How Can People Sell Their Forefather's Firearms

[Rule 303]

Something I don't understand.
How a young man or worman will be gifted with a firearm that was near and dear to their father, grandfather, great grandfather, etc.......

And immediately or the first time things get a little tight, they are selling it or pawning it.

It simply amazes me. I have my grandfathers 1851 Navy Colt that he carried as a drummer in the War of Northern Aggression or as my friends from the north say, the Civil War. I have the Luger, GP-35 and FN1922 that my father brought back from his service in WWII. I would cut off my arm as to part with these firearms. And some folks part with their family history as simply as changing their underwear. I don't ever trust these kind of folks.

My scum cousin sold my grandfathers 44-40 Bisley for drug money. I now won't have anything to do with him and have let him know that if I get the chance, I will make him really, really sorry. Some members of the family don't understand that attitude and are always saying that he's just trying to get his life straighted out.
Everytime I think about it, I want to go adjust him.

Rule 303

 

[walnutred]

Not all firearms have sentimental value. There are only a few in my accumulation I have a strong attachment to, and I made sure my wife and kids know which. I inherited three firearms from my dad. A Winchester 67 that my G-Grandfather bought new, a 6" Ruger Mk1 that I had given my dad for Christmas and a generic German SA in 22LR and 22 Mag.

I kept the Ruger, gave the Winchester to my daughter and eventually sold the German 22. Even though dad spent the most time with the 22 it held no sentimental value, it was just a tool. That was the pistol that rode on the tractor for shooting snakes.

 

[gregintenn]

My grandparents once drove by my cousin's house to see him painting it. Hanging from his ladder was a handmade quilt our grandmother made for him. Guess who has the rest of our grandparents' stuff?

 

[jeffsmith]

You wrote it yourself "Drug Money"
Drug addiction will make people do very strange things

But even without drugs factored in
Folks today seem to know the price of everything
While not knowing the value of anything

 

[keith44spl]

Something I don't understand.
How a young man or worman will be gifted with a firearm that was near and dear to their father, grandfather, great grandfather, etc.......

And immediately or the first time things get a little tight, they are selling it or pawning it.

It simply amazes me. I have my grandfathers 1851 Navy Colt that he carried as a drummer in the War of Northern Aggression or as my friends from the north say, the Civil War. I have the Luger, GP-35 and FN1922 that my father brought back from his service in WWII. I would cut off my arm as to part with these firearms. And some folks part with their family history as simply as changing their underwear. I don't ever trust these kind of folks.

My scum cousin sold my grandfathers 44-40 Bisley for drug money. I now won't have anything to do with him and have let him know that if I get the chance, I will make him really, really sorry. Some members of the family don't understand that attitude and are always saying that he's just trying to get his life straighted out.
Everytime I think about it, I want to go adjust him.

Rule 303

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I'm right there with ya.

My older brother kept all of our Fathers guns, 'cept one or two that I was given before Dad passed away.

After my Brother passed, his children sold off everything before any of the rest of us knew it...
Poof, gone with the wind, to who knows where.

My Grandson's are being brought up to respect their elders and what they stand for. Hopefully it will make a differance in days to come.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[arch stanton]

I agree completely. I have my great great grandfathers Winchester model 90 .22 short that is wore smooth out and the stock is broke, but i'll be have to be dead before it ever leaves my possesion.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Couldn't agree with you more. There are 3 firearms I'll never part with - my grandfather's Model 1902 Hand Ejector, my dad's Model 28 Highway Patrolman, and my first rifle - a .22 Winchester Model 69A. The memories wrapped up in these three guns are priceless to me.

When I was a lad of only 5, my maternal grandmother sold off my deceased maternal grandfather's guns - a Colt Single Action, a Luger, and a Mauser rifle. I'll never forgive her for that. She should have known - "John will want these someday" never crossed her mind...

John

 

[feralmerril]

I totaly agree with you, but I must admit I once done it myself! I will never get over it. I had a highly decorated uncle that brought back a p-08, a browning .32, a radom, (p-35), and a walther p-38. He remained a batchlor his entire life. He sold the walther, phyiscaly gave me the luger and after he died I inherited the rest. In a moment of stupidity when I was much younger I sold the little browning 32 and radom. All had the matching holsters, clips and tools and were in top shape. As I reasoned at the time I had other guns of his that I liked better and was going to keep, I done the dastardly deed!
Long story short, the other guns got stolen!!! Now I have NO handguns of his! My ex wife denys takeing some of them, however only her and I had the combo to the safe!
My dad was on his death bed and I took the family guns. When I got back with them my own gunsafe was crammed full and none would fit!
That night after I got back from the trip my truck was stolen out of my driveway to NEVER show up. I still had a s&w model 60 with a bobbed hammer hidden in the back drawer in the extended cab. I belive that tipped off the theives that I was a gun nut. I was watched and the house was burglared about two days later when I left to hunt for a new truck and most of those family guns were stolen!
When we talk family guns, there are usualy two class`s of guns. Some that should stay in the family forever, and some that just dont mean as much that can be sold. I have only one daughter. I do have several step kids that were out of the house before I ever met their mother. Now, I have a huge collection. Some of the guns I plan on selling myself before I croak so my wife will have needed money. After all, she is already 17 years younger than me, and by statistics will be a widow for many years.
I have left my wishs on what guns go to my daughter to be passed down. They are guns like a winchester 61 my dad bought in the 1930s, another rifle and shotgun of his, a 94 winchester I bought new when I was 15, etc. Also a few handguns I packed forever or had customised for myself.
Broadly speaking, for us collectors it may not be practable to keep every gun. However if a ancestor has had maybe only three or so that he used most his life, it would be sacreligious to sell them. My dad was a hunter moreso than me. He also liked and had guns, but not near what I have. You gonna keep them all if pop ran a gunshop?

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

I personally have know of more than one family where the old man died and left nothing but a pile of debt, anything that could be converted into cash was. Others, the old man excluded the kids from his activities, they
were never introduced to shooting or hunting and now have no interest in it. Or the old man was a stinker and an SOB who left nothing but bad memories and they're trying to erase him from their minds.

 

[OLDFED]

Years ago, an elderly woman walked into the police station with a box which she set on the counter. It had about 7 handguns, Colt/Luger/Walther/S&W/etc. She said her husband died and she wanted to get rid of them. She told the story of him being in the service, etc. I asked her if there wasn't someone in the family who'd appreciate having them and she said she had sons and a daughter, but she "Didn't think they'd want them." Then she walked out. Not my kind of gal!

feralmerril's comment about having gun related stickers on his pickup is one of the reasons I don't put any on mine. I don't want a lowlife seeing it, following me home and marking my home for a burglary.

 

[BoDog]

I have to admit to passing on several family guns to my nephews but there was an understanding they were not to leave the family. haven't hada problem yet. Then again they have sons that shoot.
They all know what to do if some thing happens to me. ONLY WAY TO HAVE IT.

 

[R Kern]

My father passed away this spring. He had 15 handguns and a rifle that are now kept in the family among the sons and daughters.
To avoid any squabbles, we had a gun shop put a worth on each gun, then anyone who wanted a particular model could pay the worth of it, if they were the only one who wanted it, or bid on it like an auction if two or more wanted it.
That worked out pretty well, and we kept every one of his guns in the family. I actually wasn't sure I even wanted a handgun, since I haven't owned one in about 30 years, but my wife and I decided to get a couple for home defense and target practice. We picked his Colt Cobra .38 for my wife, and I wanted his S&W .357, model 686, 6-shot, 6" barrel revolver.
I'm glad I got them, and they mean a lot more to me than any other items he had.
I just shot them this past Saturday, and can say shooting a .357 with .357 ammo is pretty cool! I even let my 19 year old son try it, and he learned some new respect for a magnum revolver.
So yeah, I also say keep 'em in the family!

 

[brucev]

A brief story about family and guns. While a seminary student I bought a S&W 19-2 which I later gave to my father as he was concerned about home protection. It had TT, TH, WO rear sight, RR front sight, nickle plated, pretty S&W target grips. Over the years my brother took that 19 and traded it for a Beretta 92 which he thought would be better for my father. He then got rid of that and got my father a COLT Det. Special. Then my brother died. And my father died. I was to receive the COLT as the 19-2 was long gone. Cool. Let it go. However... here's the rest of the story. My father owned two very small houses. There were some rusty cars, etc. As executor, I followed the will, with all being divided three ways. My deceased brother's wife wanted cash and asked us to buy out her interest in the houses. Our offers were refused as to small. We than hired a certified appraiser whose report valued the houses at 61% of what we had offered. My wife and I had already determined to give her the rent for two years off the house we were buying. My sister-in-law got angry at the valuation. She contacted me through her lawyer and said if we expected to buy her out, I would have to "surrender" the COLT. I wrote the lawyer and said that would be fine. I wanted my brother to have a good house. My brother knew nothing of that point. When we went to the lawyers office to finish everything, my brother knew I was angry. He completed his dealing with her and her attorney giving her his check and receiving his documents. When he saw me pull the COLT from my attache case, he later said he thought he was going to mess his pants. I gave her lawyer my check and received my documents. I then slide the COLT across the conference table to my sister-in-law. My younger brother and I then left. That night I explained what had happened. My wife and I then gave him and his wife the rent off what was now our house for the two years that we had planned to give it to my sister-in-law. The way I look at it, she took the COLT that had belonged to my father. It was not right. She had no claim at all to it. However, she lost a little over $11,000 in income (rent). In addition, since I was the executor, and since she had given up all claim to any of the "trash" that might be in the backyard, I told my brother that as far as the estate was concerned, he could have whatever was back there in return for cleaning the yard up. In the front yard was a 1995 Chrysler LHS and a 1988 Toyota Cressada. Under the vines and bushes in the backyard he found three Ford pick-up trucks, two Ford vans and a Ford 650 tractor. In a separate part of the yard he found three Ford Mustangs... a 1964 and 1966 notchbacks and a 1968 2+2 Fastback. All were complete. Two cranked. He completely paid for his house using the proceeds from the Mustangs and the other junk cars. He told me to keep the rent. It is now 3 years since my father died. Our house is paid for. And I have a S&W 686-1 that I bought Saturday a week ago. I have to get the cylinder stop fixed on it... so it will have to go to S&W this week. But when it gets back, I'll have a nice revolver similar to the 19-2 I gave my father. My brother has a house that is his with no loan on it. My wife and I have a small house that gives us a place to go if and when I can no longer serve as a pastor. And my sister-in-law has the COLT.

 

[Dr.-d]

Something I don't understand.
How a young man or worman will be gifted with a firearm that was near and dear to their father, grandfather, great grandfather, etc.......

Rule 303

Most Young Man or Women these days care more about electronic gizmos etc. and we have a society bred by the media to think guns are evil items only used by criminal elements sensationalized on T.V. Hunting is also looked down upon by the majority of the countrys urban population. So no wonder the younger generation looks to estate guns as both a meal ticket to cash and an opportunity to get rid of a percieved problem that usually is fabricated by ignorance and conditioning.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

When I was 2, my dad's father died in 1958, so I have no first hand memories. But there is a tale of one winter in the latter part of the depression of Grandfather shooting a rabbit with one shot at a "long" distance, thereby putting meat on the table in very hard times. Dad changed homes a few years ago and mentioned he had uncovered his dads gun again, I ask what he wanted for it,and got it for 2 boxes of 32ACP. He was interested in what what I thought I would sell it for and was supprise that I concidered a family treasure. At Thanksgiving a year ago that treasure and it's story were the focus of one of the ways that God provides for us as He chooses. My three sons and my son-in-law all see this old Black powder only Iver Johnson top break 38S&W as a part of our History and not as an asset. By the way the revolver was a gift to my Grandfather for his compassion on the poor in the 20's. When dad gave it to me it came with half a box of 1920's Remington 38s minus 5, 4 in the gun and 1 replacement.

 

[feralmerril]

Thank God my sister and I didnt fight about anything in the will! My dad had alzheimers, he was right at 90. Mom died 10 years prior. Dad lived in wisconsin, sis and I in california. It did fall on me as I had just retired to go back and live with dad for 6 months to take care of his business and talk him into going to assisted liveing. He was stubborn about that and lived 7 miles from the nearest store and already had lost his drivers license.
When I was gone he had a younger sister that lived walking distance from the rest home, and he would eat everyday there, and bugged the heck out of her. She also took care of business matters that we couldnt. Aunt helen is a jewel. She had taken care of her husband for many years who died with alzheimers just before dad came down with it. Her car was a junker. When dad died my sister and I kicked in 10K apeice so she could buy a newer car. Thats just what dad would have done.

 

[Xfuzz]

This action has fed gun dealers for a century..

 

[Faulkner]

I'll turn it around on you guys a bit . . . I am the oldest grandchild on my mother's side. My grandfather was a very talented man with many interests. After he died my grandmother left me his S&W .32 Safety "Bicycle" Gun that means a lot to me and his set of golf clubs that date back to the 1920's.

I don't golf. Actually, I hate golf . . . you've heard of people being anti-gun or anti-hunting, I'm anti-golf. I would have sold them in a garage sale years ago except out of respect for my mother. She asked me from time to time, "do you still have grandpa's golf clubs?" I'd give them to my brother but he'd just sell them. One day, years from now, when my mom passes they'll be on eBay the next day. Until then, they'll just take up space in my attic.

My cousin ended up with my grandfather's banjo and he got $800 for it.

 

[cudamank]

Well all the above postings make valid points, sometimes it isn't drugs, or a hatred for guns. Especially in today's economy, when loosing a job can happen quickly, it might get to a point that it needs to be done. And truthfully I know from my grandparents and parents, that if it meant staying in a house, or feeding the kids, selling family treasures would be acceptable.

 

[m1gunner]

The last gun I bought was a 5 screw that the owner said his Grandfather had bought new. It had sat in his nightstand for the last 50 years or so.

I asked him if he really wanted to sell his Grandfather's gun. He said he had never seen his Grandfather with the gun, they found it when cleaning out the house, and it meant nothing to him.

We exchanged cash and gun, and the deal was done.

I doubt anyone here would sell their Father's or Grandfather's "bump in the night" gun, I know I wouldn't.

Edit to add: this was a pre hammer block gun, and it was still loaded, hammer down on an empty. The original owner had had some training or instruction.