Ever feel like reducing down to just a few firearms?

[kidneyboy]

I've been on a purge for a couple of years. Made enough selling guns and stuff in the last 4 - 6 months to pay for a membership at a country club.

ETA - This is the first time in decades I have spent money meant for one hobby on a different hobby.

 

[EIB0879]

Nope I want more.

 

[H3NT3]

So what shotguns do you have? PM if you prefer

Henry single shot shotguns. Sold one already. A 410 version remains unsold.

 

[Sundance1908]

You know, this is a tough one. I'm feeling in the middle of my collecting stage here... but, as I get close to retirement age, and considering where I want to retire, it just may happen. I'm examining options of retiring as an ex-pat and some places are really strict on gun ownership and laws.

 

[Rubone]

You know, this is a tough one. I'm feeling in the middle of my collecting stage here... but, as I get close to retirement age, and considering where I want to retire, it just may happen. I'm examining options of retiring as an ex-pat and some places are really strict on gun ownership and laws.

I purchased a group of firearms from a friend for exactly that reason, couldn't take them where he lives now! Works for me as I have no plans to reduce numbers!

 

[Sundance1908]

I purchased a group of firearms from a friend for exactly that reason, couldn't take them where he lives now! Works for me as I have no plans to reduce numbers!

Costa Rica, for example, allows permanent residents to own guns with an approved permit. It does require a background check as well as psychological check. They limit to three handguns and three rifles (sporting or hunting types - no military). It takes three years as a temporary resident to apply for permanent. That's a long time to be without my M1 Garand, assuming that wouldn't be considered a military weapon.

 

[George P]

Portugal, Spain, most of Scandinavia, Uruguay, New Zealand, even Canada allows many "sporting" firearms.

 

[Rubone]

Costa Rica, for example, allows permanent residents to own guns with an approved permit. It does require a background check as well as psychological check. They limit to three handguns and three rifles (sporting or hunting types - no military). It takes three years as a temporary resident to apply for permanent. That's a long time to be without my M1 Garand, assuming that wouldn't be considered a military weapon.

My friend is able to own arms, but they must be purchased there (no imports) hence my purchase. He is also saddled with annual fees, high purchase price as it is a Government approved and licensed business, etc. He is in Belize. No centerfire rifles allowed. He has permanent residency.

 

[Offhand McFlan]

I just did!

Over the last few weeks several things brought it to a head, including being out sick for half a week. Then my son got exposed to a COVID+ person in school so right after that HE was quarantined at home for another week! That meant I was reduced to part time to stay home with him when the wife was as work. In other words, dinero ain't so great right now.



Also, let's just say that recently I began to really doubt the safety of one of my firearms, at least for my purposes. My son has ADD kind of bad too, and he is not the kind of kid you can just "educate" on dangerous things and everything will be alright. Actually, it's quite the opposite. I have a safe, but I just dont want a safe full of liabilities, financial or otherwise. So over two days I brought 7 guns to my favorote LGS and he bought them all. In some cases I got a little less than what I paid, in some cases I got a little more, and with the rest I more or less broke even.

So I ended up walking out of there with a generous wad of cash and these two new additions to my family. For the moment I have just 5 handguns...but we'll see how long that lasts!

 

[welldoya]

I’ve got a feeling that most of the guys replying “no” are less than 55 years old. They are not planning on dying.
I’m 65 and have been collecting for 45 years.
I never considered “thinning the herd” until recently.
As you get older, you start thinking about things. If I were to pass unexpectedly, my wife wouldn’t have a clue what to do.
I keep a list of guns, serial numbers and values but she would have no idea how to sell them.
I’ve bought some hard-to-find guns over the years and really hate to get rid of them but I’ve only got a 4 year old grandson and don’t really know if he will be into guns or not.
I’m planning on paring the collection down soon, starting with the polymer. The wood and steel will be tougher.
I will still end up keeping 30 or so that I will pass onto my grandson. Hopefully he will like them.

 

[Sundance1908]

I’ve got a feeling that most of the guys replying “no” are less than 55 years old. They are not planning on dying.
I’m 65 and have been collecting for 45 years.
I never considered “thinning the herd” until recently.
As you get older, you start thinking about things. If I were to pass unexpectedly, my wife wouldn’t have a clue what to do.
I keep a list of guns, serial numbers and values but she would have no idea how to sell them.
I’ve bought some hard-to-find guns over the years and really hate to get rid of them but I’ve only got a 4 year old grandson and don’t really know if he will be into guns or not.
I’m planning on paring the collection down soon, starting with the polymer. The wood and steel will be tougher.
I will still end up keeping 30 or so that I will pass onto my grandson. Hopefully he will like them.

Yes. My wife has no connection to any of mine. I suspect she might keep one around, but the rest would be offered to family members first. I'm sure my daughter (a Marine LT) may take one or two. My ex-wife (yes, wife and ex are on that good of terms) would take one or two. But what is left there is no understanding of what they are, what they mean to me. I've even started a "If I Pass" document to help.

 

[SundownRider]

I’ve been buying/selling/collecting/shooting for over 30 years now and I will admit I am starting to think about it. Just reducing the herd to one or two really good guns sounds appealing, but even getting there would take a while. But I am thinking about it.

 

[redneck2]

For whatever reason, some guys think it’s either a big favor, or just funny, or just don’t care that they saddle their heirs with an overload of their prized toys.

I used to work at the LGS. It wasn’t uncommon to have a younger guy or gal come in with an armload of guns and dump them on the counter. Always ask “are these worth anything? Dad/grandpa/Uncle Harry left them to me and I don’t want them”

At one time, I had somewhere between 70-100 guns. Don’t remember now. I’ve turned 70 Y.O. as of last b-day and almost all are gone. Don’t miss them a bit. Having a bunch of guns you have to secure, insure, and keep oiled ended up being a major hassle.

I kept what I use. Deer rifle, pistol, Turkey gun. Others now live somewhere else.

 

[huntsman]

While I haven’t started selling guns I am taking advantage of current climate by selling unneeded ammo, components.

So downsizing has begun.

 

[tbs]

I hate clutter and ascribe to getting rid of stuff i haven't used in the last 2 years. Needless to say there is very little left in the safe!!

 

[Pat Riot]

To answer the OP’s question...No.

But, I have never really had as many guns as many of the folks that I know. One reason is I have and had other hobbies that also took up a lot of my money. Motorcycles, boats (in the past) fishing, off-roading. I have given up the boats, the off roading and the fishing. I will keep my guns and motorcycles.
In a way I have been thinning the herd though. Over the past few years I got rid log a number of guns that I no longer used, like CAS guns, but then I turned around and got back into CAS. I don’t regret what I did because for every gun I sold I bought another gun that I wanted.
I currently have a respectable number of guns. I am 60 years old (that still seems really weird to write or say aloud) I plan to be around a while. If something happens to me my wife knows what to do with my guns. I think she would keep one of them that she almost likes.

 

[rust collector]

It's a journey, and I have been fascinated by every one of them at one time or another. Like books, some are a quick read and others seem to resonate. Now is the perfect time to sell the quick reads to those who can enjoy them and pay current market prices. The old familiar ones will remain and be passed to others who will appreciate them.

 

[Offhand McFlan]

I hate clutter and ascribe to getting rid of stuff i haven't used in the last 2 years. Needless to say there is very little left in the safe!!

I just went from 10 handguns to just 5 in 2 days. I sold 7 and bought 2.

 

[JR24]

Sure I tried, purged a half dozen or so in the past year, but then I bought a few.

 

[marksman13]

I haven’t gotten to that point yet. I had a buddy whom sold off most of his guns a couple years ago and he doesn’t seem to miss them. I’ve noticed a good bit of redundancy in my collection, but I can still justify most of them if I try hard enough. Heck, I’m still planning my next two AR builds and don’t really know what I want to do with them. Don’t see a hole anywhere in the collection, but I’m sure something will pique my interest at some point. Maybe a 6mm ARC and a 338 Federal...

 

[Llew Taranau]

I sold almost everything back in 2019 because I thought I was moving to NY. Ended up moving to PA instead and now I wish I still had every one of them. And that I hadn’t given away all that ammo with them. Oh well, spilt milk and all that.

 

[DTL]

I did a while ago. Down to 4 handguns, two .22 rifles, one O/U 12 gauge and my AR15.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I have been mulling it, 71, single,no direct heirs. On the other hand, robust health, and a closet full of guns-no different than stamp or coin albums, IMHO. I have my shooting guns-all 22s during the current ammo shortage-some nice collectibles-a Ross Mark III (B), my Krags. Ended what for was a long gun buying moratorium in December when I bought my Weatherby Mark XXII.

 

[FFGColorado]

Went through 'many' look at, buy, shoot, not like(or like something better), trade, sell, buy...I have 'narrowed' it down to the guns, rifles and shotgun that I want to keep cuz they each fill a specific niche, are all fun to shoot, are all reliable. So...I shoot them all a lot. No gun fever at the moment but the above took me about 4 years.

Both my sons are gun owners also so when I go to the other side, they can decide who gets what.

 

[Constrictor]

No.

Over the years I have collected WW1/WW2 C&Rs and many modern firearms. Sometimes I get bitten by a bug for one thing and I cool my jets for that after something else piques my interest.

Lately, I haven't been bitten by any bug nor has anything really caught my eye. In fact, I was even wondering if I would be so bad off if I reduced the number of firearms to just what I actually have a use for.

Not including black powder firearms, the current count is 107 centerfire or rimfire firearms. They take up space and many haven't been shot in years (many well over a decade).

I'm thinking about keeping the following:

1) Glock 19 Gen4 with Olight pl-mini 2 Valkyrie 600 (one of my primary carry pistols)
2) Sig P365 (other primary carry pistol)
3) S&W M60 (sentimental)
4) Colt Gov't .380 (sentimental)
5) RIA Tact II 10mm (for trail use)
6) One of my nicer 1911s in .45acp, likely a Kimber Classic Custom (my wife's favorite)
7) AR-15, likely a PSA carbine
8) Semi-Auto shotgun, likely my Black Aces S Max
9) Pump shotgun, likely my Mossberg 590
10) Ruger 10/22 because going without a .22LR is silly
I may keep one of the nicer Enfield No4 MK1s too

I think I have just about all realistic uses covered.

This means I would be shedding off nearly 100 firearms going this route along with the ammunition they use. In today's market, it may bring a pretty penny at that.

Has anyone else found themselves having a lean/useful collection somewhat attractive? I don't know if it's the environment we live in today (a seller's market) or if just getting older does that.