"...if you could only keep one..." I'm finding out.

18DAI, Congrats on the retirement! As far as the pistol you chose to keep to the "end", you know that I wouldn't argue with your choice. The 4513TSW six rounder is small enough, light enough, that I figure there won't be any problem putting it in the box with me.
 
Barring any employment issues in the next 10 yrs.,I'm fairly certain that my 4506, 4053 ( no rail) , 3913 (no rail) and 4516-2 will be with me for many years to come.
All the other semi's and revolvers...eh, they'll come and go on a whim.
 
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My "keeper"would be my selective fire AR18 with a detachable suppressor and a dozen 40 round magazines. Enough to solve just about any problem.
 
WOW.............................speechless....................

I'm with TTSH......................................................
I went back to bed and slept under the covers until 10 AM... and it's still true. :eek: :eek: :eek: It wasn't just a bad dream! :( Oh Lordy! :o Oh Lordy! :(

It's like having put all your retirement money into a particular stock... and then waking up one morning to find out that Warren Buffett just sold every last share of that stock that he owned. :eek: :eek: :eek: OhMyGawd!!! :( :( :(

Not to blow up TTSH's morning more than it already has .......but ........I stopped "buying" about 2 years ago..........first because I don't need any more and secondly ..... haven't seen anything worth buying at anything like a reasonable price!!!!!
It's one thing not to buy any more if you have all you need... but it's another thing altogether to sell off your collection. :( That is just plain depressing! :o

Even I am slowing down after two very active & successful 3rd Gen accumulating years. :o Financial realities and lack of safe space demand it. But sell off major chunks of the collection I worked years to build??? :confused: NEVER!!! :D
 
Congrats on your retirement and thanks for your service.
Having retired only last month love the zero stress but perhaps recognizing at some point I may still need to fill the challenge void .

Reality is that all of our the firearms will be owned by someone else at some point ;)

While I probably will never widdle it down to just one there are a few core favorites,
In semi autos probably my Performance center 9mm.
In revolvers perhaps a a 4" Pre 29, 6.5" Pre 27, 4" Pre 19, 4" Pre 18 and a J frame in 38 special for occasional CCW.
 
I have started "fine tuning" my accumulation of firearms. In the past two years I sold off a CS9, 5904, and 3904. Beautiful guns all, but they just sat in my safe crying out to me to be brought to the range. I sold them to people who will actually shoot them. I'm considering selling off one of my "plain jane" 3913s as well. I have two of those, a rail free and railed 3913TSW, and a 3914NL.

I sold one of my four shotguns. I sold both of my SKS rifles and all of the ammunition.

Which brings me (sort of) back to 3rd Gens.

I used the money from the SKS sales to buy a new M1 Carbine. New production, not WWII surplus because I want it to shoot and when I move to a place where I can have a "truck gun" use it for that.

So, just before Christmas I bought an Auto Ordinance M1 Carbine.

Then, just a few days later, a LGS put up a 3953 for sale. I had the money to buy it, but hemmed and hawed and some other guy bought it out from under me.

That "other guy" was TTSH as I found out yesterday. I'm very happy that he bought it. I know it went to a good home. Besides, maybe now he'll stop whining about how I bought that railed 3913TSW out from under him back in July.:p

I have other guns that I'm mulling selling. Plus, my daughter in law loves shooting my Model 18, so I promised that to her when the time comes. I have a Marlin 25 .22LR bolt action that I bought from a friend. That will go to my grandson when he's old enough. Which means I'll have to find another rifle for my granddaughter. When my daughter marries and gives us more grandkids, I'll be buying more .22LR rifles. It's what granddads do. :D

My son can buy his own guns!
 
I retired several years ago. I sold some at that time. I still have a safe full and was thinking about thinning. And my wife wants to be away from home more, travel and do travel nursing for extended periods so we can have paid vacations so to speak. What to do with the guns????

You know life was much easier when I was a young man and could only afford a Ruger Single six, a Mossberg 500 with a twist choke, one CF pistol and a deer rifle. What happened?
 
Then, just a few days later, a LGS put up a 3953 for sale. I had the money to buy it, but hemmed and hawed and some other guy bought it out from under me.

That "other guy" was TTSH as I found out yesterday. I'm very happy that he bought it. I know it went to a good home. Besides, maybe now he'll stop whining about how I bought that railed 3913TSW out from under him back in July.:p
If you're gonna tell the story, tell the whole story! :D Like how I tried to contact you for you to buy it (I was dead broke following Christmas!)... but your account here was blocked and I didn't have your e-mail address or phone number. :( So I waited... and waited... and waited... to give you all the time in the world to reserve it. :) But for some crazy reason, you didn't reserve it! :confused:

Figuring you were out-of-town or disinterested or similarly broke, my wife stepped in with the cash I had just given her in reimbursement for the family's Christmas presents (She does all the Christmas shopping!). :eek: She said if Gary isn't buying it YOU are buying it. :eek:

The rest is history. :) But the next one is Gary's... even if I have to find and buy it for him myself! :p
 
You're wife is an angel. Although it is a bit disconcerting that I'm a topic of discussion in your house. :D

I was indecisive and hesitated for a few days. By the time I decided to stop by and see it, you had snagged it. If you had hesitated, there was a guy in line in front of me who would have had it, so I would have lost out either way.

If one shows up and I have the money, I won't wait.

If you're gonna tell the story, tell the whole story! :D Like how I tried to contact you for you to buy it (I was dead broke following Christmas!)... but your account here was blocked and I didn't have your e-mail address or phone number. :( So I waited... and waited... and waited... to give you all the time in the world to reserve it. :) But for some crazy reason, you didn't reserve it! :confused:

Figuring you were out-of-town or disinterested or similarly broke, my wife stepped in with the cash I had just given her in reimbursement for the family's Christmas presents (She does all the Christmas shopping!). :eek: She said if Gary isn't buying it YOU are buying it. :eek:

The rest is history. :) But the next one is Gary's... even if I have to find and buy it for him myself! :p
 
Thanks all for the kind words and well wishes! :)

Just to be clear, as I recieved a few PMs, I am well and absolutely nothing is wrong. In fact, everything is REALLY good at this point in my life. Next month, I'm getting a new wife, new home and have several off duty ventures being explored. I am blessed! :)

Last year was a terrible year for me with several major personal and professional tradgedies. But they say that God never gives you more than you can bear. I'm finding out about that too. What is really of value in life was made very clear to me. Collecting firearms, while fun and enjoyable, is not on the list. ;)
So while I've enjoyed accumlating a small fortune in very nice guns and shooting them, I have new priorities. The risk of me being in an unfortunate incident has subsided a g reat deal, mostly due to the turn in my career path. And Im just too busy doing other things to find time to shoot, compete or hang out smoking and joking at the LGS.

But rest assured I will still be carrying and shooting my 3rd gen guns. And the 4513TSW will go in the box with me when the time comes. And I still want to get my 645 off to Mr. Carl Sokol for a few custom touches before he decides to retire. ;) What retired investigator worth his salt doesn't have a custom .45 barbeque gun? Especially now thatthis one has time to go to barbeques. Best regards, 18DAI
 
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WRONG WRONG WRONG

I quote from the original post:

I've no one to leave them to....

I'm here for you :D :D

I would be glad to hold them for you....we can even arrange visitation whenever you want!! As long as we find a friendly magistrate :eek:

You've earned the right to enjoy the journey on your terms.

Best wishes for a healthy, happy, & safe new phase of life.

Lad
 
18---congrats on "semi" retirement! Sounds like you will have an enjoyable endeavor as a magistrate as opposed to an all consuming job. Have always enjoyed your posts here and hope we can continue to do so. For me, the one gun I could never let go of would be the Shorty 45...if allowed a second, like you, it would be the non-rail 4513 TSW. Both fill every need I have in a carry gun and give me great peace of mind. Congrats again on getting a break from the everyday work world. See you around the forum.
 
Welcome to the retirement club. I have been a member for 14 years now as of Jan 1st. I would not have time to go back to work as I find myself that busy it seems. I do enjoy my days especially when I am shooting or racing my old truck. Those two hobbies keep me off of the streets.
 
"...if you could only keep one..." I'm finding out.

I'm happy for you 18! Sounds like your enjoying retirement which is exactly what you should be doing.

I'm not emotionally stuck on these Things and my day will come similar to yours without regret. My motto, I buy it, shoot it, and then sell it to try something else. I still have a couple on the buy it now list, but not many. I keep the favorites.

I will always have one or two...........but I think the 4506-1 isn't going anywhere for me. And I'm glad your keeping yours.
 
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congratulations on the semi retirement and the next chapter in your personal life.......my modest personal collection has been froze where it presently stands and other than m457 or 4513........I'm good too:D.......and to this day I still blame you for this 3rd gen addiction:D......thanks ;)
 
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