Thoughts on letting go...

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I don't like feeding rare and expensive weapon/calibers. Dust collector gun collections gotta go, waste of space in my world. Handloading necked cartridges is for the birds. So is sentimentality. A grown man making tools a fetish seems commonplace these days, it's silly. If you don't need or use it then it's just self indulgent to sit on it. All material things can be replaced with something that approximates what is sold/lost/stolen, don't hold special attachments to inanimate things. I consolidated years ago, no regrets. It's stuff, and means nothing. Sell and get what you can use and what serves your household. Duplicate weapons and calibers are boring but practical so that has been my mindset for a few years.
 
In nearly 40 years of gun ownership I've only sold 1. My first gun. Sold it for gas money as a teenager. Regretted it before I pumped the gas. Now luckily I sold it to my wife's older sister who years later gave it back to my son. So full circle and all....
As much as the thought pains me I have been considering culling my accumulation lately but that regret from years ago just keeps whispering in my ear.
 
I’m 68 and have bought and sold a LOT of guns over the years.

For a while, I regretted selling some. In the end, they’re just chunks of wood and steel that would still be sitting in my safe, unused, any more than they were when I owned them. I’m at the point where owning guns just to own guns doesn’t make sense. At one point I used to show the guns to my friends. Later, one told us how she had told everyone at work about my stash. Figured out sharing was not wise.

I worked at the LGS for a while. We would get younger adults that inherited the treasured grandpa collection. They would sell it off like so much junk at a garage sale. I figure I may as well see it go to somebody who will appreciate them.
 
I've sold one firearm, Swedish 96 Mauser, during my poor college years. I will not make that mistake again.
 
I think, as we age, our tastes and budgets change. As salaries rose and kids moved out, money wasn't as tight. I see nothing wrong with selling 2 or 3 guns you aren't attached to so you can buy a nice gun you always wanted and never thought you'd pay THAT much for. Do that over a few years and sell off a few batches and one day you have a nice selection of guns that just make you smile.
 
I’m considering thinning down my collection as well. I have a few cool guns that I’ve never even shot. I’d rather pay for the bathroom remodel at this point.
 
Demi-human

Ask any human that knows me, I just don't let things go...

Me neither! Use to be in my "younger" days I didn't have that much money to play with when it came to buying guns. Typically I had to trade or sell one to get one. Haven't done that in quite some time as I let a lot of nice guns head on down the road and came to regret some of those deals. But I'm more than happy with what I have now and can always find something new that interests me and would make for a great addition to my collection.
 
I've done it. And politics played a huge role in the change. My slow work in progress was a 1000 yard bolt action. Had the stock for it and the Savage 110 donor action. Sold those off and put the money toward an AR build instead. I figured if there was going to be another gun ban, that was going to be the target. I didn't want to be right and hope I am still not.
 
I’ve sold 2 guns in my life. A Beretta 92FS to buy a SA-XD in 45, and a marlin model 60 because my cheek couldn’t get low enough to see the iron sights. Besides that, I ain’t sellin.
 
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I think, as we age, our tastes and budgets change. As salaries rose and kids moved out, money wasn't as tight. I see nothing wrong with selling 2 or 3 guns you aren't attached to so you can buy a nice gun you always wanted and never thought you'd pay THAT much for. Do that over a few years and sell off a few batches and one day you have a nice selection of guns that just make you smile.
This is exactly where I am now. Got some inheritance coming in to add to the kitty. I have some hunting rifles I haven't shot in about 17 years; no need to keep them. Sell them, add to the kitty and go buy one really nice target shotgun
 
I've sold maybe five or six now, and I only regret selling one of them. Most of the time, I find that something just isn't working for me the way that I want or that my reason for buying one isn't really valid any more. There are a couple that I would regret selling, but the others are more or less tools.
 
I've kept most of what I've bought but I battle inside myself all the time between practicality and sentimentality. I know what guns I'll use for hunting, or home defense, or SHTF, but there are the others that will never likely serve any purpose other than amusement and folly. I've given a few away to deserving folks and don't bat an eye and I keep a strong hold on some that have no familial connections or sentiments value, but rather, they have a long history told by the wear in the checkering and the once-upon-a-bluing that has been made by hunters past. Those guns are your grandpa's rifle. He gone now and I have a few of them. I can't get rid of them for whatever reason.

Then there's the guns I have reloading components for. I can't possibly sell .311 PSP bullets so I have to keep the related rifles. I started my reloading with all of my handgun calibers so none of them can ever go away. I live in NY so it's even more of a PITA to sell a sidearm. Another reason.
Then there's the cost vs value aspect. I am a cheap bastard and I buy EVERYTHING when I can get a deal on it. $20 dollar rifle? Can't get that deal again. Gotta keep it. Paid $200 below the going price? Can't sell that one either. I'll never get that deal again. Paid too much for it. Can't make my money back so can't sell it.

I'm stuck with them unless I really like someone and give one away. The other element in play is my legacy. Who will get my guns? My unborn? The tax collectors? My friends? The river? I want tehm to be appreciate by the next caretaker.
We are all caretakers of these things that outlive us by generations. I'm a fiddle player. My dead Aunt Betty gave me dead Uncle Steve's fiddle. She died a couple of years ago and he died in the Black Forest last century. I am just a caretaker of that fiddle until it goes to another player; like Steve before me. Same with guns.

Treating guns and knives and the like as they are expendable is totally logical. Treating things as if the spirits that live inside them can have any effect on our hunts, luck, honor, or anything makes sense, too. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
 
Great stuff, guys! FWIW, I'm a middle aged man who never really intended to start collecting, it just kind of happened. When I was younger, I too sold a gun or two that I came to regret, but for the most part I haven't missed what I've gotten rid of. As has been suggested the proceeds will go to the next thing on the list, and I'll get to help a younger Marine at work build his collection.
 
Only one rifle in my safe with any sentimental value: my late father-in-law's early 1960s Remington 700 ADL in 7mm Rem Mag. That one will definitely go to one of my children or grandchildren. All the rest--much as I like them--are just tools and toys.
 
I've regretted every firearm that I've sold or otherwise been parted from...

Same here. Ultimately, I've come round to regret selling every gun I"ve ever sold. It didn't happen at first-it took decades. It didn't happen all at once, either. But eventually, one by one, as the years went by, I regretted. About the only way I would sell a gun now would be to get ahead of a confiscation scheme where I knew for sure I was going to lose them. I suppose incredibly dire financial conditions might bring that about as well.

unless the need to liquidate comes then they will at least hold value for the most part...

I wouldn't count on that. Very few guns increase, or even maintain, their value. The ones that do are either very rare or an outlier. Sure you may pay $400 for a gun and sell it 20 years later for $450, but you didn't realize a $50 gain, once you adjust for inflation. The $450 you sold it for is worth less, in terms of real value and purchasing power, than the $400 you bought it for. Gus are rarely an investment.
 
I'm not a member of the "never sell a gun" club. Guns to me are to serve a purpose whether it be for defense, hunting or just simple recreation. I don't own safe queens, all of my guns get used. I have in the past sold or traded guns that I still regret selling. Now, anytime I think of selling or trading off a gun my first question to myself is "will I regret this later". If I have any doubts, I keep it.
 
I just checked my records. I tallied up all the guns I've ever owned and all the guns I've sold or traded. 25% have moved on from my collection.

I used to be of the mindset to keep everything, but these days I scour Armslist and pawns shops and if something peaks my interest and is cheap enough I know I won't lose money on it I'll buy it just to play around with it for awhile. I have no regrets of those guns I've sold off or traded away.
 
I typically only:

A. sell guns to buy better guns

Or

B. Will not sell anything rare or that is difficult to replace

It’s a constant battle, because I like collecting milsurps or rare rifles, but those typically aren’t great daily shooters because you want to preserve them somewhat. But at the same time the only guns that are replaceable and I’d be willing to sell are the practical shooters. But I like those because they’re my ‘Working guns’
 
DB Cooper I realize that about anything ambiguous that I may purchase. Still, I buy said firearm used and shoot with it for years and then sell it for what I payed in the first place. Wheelers/cars/boats etc. don't maintain value over that same time. Using an item for enjoyment while maintaining most of it's value appeals to me. I consider inflation a use fee.
 
I’m a minimalist by nature, just finished sorting through accoutrements to fill a box for traders days.

My guns battery is not that large but I eye each one for purpose and admit I’ve got a couple that I could unload and make a profit from.

Timing is the key, with talk of recession and anti-gun sentiment I’m leaning toward selling.
 
For a discussion purpose, to those who will never sell any gun. What is it that makes it irreplaceable? Let's not talk about heirlooms or rare collector guns. I mean the everyday gun that are out there if you want one. If you sell a gun and regret it later (for whatever reason) then why can't you just buy a similar one? Almost any gun can be found unless it is rare or collectible. Regretting selling a special or collectible gun makes sense but why regret selling a 3rd Gen Glock 19? Or a Kimber 1911 Custom? Or a Beretta M92? What is the regret? That is what I don't understand. If you regret a sale, go buy another one, right? Or am I totally wrong?
 
First and foremost I live in a free state that allows Constitutional carry and private sales without FFL involvement/4473. Yeah I own a firearm or two but exactly what is unknown. In the future there might be UBC's, at that point forward they will know what I added and could possibly come and confiscate them. I might have one or two pre UBC that are off that list and it needs to be that way. BTW I sold almost all the others last year due to health bills.:p

I truly feel sorry for our brothers/sisters in oppressive states that already require a papertrail to follow the firearm permanently.
 
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