Moral question

[Len]

I've been staring out the window for quite a while thinking about your question.

The fact that you're seriously questioning what to do says quite a bit about your character, a good thing.

Only thing I can offer is that it seems to me that you should take the question of the grandson's motivation out of your decision. For good or ill, can anyone really know what others are intending or thinking?

This issue is only about you and the rifle. Selling it back under the requested parameters of the grandson, same price and all that, is a poor business decision. And, as mentioned before, possibly a manipulative ploy. It might not be the a "good" business decision to send it back, but it would be a nice one on your part.

This does not mean that if you do not sell, it would be "not a nice decision!"

Your decision is yours, the grandson's motivation belongs to him.

[I hope I could live up to the standard I've suggested...I would also hope that I would consider, as your do, the request as seriously as you have!]

Len

 

[BarbC]

Is it possible (or probable) that the grandson is trying to present his grandfather with the rifle he wished he never sold, as some sort of dying bedside wish granting? ("If only I could see my favorite rifle just one more time, Grandson.")

But this was a business transaction among many between the two parties throughout several years. Why would this particular rifle be the focus? I really don't think the rifle itself is sentimental to the grandson but the perceived lost value might certainly be.

There are all sorts of imaginable scenarios but only the parties involved can decipher the intent behind the transaction dilemma.

 

[Ogandydancer]

Just simply tell him it's not for sale but, if it ever is he will be the first one you ask that is if he is willing to give you true value for it. By that I mean the going rate in the current market.

 

[sigp220.45]

I'd sell it to the grandson for $200 and forget about it.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

A moral question.Where are the morals in going back on a deal?I'm looking at the morals of the Grandfather and Grandson.

Yeah, we all got our own ways of looking at things. For me it goes something like this-- Dying Friend Regrets Selling Rifle-- "Okay, you can have it back." Go back to watching football game. Tell wife story. She says "That was nice, Dear". Eat dinner. Go to bed with no regrets.

Besides... I wouldn't want to look in the safe and think that's the rifle Fred wanted back on his death bed, but he couldn't come up with Prime+2% compunded daily since 1999, so I told him to take his regrets to the grave along with his morals of wanting to go back on a deal. Just doesn't have the right ring to it for a good gun story.

 

[bitstream]

I have a take on it from the other side. My Dad had two weapons, a .22 pump action rifle hexagonal barrel (Henry I believe?) and a Bowie knife. He mentioned he used to plink squirrels, etc. with the rifle when he was younger, I used to go out with my cousin doing the same when I was growing up. The knife he kept in his drawer as long as I can remember. He had told me on many occaisions that both were mine. When I left to enter the service, I didn't want any extra hassels of carrying anything else, so I left them at home and told him I'd get them later when I was in a position to keep everything safely. So, fast forward about 12 years. My Dad has learned he has terminal cancer, so I get a humanitarian transfer back to his area to be with him. One day I'm in the basement of the old house and I see the rifle isn't there. I mention it to him and he tells me that he sold it to one of his brother's kids for $50 because the kid saw it and wanted it. First, I'm pretty sure it was worth more than $50 as it was in excellent condition, even with it's age. Second, he had long ago said it was mine and never told me that storing it in the basement was any kind of imposition. I was polite when telling him that it was supposed to be mine; he said, well, you weren't here and he wanted it, so I just said ok. Things went along after that and he passed away from the cancer. I took the knife that was still in his drawer along with the other things of his that were given to me. That brother of his actually calls me up to ask if I happened to see that knife because his kid wanted it! I politely told him no, it was mine.

Here's the deal, I never asked, nor demanded that the rifle be returned to me or sold back. I figured my Dad made the deal, that was it. It's not their fault he sold it to them. I'm at peace with it (but figure one day I'll try and find a similar rifle for my own collection).

 

[truckemup97]

Doesn't matter if they were used, they were his, and I still value them greatly. YMMV.

You might have something there. I have my great-uncle's Savage 69RXL shotgun. I never even knew he had it. My cousin gave it to me when I asked if he would be selling any guns out of the estate. He thought it had no value (just some old shotgun Dad had in the closet, he said) but it means the world to me because it belonged to my uncle.

Still, though, I don't think I'd sell the Marlin for $200. Maybe discounted somewhat off fair market value, but not less than half price.

 

[oldman45]

Final decison:

First I want to thank everyone for their views, suggestions and comments. My initial idea in starting this thread was to help me in deciding what to do since I did not want to cheat either of us.

Next, the input from those here helped me in that I called the old man this morning and had a chat with him about past times, past deals and past friendships. I brought the gun up to him during our talk and told him of the conversation I had with his grandson.

He told me that I had bought the gun from him for $300 and NOT $200. He also said he was not needing the money when he sold it to me but was clearing things out as he was moving to a smaller home and got rid of many things.

Then he told me about the grandson. According to him, the grandson is manipulative and tries to get money from family members all the time (even though his father is a millionnaire) and the kid is up to his rear in debt for cars, ATVs and partying. The man said that if the gun had been meant to belong to any of his grandkids, he would have willed it to them. Then he told me to NOT sell the gun to the kid since the boy would sell it off the first chance he got to either pay notes that his father would not pay for him or give him the cash to buy something else.

Decision made but not by me. It was grandfathers decision. The gun stays here.

Thanks to all.

 

[Mule88]

Id tell him that you didnt want to sell at this time, but if you did in the future you'd let him know.

 

[Skeeziks]

I'm so glad all things turned out well in the end....

BTW...I should have mentioned that the estimate I gave you of between $750 - $1000 would be for a NIB with papers and tag. If you only have the rifle, then it will be considerably less.

But...anything in this world is always worth what the right buyer is willing to pay. There's definitly someone out there who would give you at least $750 for it.

Again...glad things turned out well. Bye.

 

[oldman45]

I'm so glad all things turned out well in the end....

BTW...I should have mentioned that the estimate I gave you of between $750 - $1000 would be for a NIB with papers and tag. If you only have the rifle, then it will be considerably less.

But...anything in this world is always worth what the right buyer is willing to pay. There's definitly someone out there who would give you at least $750 for it.

Again...glad things turned out well. Bye.

I got it in the box but the box is in the storage room and the gun is in the safe. No papers on it but just the gun and proper box.

Take care.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Glad you talked to gramps and heard what he had to say about the issue. Sounds like you and your friend settled this well.

 

[DeathGrip]

Well I guess the phone call was the right thing to do.And I'm glad to hear that a deal is a deal.Grandpa is a good man.I only wish that he tells his Grandson to let it go and mind his own business.
Oldman 45,You are a good man too.I hope its over and you don't become known as "The guy that ripped off Grandpa's gun".

 

[rhmc24]

Ask grandson what he thinks of putting up the gun for auction and you will split the profit with him. That might smoke out his intent if all he wants is profit. You haven't agreed to anything - only asked is opinion.

 

[feralmerril]

You handled that just great! I am glad for you and now knowing the facts on the grandson I wouldnt give a rip what he thinks. All my life I have been too easy and probley nieve. I got storys that would only make me look even dumber than I am if I told them. I am a slow learner and have come to belive the right way is to handle every situation head on like you did.

 

[oldman45]

You handled that just great! I am glad for you and now knowing the facts on the grandson I wouldnt give a rip what he thinks. All my life I have been too easy and probley nieve. I got storys that would only make me look even dumber than I am if I told them. I am a slow learner and have come to belive the right way is to handle every situation head on like you did.

I am an old man and my father passed away many years ago but he raised me to always try to do the right thing. He told me that if I can go to bed at night pleased with the decisions I made, then I did the right thing. In this case, I did not want to act on emotions but on what was the right thing to do.

 

[Onomea]

Oldman45, you and the grandpa are a couple of stand up guys. The kid's a loser. Excelllent resolution.

God bless.

 

[66TAS]

I am an old man and my father passed away many years ago but he raised me to always try to do the right thing. He told me that if I can go to bed at night pleased with the decisions I made, then I did the right thing. In this case, I did not want to act on emotions but on what was the right thing to do.

I think your father would be very proud of the son he raised. My faith in humanity has been restored a bit today.

 

[ia1727]

Sir:

You are truly an example of what is right in this world, I commend and applaud you. A true gentleman and I am very proud you are a contributor on this forum.

All my best to you,

Steve

 

[BarbC]

You literally made the right call.