I Sold a Gun

[GB]

After a long summer of not feeling well and a trip to the local ER followed by an ambulance ride to the U of Utah hospital. A warning that had I not come in when I did, I would have made the journey through "The Valley of the
Shadow". A couple of surgeries, spread out over two months. (Kidney stones and severe urinary tract infection) I am well on my way to full recovery. This all comes with the realization that my idea that God was going to let me live forever is in error. So----- It is time to get my life in order. I spent some money and had a will drawn up. Made some adjustments to my 401 concerning beneficiaries. Spent some time pondering what to do with the excesses in my reloading room (toooo much Stuff) and formulation of a plan to disperse my firearms accumulation. (tooooo many guns) I went to the local shop and inquired about putting some guns on consignment and offered up an M1 Garand as an example. The rifle, a 1952/53 post war Springfield, sat on the shelf for less than two weeks before it sold at my asking price. Fair but way more that I paid 15 years ago when purchased from CMP. The sale was followed by a request from the owner to bring another if I so desired. So it begins. It will be a lot harder when I get into the handguns but at 73 it is time. So, I sold a gun, not a Smith but I have made a start. This comes from a guy that has only sold 4 or 5 guns since 1992 (the last time I was in dire need of cash.).

 

[djohns6]

A lot of people think that it's some kind of sacrilege to ever sell a gun . They think you should acquire as many as possible and then leave them to your kids when you are gone .
I think you should do whatever makes YOU feel good about your situation . You don't have to explain yourself .

 

[islamoradamark]

Glad your feeling better, those stones hurt i remember one getting stuck in that tract. it wore me down for a couple weeks.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Make a quick list of your top 10 favorite guns and keep them! Make a quick list of your 10 least favorite guns, Now you know where to start selling!

I have never gotten the 10 least favorite to all sell at the same time. When you hit 8 you have done well! Make another "Liest List" and start selling. Figure one of 2 things is wrong with a gun that won't sell. A) you want too much or B) it really is junk! act accordingly.

Pretty soon you have funds and space for that special gun you have been looking at.

Ivan

 

[WardenRoss]

You are a wise man.

Saying this after seeing what some older friends went through by holding onto everything far too long.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Glad you're on your way to recovery.

In a two-year span I had three surgeries on the same kidney. 'tain't fun!

If you're going through the "stacks" and happen to find a Chiefs Special you're not still in love with please let me know.

Stay on the mend. All the best.

 

[ladder13]

No idols in this house.

 

[jimmyj]

WAIT A MINUTE !!
we don't get to carry our firearms to the next world ??

 

[Jeff423]

I sold 2 or 3 this year - the ones I didn't enjoy shooting. I also sold some fishing tackle. I'm trying to get my hobbies in line with my life style.

 

[twodog max]

We are on the same page. Did the will thing last winter. Sold a few guns this year but bought a couple too. So barely got ahead. I have a cash stash that I keep threating to spend on another gun but cannot seem to find anything that really interests me.
I have several that I will never use in all likelihood but when I get them out to see about selling after a minute or two back in the safe.
Got to get my mind right.

 

[sigp220.45]

Good for you! SOMEBODY is going to sell them, it might as well be you.

 

[Willyboy]

Selling stuff

I am in the same situation, health issues came up this year. So I am trying
to reduce stuff around the house. I will be selling firearms and other collectibles. I'd rather sell them to other collectors than give them to the kids
who may not care about them. Willyboy

 

[Protocall_Design]

I decided if I can't take them with me, I'm not going!!! So there!

Hope you still have a long time to enjoy the ones you keep, GB. Best Wishes.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Strictly speaking we don't "own" them, we're just caretakers. I wince at some of the ones I had to sell-cash strapped student. Conversely I remember one I bought-helped to pay for a young girl's dental work.

 

[max]

I have a list of who gets what, but there are others to deal with.

 

[Farmer17]

I had about 40 guns at one time and sold them all. Then started buying more guns and have a bunch now but will probably be getting rid of nearly all of them before I die, I have two daughters and they would rather have the money than guns.

 

[old bear]

GB, Pleased that you are well on the way to recovery. We're the same general age. Even though I've been lucky enough, in spite of my best efforts, I'm generally in good health. Several years ago I had more handguns than I needed and in some cases wanted, and I had no one who really wanted them. Even though it was hard I made the decision to sell a number of them, and gift several. in the long run it did not hurt much.

 

[dave1918a2]

GB, Had the same ailments as You. Except the bladder stuff was over 12 or so years. Now it's A fib. Had an ablation. At 77 I'm totally alone so I have been making a list of where I want things to go. Never realized how much I have. Even with what I sold before the move, it's hard to believe how much I moved.Of course I have bought some things and sold some things consolidating the reloading equipment and ammo. Hope to get it done by 80. Good luck with Your endeavor, and I hope Your recovery is swift.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

When we sold the farm house, It took to car loads and two pick-up loads to move just the guns to my F-I-L's walk in vault! * pickup loads of reloading equipment and ammo. Took over a year to shelve and organize the reloading. Still have about 25 cases (flats) of just factory shotgun ammo in the garage!

Depending on the disposition of the wife, a Viking funeral sounds like it might be a blast!

Ivan

 

[cmj8591]

Someone else is going to have to worry about getting rid of my stuff. Unless I need cash to buy a kidney on the black market, I'm keeping my guns as long as I can. I take a lot of satisfaction at opening a gun safe and looking at its contents and absent an onset of dementia, I don't see that changing. In the unlikely event that I fall upon hard financial times, then that changes things and the fire sale will commence. Other than that, I plan on leaving my house for the last time before they do. The other thing is, I don't care what my family does with them. I like to joke with my shooting buddies that if they ever hear of my demise, head over to my house right away because my wife will probably be selling off my stuff at 10 cents on the dollar!