Treasure trove!
Safes opened after owner dies
- Thread starter hso
- Start date
DustyGmt
Member
There was some very eccentric guy around these parts with some odd moniker, like crazy ray or crazy jungle Jim or something like that, who apparently had a secret underground bunker and thousands of firearms and millions of rounds of ammunition. His kids didn't even know about it. It was a while ago I heard about it, there was an interesting story as to how they came upon it too, I forget. But it almost went totally undetected and the world would have never known if it hadn't been for some crazy stupid thing.
I wish I could remember all the details of that story, it was a good one. It was right around my area too... if I ask around I'm sure somebody I cross paths with will know something about it and will update....
I wish I could remember all the details of that story, it was a good one. It was right around my area too... if I ask around I'm sure somebody I cross paths with will know something about it and will update....
Elkins45
Member
Wonder how much it will all sell for, and what percentage the widow will get?
silicosys4
Member
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- Jun 29, 2012
- Messages
- 3,691
This video made me glad I've decided to seriously downgrade my collection. The last thing I want is some idiot in my garage going through my safe, chortling at my families loss, making plans on how to swindle my next of kin and potential buyers.
Legacy Collectibles doesn't have the best of reputations in that regard.
Legacy Collectibles doesn't have the best of reputations in that regard.
Speedo66
Member
I put a lot of these YouTubers right up there with politicians for intelligence and ethics.
Sadly, they cater to the same audience, us. Except for explanations on how to proceed with auto repairs, I generally stay away from them. Didn’t bother opening this one.
Sadly, they cater to the same audience, us. Except for explanations on how to proceed with auto repairs, I generally stay away from them. Didn’t bother opening this one.
redneck2
Member
Any time there’s a thread about someone thinning their collection/accumulation there are always the “I’ll never sell a gun” responses. The original owner was most likely one of those guys.
earlthegoat2
Member
Too bad it was nearly all handguns.
commygun
Member
Well, we don’t know that he didn’t inspect them prior to the video.
But, yeah, this stuff is a bit sad. If you were savvy enough to collect this amazing selection of guns, you’re probably hip to their current value and could have overseen their liquidation as you felt time marching on. Especially if you knew your heirs weren’t particularly knowledgeable or interested.
I’ve always called myself an accumulator, not a collector, and watching this it struck me that, at some point, some collectors also revert to being just accumulators. When you’re stacking your nth variation of the PP/PPK in a safe in your garage, you’re probably entering Scrooge McDuck territory…
Of course, that could just be insane envy. That Broomhandle….
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
They just recently discovered an old fella in Germany who had been hiding a Panther tank in his basement since the end of WW2.
JCooperfan1911
member
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The jerk kept flagging the cameraman with virtually every gun.
I don’t care how much you think you’re a “gun expert.”
Handle guns like that and you’ll get no respect from me.
I don’t care how much you think you’re a “gun expert.”
Handle guns like that and you’ll get no respect from me.
earlthegoat2
Member
Collecting/accumulating can become a true mental disorder. Much related to hoarding.
Not taking care of the disposition of your large amount of material objects before you go is a very real symptom that collecting has turned to something more akin to hoarding.
For better or worse, hoarding (probably more minor than we usually see on the TV shows) runs in my family and I too have been a victim of it. I used to have more than 150 guns. I was able to break myself from it using nothing more than cold pragmatism.
The big positive was that I was able to put 1/2 the money down on the house I bought from the sale of over 120 guns. Now I am down to less than 20 at any given time.
Not taking care of the disposition of your large amount of material objects before you go is a very real symptom that collecting has turned to something more akin to hoarding.
For better or worse, hoarding (probably more minor than we usually see on the TV shows) runs in my family and I too have been a victim of it. I used to have more than 150 guns. I was able to break myself from it using nothing more than cold pragmatism.
The big positive was that I was able to put 1/2 the money down on the house I bought from the sale of over 120 guns. Now I am down to less than 20 at any given time.
lightman
Member
I feel the same way!
There won't be very many surprises after I'm gone. My oldest Son helped me unload and load the safe after a move last year. Plus I keep an updated list.
This is kind of off of the topic of this thread but I wonder how many safe owners have a trusted person that has their safe combination. Like if both you and your spouse were in an accident together?
dh1633pm
Contributing Member
My inclination is to horde things. I always work hard to not. Mostly successful. There was a lot of value in the safes. Left sitting for a long time. Reminds me again, to thin the herd. Working it.
Ks5shooter
Contributing Member
IM downsizing as we speak.Kids have no interest.wife is 20 years younger than me and likes what she likes.Im selling off,going on vacations and hunting trips with wife with the money.
bannockburn
Member
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- Apr 24, 2007
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- 26,307
lightman
Both my son and step-son know where every thing is and what to do with it when the time comes.
Both my son and step-son know where every thing is and what to do with it when the time comes.
PWC
Member
A non-story unless you can fill it out.
DustyGmt
Member
That's the problem with wet brain, you have a couple adult beverages and talk with folks and after a number of years the information just slips away, like I said though, I will ask around about it, it's bugging me that I can't remember who in my small circle was telling me about it..... but it's kind of a story, just need to fill in the blanks.
PistoleroWadcutterGANG
Member
Being organized with your (gun life) collection and reloading life pays off. When you die you don't leave a huge mess and headache for your family to deal with on top of the grieving stress. You don't want them muttering "Dang-it DAD!" when remembering you. The simple act of using a pocket note pad and jotting down serials and current values and projected values in 5 years doesn't take much effort or time. (Man in the video is a money "DUDE")
CapnMac
Member
Given that we each (pretty much) all have a pocket-sized video recorder close to hand, not having a summary of "all the things" seems perverse.
Of course, ther ever-present problem, of "I'll get to it later" catches up to us all.
Of course, ther ever-present problem, of "I'll get to it later" catches up to us all.
DustyGmt
Member
In the grand scheme of things, I'm pretty sure my modest collection will be easily dealt with. I'm young but having some health concerns, I've not cataloged and gone over everything in detail with my wife as I should have already, I plan to though.
I've asked my uncle to steer her in the right direction and make sure she doesn't get raked over the coals should she see fit to unload a few guns if something unforseen should happen.....
She has no use or need for dozens of different guns. I'd be happy if she kept 6-7 guns and an appropriate amount of ammo.
It really pays to have a plan and a will. My father in law on the other hand, has about a dozen sheds/Sally ports filled with electrical components, he is a hoarder who won't toss things, I've gotten after him over the last decade about letting things go to their ultimate destiny (the dumpster). His thinking is if it was worth $250 back in the 80's and it still works he can't help himself, myself, my wife and my MIL have all tried to impress upon him the major headache all that stuff is going to be when life reaches its inevitable conclusion, it will be me that has to deal with it all. I definitely don't want to put that kind of burden on my family.....
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PWC
Member
I don't have a lot of firearms, I have never sold one. What I have, I have.
That said, how can I find good sources of values or near current values? I know I have been told go to gun broker and look at past sales, or some sight for past auctions. Problem is sites want $$ to join so I can sell/buy which I never intend to do.
That said, how can I find good sources of values or near current values? I know I have been told go to gun broker and look at past sales, or some sight for past auctions. Problem is sites want $$ to join so I can sell/buy which I never intend to do.
DukeConnor
Member
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- Oct 30, 2016
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- 1,126
Fortunately there is a thing called Google that can help I'm these situations.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57965260
JWF III
Member
Several years ago, I went through all of my guns and filled out tags to hang on each. They are marked with make, model, & serial number. I put the date on it each time I clean it. And I also marked it with what I (or my father if I remember) paid for it. And also the current blue book value.
The wife and son know how to get to them. So someone else opening a safe won’t be an issue. But the tags will give them a good idea of the value of each firearm. I plan on updating the value every 5 years or so. Or anytime there is a large jump in gun values.
Wyman
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