Thinning the Herd

[crc4]

 

I'm thinning the herd. Sold all my milsurps (except for my mint Springfield Garand w/ National Match barrel with a few thousand rounds of US-made ammo). While I enjoyed the milsurps from a historical perspective, I got tired of them, didn't shoot them, and kept them only to sell as investments which paid off in the last year.

I've been dribbling out others, and only have about 3-4 more to go until I'm down to the ones I'll keep. I still have a Colt Police Positive and Chinese Paratrooper to sell, and maybe one of my East German Makarovs. A couple of antiques will remain until I find the right buyer as I'm not listing them publicly,

I still am buying. Last week a new CZ P-01 at a $140 off retail, and am going to buy a couple more other guns this week for use as trade or profit. Trading and selling guns is fun.

Most of the remaining guns have sentimental value as well as being good shooters. I'm taking my SD guns and getting new sights and plenty of SD ammo. I shoot all my guns regularly, enjoy keeping them maintained and looking good, and doing minor gunsmithing jobs when necessary.

I've also gave away guns to those you can see enjoying them. It's a pleasure as you can envision them treasuring them as you did while you're alive to see it. Getting older gives you perspective that can't be described until you get there - then you know it.

I do miss certain guns I traded or sold decades ago, but it's not regret. Sometimes things are so tied up in memories it's like Proust and his madeleines. Your hope is that those coming behind you will find their memories in their long, distant past that you helped them create.

An old doctor friend from 50 years ago was an avid Browning Auto-5 shotgunner and a Weatherby rifleman who said to me, "When I die, sprinkle Hoppes inside my casket." I know what he meant

[Grayfox54]

I'm 68 and not in the best of health. I've been debating thinning the herd for several years now. Heck, I might hang around this old world for another 20-30 years. That's the plan anyway. But the reality is that I could drop over dead any minute.  I've been right on the edge twice already.

Back in 2017 my best friend passed away. I took on the job of disposing of his collection for his wife. He had just over 100 guns and it was a daunting task. I want to save my sons that headache when I'm gone. 

The thing is that I've been collecting guns since I was a kid. For many years it was "had to sell one to buy one". I've regretted many of the guns I sold back then.  These days I rarely sell a gun unless there's a valid reason. I'm just not wired that way. Heck, there are still plenty of guns I want to buy.  OTOH I have a lot of guns that haven't been shot in years. They're just taking up space in the safe. Many of them are collectibles that will bring excellent prices, but its a case of having to find the right buyer. That will take time. 

I don't need the money, but I don't use the guns. To sell or not to sell?  Quite the  dilemma for sure.  

[Darrell]

8 minutes ago, Grayfox54 said:

I don't need the money, but I don't use the guns. To sell or not to sell?

I buy fairly frequently, but rarely sell. When I sell one it's because I just don't care for that particular gun. I have quite a few that I rarely shoot, and a couple that have never been fired, but I still enjoy handling them and cleaning them. And firearms are a good investment. If something happens to me my wife will be able to get quite a bit more for my guns than I paid for them.

[crc4]

10 minutes ago, Grayfox54 said:

I don't need the money, but I don't use the guns. To sell or not to sell?  Quite the  dilemma for sure.  

I'm the same way. I don't need the money, but I'm not a charity either. Some I've given to friends, their kids, or donated for charitable events. But I have one rule along those lines. I don't give guns to people who ask me to give them guns. It's my choice who and where to give them. If its kids, I make sure I know the kid, have seen his morals, and have talked to his parents first and made them responsible as guardians of the gun until the kid is 18. Plus, since a kid is involved, I do have them sign such a statement absolving me of any potential charges, damages, and liability. They always are happy to sign.

As I enjoy buying and trading, most of the profits go into more guns, nice Italian homestyle restaurants, and a fried-fish joint with fries and hushpuppies. I'm buying new sights for my three CZs with the cash from a couple of deals last month. That's fun as everybody wins. They get a good gun (I don't buy junk) and I make a little money.

Selling comes natural to me and it's easy to be honest. Dishonesty in someone I can't abide. Lose my trust once and we're done.

Think about selling a few. It's not difficult, just be smart about it and know the values. Once you've sold a couple, it gets easier.

  

[Grayfox54]

For one thing I do keep excellent records. What it is, where it came from, what I paid and its current value. That way my sons will have good info to keep from getting screwed when the time comes. 

One thing I think I will do is print out this list and give a copy to each of my sons. They both like guns and enjoy shooting, but neither has ever gotten into it like I have,  Then I'll ask them to mark whatever guns they particularly want. That will help me narrow down what to sell and what to keep.  And it might help me decide about selling some of the others.