how many people lend their guns

[2000Z-71]

There's very few family or friends I would do that with. Letting a buddy shoot one at the range while I'm with him doesn't count. My best friend that I used to shoot cowboy competitions with have loaned each other guns from time to time in he past for a match. I did loan my father in law a revolver once after his house was broken into. Somehow, I felt a little more comfortable with him having that than his WWII vintage 1911 that he carried in Vietnam and probably hasn't been shot since.

 

[feralmerril]

With rare exceptions if a person isnt interested enough to own their own gun, they probley also dont know much about handeling or cleaning one.

 

[rburg]

Lend a gun????
My grandfather kept two axes ... one for his personal use, and one for lending!

I like your grandfather!

About 10 years ago I was at a Jeep parts swap meet. A guy on the far side had a sledgehammer. It was priced at $7, but he came down to $3 real fast, so I bought it. Completely tuckered me out hauling it back to my booth. It was a dainty little 30#er. I had a place for it, right next to my 20#er. My never used 12# and my often used 6# hammer were kind of hidden on the other side of the garage!

One day about 6 or 7 years ago my much hated neighbor, a lawyer of sorts, knocked at my door. He wanted to know if I had a sledgehammer he could borrow to put up his for sale sign. Sure. So we went out to the garage, right in the front, and I handed him the 30#. He said he'd be right back with it. Mmmmm OK. So I watched him for a couple of minutes, enjoying his suffering. Sure enough, back up the street he came. He had more character than I'd given him credit for having. He admitted it was too heavy and wanted to borrow a lighter one.

I had just the thing, my 20#er. He hefted it, commented it was much lighter, and walked down the road. Yep, like clockwork, back he came. It was too much, too. So I offered to go down and drive the steel stake in the ground for him. Stopping in my garage I picked up my favorite, the 6#. A few good whacks and it was buried.

Of course I was 2 doors away with 56# of steel to haul home. No, he didn't offer to help so I did it in 2 trips. But he was sore for a while. I wasn't!

Keeping loaner tools will protect your good ones. Being evil at heart will allow you to abuse the ignorant without them knowing it. Most people don't understand why anyone would buy or keep a 30# sledge. The answer is simple, for others to borrow.

 

[Black_Sheep]

I don't loan vehicles, tools or guns anymore. At one time I did but my truck came back with fresh dings and scratches, tools came back rusty or broken and my 870 came back after being stored in a damp soft case for a couple of weeks. I hate to tell friends no but folks don't seem to value my posessions as much as I do...

 

[MK]

I could count the number of people I would loan a gun to on
one hand, and have fingers left. And of those, they all have their
own, so realistically, it ain't never gonna happen. :/

 

[cass]

A few years ago, a hunting buddy of mine was scheduled to go to Colo. on a Elk hunt. His only rifle was a .243 which was a little weak for Elk. He never borrows, but he accepted my offer of my 7mm Mag. When it was returned, it was spotless, and in a new hard case. He can borrow anything of mine he wants. The strangest case of borrowing involved my BIL who NEVER returns anything without being asked for it back. A couple of years ago, he called me and started apologizing for not returning my Remington Model 600, .222 that he borrowed a few years previous. I told him I didn't loan him the gun, nor had I ever owned that model Remington in .222. He said I was wrong, and he brought it back. Nice gun, wonder where he got it?

 

[Erich]

I've loaned guns several times (at least once to a friend I met right here on Big Blue! ) and have never had a problem resulting from such loan.

 

[pjsjr]

....and he brought it back. Nice gun, wonder where he got it?

From me and I'd like it back...JT

As previous posters have said I have a few friends that I'd loan a firearm to and have and it's been fine.

I'm kind of like Doc Holliday in Tombstone...I don't have many friends...but the ones I do have are really, really good. Preston

 

[luis]

I lent some trusted friend guns in the weeks after Huricane Andrew. Got them all back. The friends later all became NRA members and purchased their own guns.

 

[raveneap]

I'd loan one of mine to my son should he ask, but that probably won't happen as he has his own guns. Other than that, no gun loaning. There are too many things that can go wrong.

 

[1911-BILL]

Only to my dad, and I am the only one he will let borrow his guns.

 

[minuteman]

Would I loan someone a gun? Not only no, but, Hell No! Not a good idea.

What he said!

 

[otis24]

I have a friend who likes to archery hunt for deer. We've had a lot of mountain lions in the area. He borrows my revolver to carry with him just in case he has an encounter with a Morris the Cat on steroids. He takes good care of my stuff and I know I can borrow anything of his if I choose.

 

[perrazi]

under no circumstances.

 

[Joe in SC]

I have a model 64, no dash, 4 inch revolver that has a sweet trigger, both single and double action. I have let several friends practice with and fire for record towards their concealed carry permit. It is a very good shooting gun and several women and a guy have all used it sucessfully to qualify for their permit.

I have a few good friends that treat their guns the same way I treat mine and I have loaned them guns to shoot from time to time and they have loaned to me as well. I won't loan to non shooting friends that don't demonstrate a high degree of gun savy. I just don't think it's a good idea. Those in that category know I am willing to take them shooting and teach them good basic, safe gun handling if they ask. Most of my friends know I'm a certified firearms instructor and will give my time freely if asked.

 

[oldogy]

The question was about guns but then drifted to include tools.
I've had pretty good luck loaning tools. My place, garage, shop was a hang out for the neighborhood kids as mine were growing up. Many of the kids had projects of their own that required tools that they did not have. I would lend these kid tools but always had them sign a clipboard when they took the tool. Don't think I ever lost a tool that way. Pretty darn good bunch of kids. My shop was never locked. I did get an inexpensive paint gun back one time that had not been cleaned. I told the kid to take it back home and clean it. His dad called me a bit later and asked if he could buy me a new one. I told him only if he used the kid's eared money.
My neighbor wanted to borrow my garden tiller. I had just serviced it and tilled my small garden and knew it was working fine. I took the tiller over and tilled the neighbor's garden. Half way through the engine threw a rod. I was sure glad that it happened to me instead of the neighbor.
I loaned a model 12 Winchester to a young man who had been invited to go hunting with a good group. I got that 12 back jammed and filthy. I'll probably never loan a gun again. But who knows. As I get older some things just do not seem as important as they once were.
oldogy

 

[Evil One]

I had a neighbor come banging on my door to borrow a gun to put down a cat.
I told them that my .300 win mag, 12 gauge, and .44 magnum would be poor choices for up close kitty euthanasia...
The fact that they are scum buckets also weighed in on that.
I have 2 friends I would loan a gun to.
I am also pretty sure neither would ask.
One was eyeballing my remington 1858 replica... I bought the twin to it for him.


Jim

 

[dacoontz]

Almost Never. Plus I don't have any friends that I trust enough to use one of my guns. My Dad and Father-in-law would be the only exceptions but only if they asked.

 

[Bat Guano]

As a general rule--no way. I do have a couple of friends who are "professionals" who treat theirs the way I do mine, so I would trust them if they did ask. Don't expect it would happen as their safes are well stuffed with quality guns now.

As a kid I knew a very nice guy with a houseful--literally--of guns. It was like a lending library; if I showed particular interest in something he would give me the gun and some ammo and tell me to take it home and shoot it a while. He knew I would take care of it, which I did. My mother would catch me slipping the "new" gun into the house and ask me what I had this time.

I did succeed in breaking the bolt of an H&R Model 60 .45 ACP carbine he loaned me, and fortunately in those long-ago days I was able to get a replacement from H&R for it. In the years following I tried to show my appreciation by bringing him odds and ends from my USAF and LEO work. Just a great guy to know.

We do occasionally lend and borrow cars within the family because we all treat stuff with care. But that's it.

 

[blastfact]

I have two very good friends I have loaned to and have borrowed from them here and there.