old guy thread

[bigbear]

I have acquired all my Holy Grails. Gasp! I don't want /need any more guns! Hear me out, no need to organize an intervention. I need to thin the herd and am looking for a place to get some good advice. my youngest son is a shooter and his advice is suspect. If it does not have a magazine and shoot without working a bolt or a lever (except for his Win94 mag carbine I gave him) no harm in selling it. What logic do you use in thinning your accumulation? All mine are carefully reseached gems or lucky finds. Can't sell any of my 71's, no one will give me what they are worth (to me), my Win 94 375Win? 358savage99? savage99R in 308, Savage 99 250Sav with Redfield receiver sight (maybe) I hope you see my problem ! Help, I want to finance a big hunt or a quad. what's an old guy to do. Only old guys need to reply, you young guys just wouldn't understand;-)

[725]

Is there a need to sell? If not, keep 'em like treasured friends.

[JohnnyFlake]

Sell them off my friend! I am 71 years old and held onto many guns for many, many years, I would not sell anything! Finally about 12 years ago when I relocated to where I am now (Henderson, Nevada) I just broke down and started to sell, sell, sell.

Actually, I enjoyed doing that, as I found I didn't miss them as much as I thought I would. The silver lining in doing so, gave me some extra $$$ to take a long awaited vacation and to search out other guns, that I had wanted in the past but could not afford. Now days, I still have many guns but if I run across something that really catches my interest, I don't hesitate for a moment to sell off what I need to get my newest love!

[pergoman]

I am dealing with the same sort of situation but from the other side of the table. My dad is in his early 70's and attempting to thin his heard. He has some pieces I will cherish, when the time comes. Not in a rush.
He has some things that he just couldn't pass up. He doesn't need these or use these guns. Mind you, his collection numbers over 120 long guns and about 30 handguns. He shoots a few times a week but some of these guns have not been fired in 20+ years.
He knows which guns I would enjoy owning and he has no intention of selling these. His 52-2 is in my safe right next to mine. He does not need the money from selling the guns. Each of the grandsons got a pre-64 model 70 for their 16th birthday.
I would advise you to sell anything not seeing even occasional use. Get rid of guns with no special sentimental values. Get rid of guns which are not wanted by your son because they do not meet his needs or desires. In short, trim the fat and keep the lean.

[bigbear]

Is there a need to sell? If not, keep 'em like treasured friends.
Do I "need" to go on another hunting trip? Do I need a quad? Hard question. Problem is, I have too many treasured friends, and my tastes have gotten too refined. These are not everyday Remchestermarlimossbergrugers we're talking here. Browning 1886 carbine (high grade) I got for half price with enough minor blemishes on stock I shoot it , I sold my Win 88 when I found an 88 original carbine, put a 4x scope on it, put 4 rds Win 150gr Silvertips in 1" , cleaned it and put it back in the safe. Can't sell that one, now can I? Where would I find another one? and so forth. The easy ones I've already sold to get these.Wednesday is my birthday so I'll go through my safe and pick some likely suspects ,take em to the range, and see where the chips fall.

[sharps4590]

bigbear, I don't konw what to say. I wanted a particular firearm a week ago and started pilfering through the toy box and the only answer I got was "not that one....no, not that one either....the oldest son wants that one....the youngest that one....Momma likes that one....oh I just couldn't sell my _______......ain't no way I'm gonna sell that one" and so on. I just sprung for the "new love" as Johnny called it. I guess it's the closest I'll ever know to having a harem.

[.22-10-45]

sharps4590..I know what your going thru..this doesn't pertain to firearms..but it just as well could. All my life I was told by my mother.."Don't you worry about a thing..when the time comes..all dads tools you want will be yours." Well, dad had a nice collection of antique broad axes..the only ones I really wanted were stamped with the family name of an old timer who was a very good friend of family..his parents emigrated from England in the early 1870's..and he told me his dad had purchased them before they set sail..they were also marked cast steel.
Well, the time came..but of course I wasn't in any hurry..working alot of o.t. & just didn't have time at the moment. Besides, after dads passing..I just didn't feel right removing stuff from their home so soon...Boy was I wrong..when I next visited..the wall was empty of axes! Mom quickly said..oh I saved these for you..a couple of rusty beat up examples..probably no one else wanted! I asked her how much she got for the English ones? I said she could have gotten more for those alone than the whole lot..they were in like new condition..she kind of got a sick look then..so a word to the wise..make sure anything you would like is put in writing..or better yet, talk to the old man about "loaning "it to you NOW!

[Lonegun1894]

I recently sold off a few, but my criteria was that I got rid of anything that I either didn't like to begin with, or had not fired in at least 10 years. I am 32, and I was surprized how many of those I had. I am the opposite of your son though, in that several semi's went, and a couple "newer" bolts, but the older stuff and the levers stayed. Then there were a few calibers that I just dont use and have absolutely no use for, like the .32 acp and .380 acp, since the smallest I really like, aside from .22, is the .357 mag, and those aren't going anywhere.

[bigbear]

Problem I have is when I think back to what I sold in years gone buy,) when I had to tuition, textbooks, Mac &cheese getting through school, the old way working and borrowing) they are all worth 3-4 times what I got and many can't be replaced ... a factory mannlicher stocked Ruger 44mag carbine for instance, think I may have got $450 for it[smilie=b:, Smith &Wesson Model 25, 45ACP, 547 in 9mm, Colt Python,can't go on with the list, the horror oh the horror.Maybe I won't sell anything, just keep working and working and working.

[Lonegun1894]

If you dont have to, I would seriously consider keeping them. The ones I got rid of, were used to fund suppressors and tax stamps, stuff I know I will get a lot of use out of, so getting rid of the things I had no use for in exchange for things I will made sense to me. But if it had been anything that I was using, I wouldn't have done it.

[smokeywolf]

I have at least 2 that I would consider parting with. Forgive the preposition. I sold one a little over a year ago that I didn't really want to sell but, the money was needed to finance a new business venture. Even though it turned out to be a very good and profitable decision, it still hurts.
If you don't need the money, take several months to think it over. You don't want to have seller's remorse.

smokeywolf

[Mooseman]

The BIG issue I see is when I sell a Piece of my collection for Money to live off of , when The money is gone I dont have the money or the gun anymore.
I have some high dollar pieces, but nobody wants to pay a fair price for them , so they will stay in the rack for me to fondle and look at..
I am so Old I still have my first stone knife and I am out of Mastodon steaks...LOL.

Rich

[Salmoneye]

Never sell a gun...

I have twice in my life, and have regretted it since...

Never again,

[bigbear]

The BIG issue I see is when I sell a Piece of my collection for Money to live off of , when The money is gone I dont have the money or the gun anymore.
I have some high dollar pieces, but nobody wants to pay a fair price for them , so they will stay in the rack for me to fondle and look at..
I am so Old I still have my first stone knife and I am out of Mastodon steaks...LOL.

Rich

Exactly, everybody wants new value plus 15% for their beat up junk and scream and moan if you ask 10% less than you paid for a choice item You think you are old, I was around when dirt was new.:smile:

[gnoahhh]

To me they are merely objects, and very few have a lot of sentimental value. I own maybe 30 guns at the moment, but have gone through maybe 300 in my life. You get used to seeing them go. The trick is to replace the gun with something else of equal value immediately (and it doesn't have to be a gun) or you'll just fritter the money away on dumb stuff like food and gas. The biggest hit I took- not selling a gun to buy another one- was when I bought a house years ago, and financed a large part of it by selling off a pile of guns. I don't regret it to this day (well maybe a couple of them I should've kept).

I don't have kids, and have given a few to nephews, probably all they'll get from me. They aren't gun loonies. If I see the end coming I'll dump the guns forthwith. If I go suddenly, well I guess there'll be a hellacious yard sale. I won't care- I'll be dead!

Like my old man said- "If you can't own them all at once, you can own them all one at a time!"

Edit: I'm getting close to 'old guy' status- 60 in a few months. The older I get the less stuff like killing the biggest buck (or any deer for that matter), or owning a big pile of guns matters to me. What matters more and more are the people I love (past and present), life experiences (not necessarily centered around guns) and fond memories. Don't get me wrong, I still count a day at the range to be a great way to spend a day, but if I had the chance to vacation in the south of France for a month with a pretty woman and all it took was selling a pile of guns to finance it (and hence eliminating a bunch of range days)- well, just hand me my passport!

[Trapdoor]

My dad enjoyed his guns but only had a few that he used primarily for hunting. I took it to another level. I lost my dad early and inherited his and one of my grandads. At that point I made a decision. My dad's guns would be passed to my son, and my guns would be passed to my grandson, if I ever had one. That time has come and the ground work has been laid to keep the tradition ongoing. My son now has his grandads. My grandson will receive all mine, with the exception of 1 handgun, which was bought as a Christmas gift for us both. It's already half his anyhow!

[Jack Stanley]

I'll look at it a little different for you . A few years back my little brother died unexpectedly , he was in his forties . I got tasked with selling not just his guns but all the supporting equipment . What the whole process did for me was wake me up to my own mortality since my accumulation of stuff was a bit more than his .

Just on the outside chance that I should go unexpectedly I didn't want the same thing happening to my wife and remaining brothers . As a result , I sifted through the stuff that I'll never/not likely to use again . Still have a little to go but I'm getting there . One rifle I gave to a close friend another to a close friends son and still have a couple that may be given away to young shooters . Next , I'm tagging the stuff I'd like to use more but isn't a big thing if I use or not . As time goes on , I'll try and use it but it will get sold or given away sometime . Then , there are the ones that mean something to me for one reason or the other . Some are just a work of art others the memories they share . When the time comes I do intend to have the pile smaller and easier to manage for those still left .

My Dad was around when dirt was still in the planning stages but he never did tell what it looked like when it was new ... any insights there ?? [smilie=1:

Jack

[northmn]

At one time I "collected" bolt action military rifles. I would get one and play with it a while and then sell them to get another. Never did have a house full of them. Sometimes, just the memories of owning one for a while and handling it are fine. I have a 300 Savage that is likely to go down the road as I have played with it. I have two Marlin CB's. One is being returned to may daughter as it was the rifle she shot her first deer with and the other is a 38-55 with peep sights whcih I am keeping for open sight use. My old Marlin 35 Remington will be kept. I sold a bolt action 270 that I must used on and off for many years, since I was quite young, and even with its memories have had no regrets. I am looking at a bunch of shotguns that need thinning. If you do not really use them and do not like them, sometimes getting the "right price" is not so important as getting a little fund built up to acquire some other interests. Discussing this has kind of helped me decide that some must go.

DP

[405]

Wow, all this sounds familiar. I've gone through two or three sell-off cycles. When younger (stupider) I sold some of the wrong ones. The last couple of years been selling off the ones I couldn't figure out why I had in the first place. That is a good feeling- no regrets. Now here's the kicker. I just realized I'm replacing them as fast as selling them and the recent purchases are more expensive. Makes no sense. Problem is I still like owning and shooting old guns. Oh the insanity!

[1Shirt]

I can see the "no need" any more, but can't see don't want any more. Just isn't logical to me!
1Shirt!

[pietro]

I'm 70, and about 10 years ago, first gave away several guns to children, grandkid, and nieces/nephews etc, before selling off ALL my extraneous (read: not regularly used) guns via online gun auctions (which realized the best selling price, for me).

It was time to pass them on, for others to enjoy ..................... :drinks:


.

[MtGun44]

Selling a gun?

Is that possible? I had never even considered it. . . . . . . . WOW!

Nah, never happen. Sit in the shade a while, sip a cold iced tea or have
a few beers and this mental illness should pass.

Bill

[bigbear]

Selling a gun?

Is that possible? I had never even considered it. . . . . . . . WOW!

Nah, never happen. Sit in the shade a while, sip a cold iced tea or have
a few beers and this mental illness should pass.

Bill

Now that's advice I can follow:drinks:

[Jack Stanley]

Somebody said a four letter word !!! The "W" word ......... want . For some unanswerable reason/excuse , I think If a could find a Remington 7615 with the long barrel and the sights on the barrel , I'd likely buy it . Fortunately , THAT is not one likely to walk down the gun show isle .

Of course I'd shoot the guts out of it and sell it when the next whim comes along .

Jack

[OverMax]

I want to finance a big hunt or a quad. what's an old guy to do. Very nice gesture. If planning on doing something like that is a priority over owning a few rifles. Then do it. Sell 'em. But lets you and I take a practical approach to this plan of of yours. [Foundations or sponsors] you could apply too. Make-a-Wish is one that comes to mind. If you were to ask for some help here on Cast Boolits. I'm sure there are other foundations & sponsors or perhaps a ranch or land owner right here maybe willing to help. But bear in mind once an old friend like those Savages and others are sold. Their gone and stay gone. No more cleaning, no more admiring something made in a time when things were assembled with pride, loyalty, and old school craftsmanship. If your a widower it may not be in your best interest to sell. I'm sure some of those rifles hold memories all kinds of memories fresh in mind. As busy as we seniors are. It's nice to have something to occupy our time occasionally {their inspections w/cleaning and their operation checked.) And no you won't be given what their worth. That's what galls us old timers the most!! To sell some or part of your collection is a tough decision. I wouldn't want to be in your spot Sir. By the way I'm 67 a 45 baby. Hey!! lets move on to a lighter mood. I always wanted a 250-3000ths sell me yours that way I can retire my 300 to the wall once and for all. "You can come see that 250 anytime you want._:-) and I'll even go as far as giving you a garentee you'll get a pix yearly of all the deer I take with your old friend to boot." Hard to beat that kind of offer._;-)

[bigbear]

:bigsmyl2:I have given this alot of thought. I saw a sale on rifle safes in the weekend paper, half price. I may pick one up at lunch, then I'll have all that empty space , nature abhors a vacuum,and I may need to sell a rifle or two later, if I sold em now, wouldn't have them to sell later.And the money I save can go toward the quad and the hunt. yeah , that's it, the saved money goes toward the quad! Brilliant ,a new safe and money toward the quad. Thanks for talking me off the ledge. How do I get the rest of the money for the quad now though???

[bob208]

i have sold off guns two times. the first was to buy my house. the second was tobuy my corvette it is a 1966. both items have gone up in value as much or more then the guns i sold. but i still miss some of the guns i sold.

[sharps4590]

22-10-45...that was MY toy box I was going through....lol! not Dad's. I do know what you're talking about though. Two of my sisters got into a urinating match over a piece of jewelry when our Mother died. That isn't my nature, thankfully. When Dad goes, he's 83 now, if I don't get the 3 firearms of his I want, well, I guess I don't get them. I'll be disappointed but I'll get over it pretty quick. I just want them to pass down to my sons.

I wasn't around when dirt was either in the planning stages or when it was new but I'm old enough that my lifes story regarding firearms has been written in these posts. My body may be flirting with 60 but my head is about 35-40.

[largom]

Sold a few guns when I was too young to know better, been crying ever since.

Larry

[TJF1]

Donot sell but buy!!!!!

[bigbear]

:happy dance:Bought safe, now have space in case I don't sell any and I find one I NEED, I have some place to store it. The fever has broken, delerium has cleared. I will now only think of selling ones that don't shoot for shucks.

[EDK]

I've given a FEW guns to various relatives, BUT I'm not ready to quit looking at internet auctions or going to gun shows and buying something I like. There are a couple of safe queens on the premises since I got interested in Original Size VAQUEROS, but nothing without a few rounds down the pipe.

I'll quit buying, shooting and reloading when I'm disabled or dead!

:redneck::cbpour::guntootsmiley:

[6pt-sika]

Edit: I'm getting close to 'old guy' status- 60 in a few months. The older I get the less stuff like killing the biggest buck (or any deer for that matter), or owning a big pile of guns matters to me. What matters more and more are the people I love (past and present), life experiences (not necessarily centered around guns) and fond memories. Don't get me wrong, I still count a day at the range to be a great way to spend a day, but if I had the chance to vacation in the south of France for a month with a pretty woman and all it took was selling a pile of guns to finance it (and hence eliminating a bunch of range days)- well, just hand me my passport!

The mostest or the biggest I agree 100% !

However I still put alot of emphasis on trying to get out on Marylands Eastern Shore each year and taking a Sika Deer or two (sent in my Blacwater NWR apps yesterday as a matter of fact)!
Oh I'm "sub old guy" I'll be 51 in 3 weeks .

HOWEVER going to France for ANY reason in my ALWAYS biased opinion sucks !

Actually just about all of Europe except possibly Scotland and Ireland have no hope of me going there any longer .

Now on the other hand Japan , Korea , Thailand and the Philippines quite another story .
But then you might prefer a BMW and I a Benz . Ain't life GRAND :wink:

[6pt-sika]

When Dad goes, he's 83 now, if I don't get the 3 firearms of his I want, well, I guess I don't get them. I'll be disappointed but I'll get over it pretty quick. I just want them to pass down to my sons.


My maternal grandfather passed 4 short years ago . He had told me long before that all his guns were willed to me . In his exact words "no one cares about them except you" . After the fact I did give my only male cousin on that side one of his shotguns just because I thought it the right thing to do !

My own father has a LARGE collection thats in the same three saves with mine . He has a good bit off stuff thats been accumulated over the years that has no sentimental value . But he does have several that have been around since I was born that'll not leave me anytime after he's gone (incidently I have no siblings).

The biggest thing that bothers me is I have no male heirs that I think would enjoy or really see what I see in my grandfathers guns or my fathers for that matter .

[gnoahhh]

6pt- when you head over to the Eastern Shore, give me a shout. If you go via 50 and the Bay Bridge (unless you have a boat!), you literally pass about 200 yards from my bedroom window. We have lots of cold beer here...

[Jeff H]

I don't know where the cut-off is as to the qualification of "old guy," but I think I am in the no-man's land in between. Been there for a while and I assume that one morning I will wake up and realize I'd been past that point for a few years, BUT I have sold off quite a few over the past several years and can empathize with the quandary.

For a long time, I couldn't afford anything. Then, I started getting to where I could save for a bit and get something. The previous "lean years" instilled a mentality that when I saw something I wanted, I should grab it immediately and I ended up with a lot of stuff other people thought was the berries and it felt good having it in the safe. It got o the point that all my spare cash went to guns and nothing to moulds, holsters, slings, powder and so forth. I had too many to use and enjoy and most sat in the safe. There was certainly not enough time to take them all out and spend time getting to know them like I would have liked to either.

A career change - to do something I always wanted to do and which lets me pay forward what put me into a very good income for over twenty years set me WAY back on current income, It was sort of the same type of decision regarding what to sell off and it actually led to the same.

When it came right down to it, what guns I personally really liked and used most was some of the less desirable (to others) and less costly to acquire. I started moving things that didn't get used and I don't regret it. I have a small handful that gets used and properly cared for and I enjoy them. I have gotten better with the few I can actually spend some time with and I have the memory and experience of having tried some pretty nice stuff over the years. I load and cast for a few guns and I can focus on them more meanigfully.

It's actually a big load off my shoulders to not wonder when I will get to used some new acquisition or when I could afford a scope or holster or new mould for it. With component porces what they are today, it's even more liberating.

I won't say this is going to be the case for everyone, but it was for me. Some fellas like having a safe full of treasured old pieces which were the reward for patience and perseverance and if that's what makes them happy, then that's what they should do.

[6pt-sika]

6pt- when you head over to the Eastern Shore, give me a shout. If you go via 50 and the Bay Bridge (unless you have a boat!), you literally pass about 200 yards from my bedroom window. We have lots of cold beer here...

I'll pass you atleast 6 times coming and going !

One day to scout and hang stands , another day for ML and a third day for gun !

I used to hunt a bit south of you in Charles County as well . About a mile from Bud's Creek .

[LAH]

I have no problem selling guns. If they don't shoot tight groups, depending on type of rifle or sixgun, they go down the road.

[TXGunNut]

I'm concentrating on a few selected rifles lately and it has occurred to me that many of my guns seldom leave the safe. I've considered selling a few but every time I try lately I can't get an offer anywhere near what I consider to be fair. A few very sellable rifles also have reloading dies and components that would become near worthless without the rifle so I guess whatever heirs I have will have to figure out what to do about it.

[kenyerian]

I'm 59 (and holding) and I'm still buying but I also enjoy trading and gunshows. I just replaced one that I had regretted trading in the 70's. An TC Contender in 22 hornet. Now I'm looking for a flat top 44 mag and I think i would really enjoy a 17 Hornet and I wouldn't mind trading .. So many guns and such little time.

[bigbear]

I'm 59 (and holding) and I'm still buying but I also enjoy trading and gunshows. I just replaced one that I had regretted trading in the 70's. An TC Contender in 22 hornet. Now I'm looking for a flat top 44 mag and I think i would really enjoy a 17 Hornet and I wouldn't mind trading .. So many guns and such little time.
I had forgotten all about my need for a flat top 44mag pistol, 5" barrel would be grand but 6" will do fine, thanks for reminding me.

[jethunter]

Be careful, it costs more to buy them back.

[TXGunNut]

Be careful, it costs more to buy them back.



And the clean ones get harder to find.

[bigbear]

[smilie=p: I realized the fever has broken. Cleaning rifles in the batty cave ,listening to James McMurty "Live in Aught Three" now that I found the batty cave hand me down stereo remote after looking for it for a month(fell behind the reloading books, stacked on the coffee cans filled with once fired brass)... it came upon me with a smile. The illness has passed. I bought a new safe two weeks ago ( it was on sale, what the heck was I supposed to do, they only had two, and I can give it to one of my sons if I find I don't need it) reasonable , right. The I ordered a refurb, all matching Mosin Nagant sniper rifle with original scope for a real bargoon price (I mean, how ya gonna pass that by!!??). Going to book some over time and extra saturday work hours. What kind of fool would stop buying new toys ( oops, TOOLS I meant to say) or God forbid, sell a treasure. Thanks for all the get well cards.:drinks:

[Lonegun1894]

Glad you recovered from your illness. I understand the temptation, but as was said by several wise members, it is to be avoided if possible. Hope you never feel that sick again.

[6pt-sika]

I had forgotten all about my need for a flat top 44mag pistol, 5" barrel would be grand but 6" will do fine, thanks for reminding me.

Had one circa 1957 and sold it about a year ago for three times what I paid for it 3 short years earlier :drinks:

[rdlange]

I buy them, shoot them, if I like I keep, if not they go. I don't 'collect'. Get too many 'anything', then I select and let the extras go to good homes. Have kept a couple that were my 'firsts' of type, but still the ones I use. As my interests/needs change so do my shooters. All once belonged to someone else, so why not let them move on when I have no more use for them. Oh, I'm a senior too.

[bigbear]

I buy them, shoot them, if I like I keep, if not they go. I don't 'collect'. Get too many 'anything', then I select and let the extras go to good homes. Have kept a couple that were my 'firsts' of type, but still the ones I use. As my interests/needs change so do my shooters. All once belonged to someone else, so why not let them move on when I have no more use for them. Oh, I'm a senior too.

"when I have no more use for them."I don't understand this concept which appears to be my problem. Those that shoot well, can't let go, obviously! those that don't shoot really well, well they are projects to work on! Been at this long enough I don't buy many bad guns (study em up before I buy them). Maybe when I retire and have time to shoot more, I can bring myself to cull more.:mrgreen::Fire:

[TXGunNut]

Agreed, bigbear. Sometimes decoration for dinner parties is the only use I have for a rifle or handgun. That's a use, right?

[bigbear]

Agreed, bigbear. Sometimes decoration for dinner parties is the only use I have for a rifle or handgun. That's a use, right?

:drinks:Finally, someone who talks my language!

[Lonegun1894]

I will second this. I mean, which one of us can honestly say he really couldn't use a nice new "BBQ Gun"?

[Longwood]

If I had all I used to have,,,, I would need way too much space.
I buy them,,, play with them until I get bored with them, then sell them to get new ones.
:Fire:

Egad,,, I found an app on my phone that make me look "OLD".
It's called a camera.

[bigbear]

I will second this. I mean, which one of us can honestly say he really couldn't use a nice new "BBQ Gun"?

This is a new category to me. Please clarify, it may just be the excuse I need to go gun shopping again. I get out my Webber kettle whenever my kids come for a visit and grill up some elk steaks, moose sauages and a salmon for special occasions. Alsa they don't visit too often as they live thousands of miles away. But a gun just for those days while I sit in the yard tending the coals sounds pretty nice. I live in the country so no worry about "old man with gun calls":bigsmyl2:

So what do you recommend, I figure a 32-20 would be about perfect???