Must be getting old since I am thinking of reducing my small collection of handguns

[vito]

I don't own very many handguns. Let's just say around a dozen. But I find that I am thinking about selling off several of my guns because I hardly if ever shoot them. I have 3 that I use for concealed carry (different clothes calls for different guns and holsters), one nice range gun (22LR) and my home defense gun. I think I could get down to these five and be pretty content. I guess its a sign of getting old since I also find I wander around the house and garage looking at what I should sell or throw out since I haven't used it in a year or more. But when I think about how little I am likely to get for some of these guns, like my Browning Buckmark that a LGS would only offer me $125 on a trade-in, I put it back in my safe. I find for that little sum I would prefer just to hold and clean this old gun once in awhile. Worst comes to worst, my widow or kids will have to deal with all of my guns, ammo, reloading equipment, etc.

 

[340PD]

You are not old, just smart. It's not just guns, but tools, knives, etc.

After retirement I spent time setting up a plan where in the event of my demise my family will have a clear path to get the most from my collection of valuables of any kind.

I have listed the names on the inside of my safe door of a couple of trusted people, and shops, that would help with the sale on any firearms and related items my family would not want.

Don't forget odd items like holsters, (I have a few like new Milt Sparks, etc), aftermarket grips, lights and lasers, as well as primers, powder, and bullets.

Most of us have never mentioned the purchase price of guns and components to our significant other, and as the saying goes....

"When I die I hope my wife won't sell my guns for what I told her I paid for them"

 

[76shuvlinoff]

Same boat as you. Got plenty of guns I don't really shoot but none I want to ditch. I only have the wife and daughter, neither of those are very interested so if I keep them until the end someone is going to have to hassle with them. I could leave them to my brothers but they are 13 years older than I am. The nephews I have one one side are not really the gun type and on the other side they are lazy and never learned to value anyone's property including their own.

I should probably thin the toy box out...... someday.

 

[ku4hx]

One of the joys I've discovered in recent years is passing things along to my kids (36yo & 32yo) now and seeing them enjoy them while I'm still around.

Maybe not possible, practical or wise even for some people, but I've seen all sorts of things start a whole "second life".

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I'll do this with mine eventually and assign the guns to Nephews based on their ability to have use of them or whatever. The rest I'll sell as I'm a big believer in getting some of this cool stuff into the hands of folks who will love it and drool over it.

Can't take it with me....someone should keep and enjoy as much as I have as some of this stuff is pretty hard to come by and cool. I detest folks that have 2X or more than they can ever need or enjoy and yet will not pass it along to others.

Firearms should be enjoyed, used, cherished and passed along when we are done with that to serve another master or aficionado.

VooDoo

 

[il.bill]

I just applied for early retirement and will be eligible for Social Security next month. That process has got me taking a more 'honest' look at my meager firearms collection. My son and other family members really do not have much interest in most of the handguns, particularly the eastern European CZ's, Tokarevs, and Makarovs that I have shot with lots of enjoyment. They are all shooters and are not nice enough to have any 'collector' value, much like my stable of S&W revolvers. I have started to sell some of them off, and plan to continue to try to significantly downsize.

But ... now I am waiting to receive a Star Model B Super I just purchased because I liked the idea of a 1911 'type' 9x19mm pistol. The overall numbers in my safe may be diminishing, but I am doubtful that I have bought my last firearm, God willing.

 

[bannockburn]

vito

If you can't get any decent offers on your guns from your LGS see if you can find one that will sell them for you on consignment or online at some of the auction sites. A friend of mine did this with a local dealer who charged 15% commission for handling the sale of each gun.

 

[oldbear]

Vito and everyone else, I glad to see that I'm not the only one facing the same hard decision. I currently own 10 different Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum revolvers. All of these a true classics. By classic I mean age and quality not just a marketing term S&W is now using form time to time. The Model 27's seldom get shot, but I can't bring myself to sell them. I haven't shot my M-586 in a year or so, but again I don't want to sell it. My Model 19's get shot a fair amount, but how many 4" M-19's does one need? My Model 66 - 1 is one of my ready/carry revolvers, so it gets shot on a regular basis, as does my model 640-1. The M -640 gets carried quite a bit but it's not a lot of fun to shoot with anything close to real .357 Magnum ammo.

The strangest thing is, I keep watching the sales areas for a "new to Me" revolver to add to my assortment.

If anyone comes up with a good idea about what to do PLEASE let the rest of us know.

Happy New Year all....

Added: well I guess I'll never learn. On a lark I made a bid on a Gun Broker auction yesterday evening, then forgot about it. Three hours later I was the owner of a Smith and Wesson model 65 - 5 "Lady Smith." This is really a 3" fixed sighted model 66. I'm looking forward to getting it, but I really need this like in need another hole in the head. Oh-well.

 

[tekarra]

I have been thinning the herd for a while now; not just guns but tools, books, electronics and other stuff.

 

[CopperFouling]

Maybe some of you ought to offer them for sale on here if you're downsizing and have no one to whom to give them. I'm sure there are plenty of THR members who would appreciate it.

 

[leadcounsel]

Keep 'em. Here's why.

1) Gun prices are at rock bottom. You'll take it in the shorts now if you sell.
2) Guns seem to get harder to acquire each year, probably quite a PITA is Illinois in particular. I've lived in several states, and most of them require "permission" from the state to buy...
3) You feelings may change - the majority of posts I've read here people debate selling, lots of folks chime in with regrets on selling.
4) You can't take them, or the money, with you...
5) Downsizing means getting rid of boxes of old clothes, junk furniture, etc. NOT a useful tool. 12 handguns can fit in a suitcase, with sufficient padding.
6) Guns are unique useful, and irreplaceable tools as you know ... keep 'em. Fergeson could visit anytown USA at any time... you may have cause to arm your neighbors one day.

So - what's keeping you from shooting the guns, training, etc.?

I have a number of guns that sit in the safe and never get fired. I rotate through a few on my coffee table - I refamiliarize myself with it, take it apart, clean it, and practice presenting it and admire it like a nice piece of artwork or something. You could just try to become expert with any of those, just focus on 1 per month... like reaquainting with an old friend.

If you were going to sell, perhaps just trade for other types, or trade several for one nicer gun - an heirloom piece, etc.

 

[Matthew Temkin]

At 62 I own so much stuff--my family will be stunned when they go through my things after I pass on.
Amazing how we spend decades acquiring things and then a few years trying to get rid of it.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Eventually, if we live long enough and well, life seems to stop giving us stuff and starts taking it away. I'm not there yet but I can see the beginnings of it - there will be no sense in me leaving my prized custom pieces behind if I get to the point I have enjoyed fondling and shooting them enough that they just sit in a safe.

I think that will happen and leaving them to folks who have no idea of their value would be pointless...some dummy relative will sell 'em at a yard sale for $20.

No, when I'm done with 'em I'll place the family heirlooms and get the really good stuff into the hands of folks who will drool and fondle, shoot 'em and treasure them as I have done. If I wanna pass something along to the next generation of kin it'll be the money I get back from selling them to interested aficionados. Life's too short to see some bone head nephew or whatever get ahold of one of my Colt Pocket Hammerless and pawn it for $50 'cause it's just one of "Old Uncle VooDoo's old guns".

VooDoo

 

[txblackout]

gun shops have to make money on your guns, you will never get a good price from them.

Take a look at gunbroker, pretty good prices for buckmarks.

In texas we have texas gun trader, arms list is national and could be good.

 

[leadcounsel]

Why not keep the guns, but in your will bequeath particular guns to close friends... sounds like your "kin" aren't too interested in "old voodoo" anyway... so send the guns on to friends who will love them and shoot and enjoy them.

My will has certain guns going to certain friends for various reasons...

 

[larryflew]

Started thinning those I didn't shoot by maybe 15 in the last 5 years. BUT somehow I did acquire 5 that I didn't have before so not a total selling spree.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

If a gun goes a full year without being shot, I consider ditching it, or trading it for another gun. It doesn't mean you're old. It just means you are a shooter, and not really a collector.

There's nothing wrong with that.

 

[RUT]

>> But I find that I am thinking about selling off several of my guns because I hardly if ever shoot them<<

I'm doing the same thing, and recently unloaded four (4) for the same reason. I've got no one to leave them to, so I might as well get rid of some (not all) when the opportunity arises. And BTW, I AM getting old!

 

[KansasPaul]

I went through this same process about 2 years ago. I sold off many of the guns that sat in the safe rather than being used. I've narrowed my handguns down to 6. Of those that I sold, I do regret letting one go (Ruger Redhawk) but it went to my brother-in-law who will never sell it in my lifetime so at least I'll have the opportunity to shoot it again. I will offer one opinion for you to consider: If you sold the guns, for cash, what would you do with the money? Banks don't offer much interest (less than inflation), and its easy for most folks to piddle away money here and there. At least guns keep up with inflation and your investment is in a "hard" asset that should keep a large part of its original cost. Just a thought.

Blessings

Paul

 

[jrdolall]

I have way more guns than I can realistically shoot on a regular basis. We went to the farm on Wednesday for a bonfire and NYE festival and I took only 6 guns to shoot. Normally I would have taken 20 or more. I have 50 or so that have not been shot in over a year and some that haven't been shot in 10 years. What is really bad is that I have recently had to deal with the accumulated "stuff" of three close relatives after they passed so I fully understand how much clutter is involved. Just because my grandfather gave me an old 20g shotgun (in 1981) that I consider my most valued gun doesn't mean my kids will feel any attachment to it. It isn't pretty, isn't valuable, and none of them ever met the man.

I have three kids that are all somewhat interested in guns and hunting so I don't have to worry about disposal should something happen to me but I am considering whittling down my collection fairly soon. My issue is that I don't need the money. Don't get me wrong as I can certainly use the money but it's not like I am in need of the cash I could get from selling. I recently bequeathed two friends with hunting rifles so they could have an extra for their kids and I really like to see young people getting into the sport. A 30-06 combo that I never hunted with and a 270. It was the only 270 I owned and I never used it. Just a couple of guns I acquired over the years for who knows what reason.
I keep a spreadsheet with all info about every gun I own. Caliber, price and place purchased, estimated value, etc, as well as a picture of each gun. If something happens at least my kids will have some idea about some of the obscure guns I own.

 

[Manny]

I understand and relate strongly to your desire to reduce and simplify..particularly as I use some time over this holiday weekend to do the same with my overflow of possessions. As I grow older, I realize again and again that having a little of the really good stuff is far better than a lot of the so-so stuff. Far more useful and far less clutter.

I think we all have an internal comfort level with what is the right number of firearms to serve our particular interests & needs that very well may fluctuate over time. Myself, when something is surplus to those interests & needs, I have no qualms about giving it a new home. It may be worth revisiting those firearms you are thinking of selling before getting rid of them to confirm you really do have no interest in them, then no doubts and full speed ahead.

 

[frankiestoys]

Ive owned over 30 handguns at one time 12 of them were 1911's but over the last few years I have it sold almos all of them most of them I never even fired ... I kept asking myself how many do I reAlly need? I'm down to 8 pistols now and I'm more comfortable with my collection as I also reduced my caliber variety

 

[BSA1]

Ditto on leadcounsel's comments.

In today's uncertain times with poor economy, diminishing middle class and the enemies of this country growing more numerous and stronger everyday firearms are a excellent item that will only continue to increase in value and demand.

 

[Sarge]

Well, I see a comment here that is totally inappropriate!!!
NEED should NEVER enter into the conversation!!! The only question is what do I want that I don't have!!!
IF you are only a shooter and do not shoot some of your guns then go ahead and sell them, if you want.
On the other hand if you are a shooter/collector then the fact that you don't shoot some guns is irelivant!
I have my shooters and then I also have my collection. The 2 do NOT mix!
It does not trouble me that I haven't shot something for a year or more, I will when I get round to it! Since I don't shoot as often as I used to the fact that I haven't shot something for a while is of no concern.
Sarge

 

[Sauer Grapes]

Glad I'm not the only one grappling with this situation.
It's just my wife and I. {no kids} Only one nephew that does any kind of shooting, whatever that is.
Hate the thought of leaving a big headache for her to sort through.

Leaving a garage full of tools, is a lot different than leaving a closet full of firearms.