything you buy for him now.
rc
But I still have and will always have my fathers old beater Winchester 06 pump .22 the rest of my life.
Both of the .22 Cricket rifles I bought for my two sons 30 years ago are both gone too.
One of the guns you own and use now may mean much more to your son 20 or 50 years from now then anything you buy for him now.
rc
By the time they are old enough to receive and use such things, they will have broken so many of your other possessions that you won't feel bad at all about this situation.
You're a young dad, and it's great that you're thinking about the future. Just don't stress the little stuff. Who gets what, and when, is far less important than the time you spend with them. Nobody is guaranteed a tomorrow, and they'll only know what you've taught them up til your last day on the planet...so make the time count. The physical possessions will sort themselves out later. I'm sure you'll have other guns to give by then.
Just focus on quality time. Enjoy those kids...they grow up in a hurry. It seems like not long ago I was just starting to take my 3-year old on his first hunting trips...this weekend I spent most of my time shopping for a car for him. It doesn't seem like it's been 13 years since we started hunting together, but it has.
Have fun.
Twiki357
Member
Wait and see what their interests are. Your oldest may not have any interest in shooting, but number two might. Give it to the one who will most appreciate it. In the years to come, you will most likely acquire another item that the other one will appreciate more than your old worn out shotgun.
ozarkhillbilly
Member
Twiki357 is right, I was a second son and my dad told me one time that he regretted giving my older brother his first guns. He loved us both and we both loved him, I was just the shooter in the family, my brother has not shot either of those guns in 20 to 30 years. I am the one who takes his kids out to shoot.
Wait and see who would appreciate them most.
Wait and see who would appreciate them most.
Ironicaintit
Member
Id use the "wait and see" approach, too.
Their tastes and styles will likely be different, so tailor your gifts to suit them, i think.
Im the 3rd child, and the only one of the bunch that enjoys firearms, and other caveman arts. Had anything been handed down to my oldest sibling...they likely wouldve been turned in for destruction at some point.
But I like the way you think! My boy is about to turn 4, and I already know which 22 will be his first.
Their tastes and styles will likely be different, so tailor your gifts to suit them, i think.
Im the 3rd child, and the only one of the bunch that enjoys firearms, and other caveman arts. Had anything been handed down to my oldest sibling...they likely wouldve been turned in for destruction at some point.
But I like the way you think! My boy is about to turn 4, and I already know which 22 will be his first.
Bobson
Member
I think about this now and then. I have a daughter who turns five in a few weeks, and a son who will turn two shortly thereafter. My daughter is already showing a strong interest in guns and the outdoors.
What I've all but decided to do is simply not pass anything of mine down to them. My guns are my guns, and they can have them when I'm dead. Until then (or until they're old enough to buy their own, at least), I'll be more than happy to gift them NIB firearms they have specific interests in. This is pretty much what my dad did with my brother and me. He never gave us any of his guns; they're still his. Instead, he bought us guns of our own.
What I've all but decided to do is simply not pass anything of mine down to them. My guns are my guns, and they can have them when I'm dead. Until then (or until they're old enough to buy their own, at least), I'll be more than happy to gift them NIB firearms they have specific interests in. This is pretty much what my dad did with my brother and me. He never gave us any of his guns; they're still his. Instead, he bought us guns of our own.
bannockburn
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I don't know about passing any guns down to my children as they already have quite a few of their own that I bought for them when they were old enough to use them. When the time comes I will let them pick a couple of their favorites from my collection and I will leave instructions as to who gets certain other guns that I know they would like to have.
another pake
Member
I've been passing my guns down for years already, first to my sons, and more recently to my grandsons. My advice is... Concentrate on creating memorable times together, with and without guns. When the time comes to thin out your safe the kids will let you know which ones mean something to them, and I'm guessing their choices won't be based on monetary value. Some of the first to go for me were bb guns, pellet guns and cheap 22s.
Of course thinning out your collection gives you more room in the safe to buy more to give away.
...and I have 17 grandkids.
Of course thinning out your collection gives you more room in the safe to buy more to give away.
...and I have 17 grandkids.
BSA1
member
Jwych,
You are going to discover that siblings have very different opinions and interests than each other. The biggest mistake you can make is forcing your kids to participate in something they have no interest in just to gain your attention.
For example I have a brother who is a sports nut and constantly watches games on TV. When his kids were young he spent more time coaching softball teams and running fundraising events than he did at home with his own kids. His kids felt they had to participate on one of his teams just to get any attention from him.
Turning to the topic of guns my son doesn't have a real strong interest in them. However the one he currently enjoys shooting the most is my tuned Beretta 92FS. When he is home on leave (active U.S. Army) he likes to go to the range and shoots small groups in bullseye targets. He says he is practicing shooting terrorists. I want him to have the Beretta but he will have to move out of Maryland first.
His real interest is in video games and Star Trek so he is going to get my collection of Star Trek ornaments when I die. Some of them will be worth a fair chuck of change but I know he will never sell them because they were once mine.
My daughter is more of a gun buff. She worked in a pawn shop for a couple of years and loved selling guns. I am planning on giving her one of my AR builds next year. I told her to start thinking about what barrel length and furniture she wants on it.
p.s. And don't try to sell her a pink gun! This kid has been in the Army (M.P.'s) and her favorite weapon is the Ma Duece.
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Crawdad1
Member
Well, my oldest brother got my dad's pristine 16 gauge LC Smith and I said to him, "You don't even hunt." he replied, "That's tough S%#T you should have been born earlier." Its in his family now, to be handed down to his son. Oh well.
22-rimfire
Member
I would think in terms of 22 rifles to start with as they get old enough to handle one. The purpose is to teach them to shoot something that will last the rest of their lives. If you are small game hunting and take the boys along, shotguns will come into need department. Centerfire rifles more than likely will crop up as a need for deer hunting. But I would pay attention to what they actually like and their interests.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
I've got kids in the process of growing up. Lots of different personalities, lots of different interests.
Don't make ANY plans for who'll get what, when. Let them become who they're going to be, enjoy that -- whatever it is -- and concern yourself with your bequest once you're making end-of-life decisions. (And when you have some idea which of them values what types of things -- and which guns, if any.)
If they get to be a responsible age and you think they want a gun, buy them a gun. But there's really no reason to give/assign any one gun to any particular kid. We have guns and we shoot. None of my kids has "their own" anything at this point. One month they want to shoot .22s, the next month one wants to shoot 9mm pistols and another is into Kalashnikovs. Then it all changes next time.
Let things happen. You've got time.
Don't make ANY plans for who'll get what, when. Let them become who they're going to be, enjoy that -- whatever it is -- and concern yourself with your bequest once you're making end-of-life decisions. (And when you have some idea which of them values what types of things -- and which guns, if any.)
If they get to be a responsible age and you think they want a gun, buy them a gun. But there's really no reason to give/assign any one gun to any particular kid. We have guns and we shoot. None of my kids has "their own" anything at this point. One month they want to shoot .22s, the next month one wants to shoot 9mm pistols and another is into Kalashnikovs. Then it all changes next time.
Let things happen. You've got time.
Zaydok Allen
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- 13,274
Three things:
You don't know that either of your boys will be into guns, so you are worrying a lot about something that may be moot.
Next, you could give your second born your first revolver. If you don't have a revolver, this is a good excuse to go buy one.
Third, you could buy an identical shotgun, and then have a smith exchange the stocks. That way each boy get's to have half of your first gun, but both get a functional shotgun.
Good luck, and congrats on the boys. I have a few friends and a niece and nephew who will get my guns, since I only meet insane women.
You don't know that either of your boys will be into guns, so you are worrying a lot about something that may be moot.
Next, you could give your second born your first revolver. If you don't have a revolver, this is a good excuse to go buy one.
Third, you could buy an identical shotgun, and then have a smith exchange the stocks. That way each boy get's to have half of your first gun, but both get a functional shotgun.
Good luck, and congrats on the boys. I have a few friends and a niece and nephew who will get my guns, since I only meet insane women.
TimSr
Member
I think its a huge mistake to hand down heirlooms to your children, while they are children. What makes an heirloom, an heirloom is its special attachment to the memories. You won't know or understand those attachments and memories until long after they've been created. one child might really develop an interest in pheasant hunting. The other might end up not being interested at all. Which one would better appreciate "dad's favorite pheasant gun"? The other might prefer your stamp collection, or baseball glove. Then, there's the matter of what you are going to use to create these hunting memories, and how your "replacement" will have more memories attached than the "heirloom".
I am 54 and my father (79) just gave me his father's 1920's .32 H&R Young American revolver. I am the middle of 5 children. I am so glad he waited to make these decisions after my brothers and I are all adults, and can understand what means the most to us as individuals.
I'd get your kids started with their own guns, keep yours, and hunt WITH them, and in your old age, or your will is a good time to decide who gets what when you no longer need it.
I am 54 and my father (79) just gave me his father's 1920's .32 H&R Young American revolver. I am the middle of 5 children. I am so glad he waited to make these decisions after my brothers and I are all adults, and can understand what means the most to us as individuals.
I'd get your kids started with their own guns, keep yours, and hunt WITH them, and in your old age, or your will is a good time to decide who gets what when you no longer need it.
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Coyote3855
Member
Much too early to plan. Neither of your kids may be interested in guns at all. I passed a Colt Huntsman to my son, who promptly sold it. Give yourself, and your kids, a few years. Your existing son may have no interest in firearms at all, while the one still in the oven may. Or vice versa. Give yourself 15 years to see how things turn out with your sons.
Arkansas Paul
Member
Yeah, I think it's a little early to worry about hand me downs at this point. That should come when you're too old to use them anymore IMO.
If you're dead set on making it fair, buy them a gun for their first. Then you can get the same one.
My nephews' grandfather did this and it was great. When his grandsons turned 12 years old, they got a Remington 870 youth in 20-gauge. They all still have them and treasure them because their grandfather is no longer with them.
If you're dead set on making it fair, buy them a gun for their first. Then you can get the same one.
My nephews' grandfather did this and it was great. When his grandsons turned 12 years old, they got a Remington 870 youth in 20-gauge. They all still have them and treasure them because their grandfather is no longer with them.
RugerBob
Member
There were 5 of us boys. My Dad passed last year. I am the only reloader, caster out of the 5 , so I got all that stuff. My brothers received a gun of choice by age. Oldest picked 1st. Except me. Because I got the reloading stuff.
See what your kids interests are as they grow. They may not ever be into this hobby.
As for the rest of my Dads guns, my step mom is holding onto them for now.
Don't know what she has planned.
See what your kids interests are as they grow. They may not ever be into this hobby.
As for the rest of my Dads guns, my step mom is holding onto them for now.
Don't know what she has planned.
thecarfarmer
Member
My .02: wait until they show interest; then think about getting them guns.
When they're adults, heirlooms will probably mean more to them.
-Bill
When they're adults, heirlooms will probably mean more to them.
-Bill
Sheepdog1968
Member
I wouldn't worry too much. It's hard to say what they will find that has great sentimental value. In my case, the pocketknife my dad gave me when I was 7 is very sentimental to me. Of his things, probably the watch his father gave him means a great deal to me. If you look beyond firearms, things will definitely even out.
huntsman
Member
I bought both of my sons duplicate guns for Christmas presents(.22rifle,12gauge) when they were teenagers, they learned to shoot, hunt and be responsible gun owners. It was 20 Christmases ago and both still have their guns.
So far one son has specifically asked I hang onto my BDA for him so I will, other than a request ahead of time I don't feel obligated to consider their needs with what I do with my stuff.
So far one son has specifically asked I hang onto my BDA for him so I will, other than a request ahead of time I don't feel obligated to consider their needs with what I do with my stuff.
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