What would your family do with your collection after you die?

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I plan to be downsized on the guns to the point where anything that's left will be willed to my son. He knows what to do and won't sell anything until he has an appraised value of each one. He also gets the proceeds from the sales.
 
RougeLeader1 said:
We don't hide anything from each other, good or bad, and it really is a good way to live.
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Yes, it really is a good way to live. As I've said, in a few weeks my wife and I will be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary. We have a joint checking account, joint credit cards, joint savings accounts, both of our names were (are) on the title to every motor vehicle we've ever owned, and we had a joint mortgage which is now a joint title to this house and property.
The fact is, about the only things we own that are not "his and hers" are our guns. But there are two very good reasons for that; first, I'm a lot bigger than my wife, so my guns don't fit her, and vice-versa. And second, some of my wife's tastes in guns are different than my own.
 
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.308 Norma said:
Yes, it is really is a good way to live. As I said, in a few weeks my wife and I will be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary. We have a joint checking account, joint credit cards, joint savings accounts, both of our names were (are) on every motor vehicle we've ever owned, and we had a joint mortgage which is now a joint title to this house and property.
The fact is, about the only things we own that are "his or hers" are our guns. But there are two very good reasons for that; first, I'm a lot bigger than my wife, so my guns don't fit her and vice-versa, and second, some of my wife's tastes in guns are different than my own.
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We only differ in my Wife has her own credit cards, checking and saving's account as do I. Her name is on my accounts so she could draw from them should something happen to me or vice versa.
 
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When my sister became a widow I lost a best friend and shooting buddy. In some ways my brother in law was fortunate in that he knew his days were numbered. He was clear with his wishes leaving my sister little to decide. While I hope to enjoy life awhile longer we never know. I laid down my motorcycle last October which did scare me. My wife and kids know my wishes as to who gets what. That done my wife has the gun inventory which also list approximate values so after the children and grandchildren have their choices it matters not what is done with the balance. The guns are just "stuff". There is also more to it than just the guns, ammo and reloading supplies. This is why we have wills drawn up and why the wills are shared with the children. No surprises just like our parents did. I just see it as a matter of having our affairs in order.

Ron
 
I quit worrying about this stuff long ago - I've already lived 45 years longer than I expected to.
I'm trying to get the local American Legion to take some of my more historic weapons from the various American wars, to no avail so far.
My youngest sister can sell what's left, if she so desires.
My LGS will be ecstatic.
 
The wife would have just sold them off for spending money, but I got rid of her a few years back and don’t have to worry about that.:neener:
Last year I started selling off duplicates in my surplus collection, and gave a few away. I have a list of guns that my three kids want, but that still leaves a few hundred left over. Some will go to relatives and some will be sold.
In case of a sudden turn of events, I have twos friends that will assist with selling off the remainder of my collection that my kids don’t want.
 
N9NWO said:
Every man's fear is that the wife will sell the guns/fishing equipment/ham radios for what he TOLD her he paid for it!

Does your wife and children have an idea of what you have, what they are worth and who get what items? And how to dispose of those items that the family does not want?

I have noticed that firearm auctions bring far more money than selling to a dealer.

Any thoughts?
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I might as well add that I don't think I've ever informed my wife of a gun purchase I've made. As long as I'm paying the bills, keeping things operational, saving some money for the future, I buy what I can afford at the time and I don't say squat about it.

Of course, she knows of the list I mentioned in post #10 and where to find it. But, she just hasn't cared enough to read through it. She has seen some of what I own and she knows I have a carry license, but firearms really aren't an interest to her.
 
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Well...I can't take it with me, so the solution is obvious.

I'm just not going to die.

:D:D:D

Honestly, though, I recommend two paths for this:

1. As you approach your twilight years, and your firearms activities start slowing down, start finding them new homes. Don't let them sit around unused, gathering dust and rust, and in general sitting there waiting to be an issue after you die.

2. Write a will. Seriously...they're dirt simple. (Unless you've got a ton of assets that require special legal attention.) And if you are military/retired military, you can even use military legal services for this for free if you're near a military installation. If you don't have that option, there's still good news for this: legal fees for wills are generally (not always) a flat fee service fee, not an hourly rate. (Unless you've got a ton of assets and such.) Costs will vary from attorney to attorney, as well as for the specific details of your will (the more involved it is, the more it will cost). If it's simple enough, you can even write your own.

Search "how to write a will" and you'll come up with a lot of help. If you choose to use an attorney, still go through this process because what you will need to do is provide your attorney with all the important details that you want in your will. If you go to an attorney without that, you'll simply be given forms and such and be told to bring them back completed with all those details anyway. So do it up front, see an attorney by appointment, bring your stuff, and in short order you'll have a will.

If you've already got a will but it needs to be updated...bring a copy of your old will with notes on how you want it updated.
 
All going to my son.
He had been referring to my guns as his since he was probably ten years old. He is 27 now and owns quite a few firearms of his own.
My daughters have some interest in firearms but it is limited although my older daughter does hunt on occasion.

Still my son has been handloading for and shooting my guns for years, so it is only fair that he has them.
 
AlexanderA said:
I don't have a candidate to inherit my rather extensive collection. (My wife certainly isn't interested.) So, logically, it would make sense to start to liquidate some of my collection before I get much older (I'm 76 now). The problem is the capital gains tax. It would be substantial, because there is a lot of unrealized appreciation there (thanks, Hughes Amendment!). At least if I die still owning them, there will be a stepped-up basis and no tax will be owed.
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*ahem*

I have a solution to propose to you for this abominable problem of yours...

:D:D:D
 
.308 Norma said:
Once again N9NWO - nonsense. Maybe some men, maybe even most men lie to their wives about what they pay for "guns/fishing equipment/ham radios," but not "every" man does. I don't.
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chicharrones said:
I might as well add that I don't think I've ever informed my wife of a gun purchase I've made
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My rule = if it cost more than something with an engine and tires. I'll consult.
 
I too keep and inventory of my firearms and their approximate vale on a date specified. I have no children or relatives that I would give them to. When I die it is in my will that my sportsmen's club gets all of my centerfire rifles and all of my handguns to sell for our youth program. My black powder rifles and handguns will go to my clubs black powder committee to sell for updating our facilities.
 
My wife and son gets all of mine. I just wish my son would show more interest in taking care of his guns. And learn some general repair and diagnostics. It's always dad my guns not working. Can you fix it dad? I love working on them. But he needs to learn too. I told him i'll be gone one day. And you will be lost.
 
If it's sudden, my wife (and daughter) knows to contact her brother in law. He's a LEO, a bigger gun guy than me, and a good friend of ours on top of everything.

If I see it coming, I'll take care of them with eveyone.
 
My will expressly states that my '67 PPK goes in the coffin with me. Some are willed to friends and family but since I come from a family of antis most will go on consignment at a LGS
 
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