Getting older, what is your firearms endgame?

[Frank46]

Some interesting solutions to that age old question "who gets my guns when I'm gone" +My youngest daughter is married to a corrections officer who will probably get a couple to save for his baby boy my only grandson. The oldest daughter is also married to her husband who shows no interest in firearms. Will tag some and probably sell the rest. One will go with me when they close the lid on my casket though. Frank

 

[JSR III]

The real 'risk' is your kids-heirs will just dump it cheap after you depart.

Who cares, you're dead... Risk to who??? If my heirs, assuming that I don't start selling them off before the big dirt nap, are not smart enough to call in an expert to evaluate the collection and sell it for market value then dumb on them...

For those of you that are concerned about the after your death sale, start making up a book now with an accurate description and current market value. Take photos and record serial number so there will be no confusion. Although my bride has a license to carry, she probably doesn't know the difference between a model 41 and a .45 semi auto.

Every year or two, recheck the values and update if necessary. On the bright side for those that don't shoot much any more, it will give you a chance to again handle every gun in your collection, do value research and maybe give it a good cleaning or wipe down to maintain the condition.

Don't forget to do the same thing for all of the non guns, ammo, holsters, paper work, boxes etc. If nothing else, it will keep you out of bordello's and bar rooms.

 

[H Richard]

My biggest difficulty is trying to determine "when" to start selling off. I have a few special ones mentioned in my will to go to a few people, (but I plan to give them to them before then). I have an auction selected to dispose of the higher valued ones, and one for the run of the mill stuff. I have sold off a few, but haven't stopped buying yet. I'd like to do it myself, and not leave it to my wife to have to worry about.

I'm 76, and I still enjoy shooting nearly every week a couple times, but I'm afraid one of these days the heart attack, stroke, etc may happen and make it difficult for me to handle it myself. I'm thinking about 80 I'll have to set aside a big chunk of them to dispose of, and just keep a trap gun, skeet gun, a few SD handguns and my bullseye gun.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Currently 61, last year my good buddy was over so we did what I had been wanting to do for years.

I took my old business cards and for each handgun I wrote on the back of the card, the date, what it was, what it was worth. All my handguns are in rugs, so the card is with each one.

My friend said that each of my guns would be the centerpiece of any gun shop display, so they are desirable at the very least. The value I put on them was what it cost to replace realistically.

As time marches forward, they increase in value. My friend is 30 years younger than me and offered to help my family sell them should the need arise so they do not get taken advantage of.

My collection features mostly S&W revolvers, hardest to find and most desirable IMO, but there's a Sig P210 in there as well as a couple nice 1911's and such.

Pretty penny should they need to be sold.

 

[erics]

I think I will sell the one from the bottom of the pile and buy ammo for the others. In time I should be down to one and have a great time getting there.

 

[4506517]

I just inherited a REALLY nice Winchester 94 and a LeFever double barrel from my step father. He had no plan in regards to how to dispose of his firearms. Everything else was laid out in immaculate detail. No one wanted the firearms so I just said I'd take them and that was that. There was a sweet long bow, but I don't think it had a string so I wasn't sure what to do with it. I think I'll ask momma to set it aside for me. The daughter wants nothing to do with her father's stuff other than to liquidate it. All his WW II uniforms, awards, etc she wants to just turn into cash. What a shame.

 

[raljr1]

Nowhere near thinking about leaving this earth at 62, my mom is still going strong at 89, and my aunt at 92. My son likes guns, and would likely never sell one I left him. That said, he may not have chosen many that I have, so I'll likely pare down the collection by selling off some lesser pieces and adding fewer, more valuable collector types.

 

[soFlaNative]

So, I think the thing to do is decide which six (6) or so I really want/need to keep, then offer the others to friends at the “special friends price.” Making this decision may be easier said than done.

Fred, you know I cannot tell a lie...

 

[Donn]

Told Mrs many times we're at the age when we need to start getting rid of stuff. For me, that means thinning out the inventory of tools and firearms. To that end, 1) Fight the urge and don't buy any more guns, that'll be a tough one. 2) Try to sell the ones that have more value than the others. 3) My son will be handling my affairs, he can keep whatever he wants. And finally, 4) I've already spoken to the owner of my LGS. He'll sell whatever's left on consignment, my survivors will get whatever that brings in.

 

[chief38]

I'm takin' then with me!

When I get to that stage I'll probably sell them (except maybe for 1 or 2 for protection). My Wife, Son & Daughter have no interest at this point and doubt they ever will. I would think they would appreciate the money more than the guns.

I still have at least 20 years or so to go before pondering that (hopefully) but maybe my Daughter will marry a guy interested - who knows.

In the mean time I still enjoy the hell out of 'em!