How do you decide whether to keep it?

Status
Not open for further replies.
O

Oldnamvet

Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2005
Messages
1,675
Location
Michigan
About every couple of years I go through my guns and, if I haven't used it in that time, start looking to sell or trade it off. Sometimes I find myself arguing with myself (I try to do it when no one can hear) as to why I want to keep it if I don't use it and can't forsee using it.
Anybody else keep guns they never see themselves using, with no real good reason other than it looks cool? I have a couple I plan on auctioning off soon if I can just get myself going. I need room in the safe.
 
I have a broken Mosin I keep mainly cause it you know, looks nice. (And if there is ever a gun-buyback nearby hehe.)

PM me whatever you plan to sell, maybe I can take it off your hands.
 
I am a minimalist, so I tend to get rid of just about anything I don't use regularly.

If a gun has been collecting dust in the safe for a while and I don't foresee using it any time soon, I'll sell it. Over the years I've refined my collection to a relatively few, yet excellent firearms.
 
I think the idea of 'use it or lose it' as mentioned above is a good way to follow. Sure, you can keep them all, but some people like myself can probably make do with only a few guns. At least I think I can....

Anyway, I have a S&W 1911 that's a definite keeper. It's the only gun I have (so far) that I know I won't be able to get rid of. The others will eventually get sold as I come up with suitable replacements for them.

Many will say that selling guns are a mistake, but I think if you take the time to rationalize things, and don't make quick sells, you'll do fine.
 
I have always believed the best conversations are with myself.:neener:

I have not sold any of my weapons. Nor do I intend to if I was to however I would probably choose the one I use least, but since there is no weapon that I 'use the least' I dont think it would be possible.
 
I have a modified "use it or lose it" system when I sell off a firearm. I also factor in how well I shoot the gun, how expensive is the ammo/ or how difficult it is to find the ammo and what I would do w/ the $$ from the sale - or what I want to trade for it.
Lately tho, my gun collection has been at peace w/ the universe.
 
I'll sell or trade now and then..but not very often, even if the gun is a "hanger queen".

I'm probably going to sell a standard SKS rifle to a guy at work. I did sell a DPMS AR 15 a few years ago (nice rifle, the DPMS, but I don't want a match rifle). I do have an SKS Paratrooper and Sporter (takes AK mags), so I won't be SKS free.

I'm considering trading or selling either a Colt 1911 series 80 (and keep a series 70) or a Taurus 85 Ultralight that has been my primary CCW so I can get a DA/SA Taurus with a shrouded hammer (easier for pocket carry).

But normally, once I buy a gun...it's with me for a long, long time!
 
I rarely sell any, but then again I don't have a huge collection. When I think about it, I ask myself if I would be hurt financially by keeping it, ie- could I buy this new weapon I really want and still keep this one, while still being able to pay my bills?
Some of them have sentimental value, like my first rifle, a single shot .22 given to me by my Dad and Grandpa. Do I ever shoot it these days? No. Would I like to teach my son/daughter on it and pass it to him/her someday? Definitely. Some are worth more to me than a couple hundred bucks in my pocket ever could. We refer to them as tools, which they are, but some have a lot of memories attached to them and some almost have personality that only a gun owner can understand.
On the other hand, some I just don't like anymore and will get rid of em :p
 
If you have a use it or lose it attitude and every couple of years you apply this concept then you really need to put more careful thought in your purchases.
 
The only time I forsee selling one if I REALLY want a different one and cant afford it. Given a steady source of income the more the better.
 
Unless it's a real collectible or something NFA how much can you really expect to get? Not much. Not enough to justify selling it kinda like you wouldn't pawn your car title for cash. Maybe you would. I got offered 600 bucks for my almost new Kimber Ultra at a gun shop... That means keep it in my eyes.. or sell it to someone who knows value I guess.
 
I have found that my life as well as my interests change back and forth over time. I have sold a lot of firearms for various reasons only to have to replace them some years later. Most of the time replacing either cost a lot more than I sold the gun for, or I end up replacing with something not quite as nice, or not being able to afford to replace it.

Some guns I have sold for example:

Colt Peacmaker .22/.22mag 6"
Colt Diamondback 4 inch . 22LR
Custom Colt Series 70 .45ACP
Colt AR15-A2 Shorty
Lew Horton S&W 686 RB 2&1/2"

And a whole lot more I won't bore you with - my point ? What you let go of today will come back into favor in your life at some point in the future and you can regret selling if you don't have to.

Not everything I have sold is like that, but I could list a couple dozen I would love to have back and can't afford.
 
I have guns I haven't shot in 10 or 15 years, but I wouldn't sell them.
Dad's Browning "sweet 16" - which I last used 12 years ago to shoot a pheasant over a special dog- buried that proud old retriever where he flushed that last bird.
an M1a Supermatch that I competed with in the late 80's.
Grandpa's .22 Stevens with an old weaver scope.
The used .410 that was under the Christmas tree in 1966 that also happened to have been Dad's first gun as a boy.
Dad's 1947 Colt woodsman.
several more as I think about it, but I won't bore you.

Buy quality and there is no regret, or desire to sell.
 
I buy 99% of my handguns used and this enables me to buy, sell and trade without hurting my pocketbook too much.

In fact, if I had to guess I would say that I have probably broke even over the years.

Buying used enables me to try many different kinds of pistols without breaking the bank. I have bought, sold and traded probably 40 different pistols over the years.

This enables me to keep the ones I like and dump the ones I don't.

At any given time I probably have no more than 5-7 handguns. That ensures that I use all of them regularly.

With that said the only gun I have right now that I will never sell is my Sig P226 9mm. Unbelievably accurate and utterly reliable. That is why I keep it.
 
I pretty much only sell a gun when I have a deal worked out for it's replacement. Given that I'm not wealthy, I own a number of perfectly serviceable guns which are fine for their niche. If money were no object, most of those niches would be filled with better guns. So as I find opportunities, I sell to buy thier respective upgrades. I've not had to sell for liquidation, and all the niches once filled remain so. An example of my practice is a Browning Buckmark I sold to help finance it's replacement, a Beretta 87 Target. Without a doubt the upgrade was well worth the extra and the sale of the Buckmark made my contribution more realistic. I know there are some folks who will save for as long as it takes to finally purchase the "perfect" gun. I'd rather be shooting something that's close with the plan to upgrade.
 
Hmm...I went through this just a little while ago. Our adult son finally got his ID and purchase permits from NJ. I had been thinking about giving him my Glock 22 after completing all the necessary paperwork. In the end I just didn't want to get rid of any of our guns, even though the G22 is the least favorite (at the moment) So, I just paid for his SA XD45 Tactical :D
 
I've gotten rid of guns and continue to regret that I parted with most of them.

I very seldom part with any gun now even though I haven't shot some in years.
Every time I get a gun out that I haven't shot in a long time it's like,
Darn this thing shoots good, I have to shoot it more often.:)
 
As I have gotten older, I found that I couldn't shoot certain guns as well as I wanted, or the gun never really fit me to begin with. So I find myself going more towards certain types of guns since I enjoy AND use them. Example is O/U and SxS shotguns. I plan on slowly getting rid of "extra" rifles, purchased for a perceived need that never materialized, and getting more double barrel shotguns.
 
i only sell guns that dont work well, or are not enjoyable to shoot (excluding guns that aren't meant to be fun like 2" air weight 357's). I dumped a MkIII 22-45 because it was a jam o matic, and was impossible to break down and clean properly.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

G
  • Locked
How did you do it?
2
Replies
32
Views
2K
GE-Mini-Gun
G
P
  • Locked
Buying guns online????? help please...
Replies
17
Views
1K
hotpig
H
B
  • Locked
What do you do to keep yourself serious about being armed?
2 3
Replies
61
Views
2K
manwithoutahome
M
A
  • Locked
Where do you keep your firearms?
2
Replies
36
Views
2K
mindwip
M
K
  • Locked
What Do you Keep in Your Range Bag?
2 3
Replies
53
Views
7K
BigG
B
Back
Top