AC, it just crushes me to hear of your situation. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

We first registered on AR about two weeks apart back in 2001. Since then I've come to respect your experience and opinions and to look forward to your participation on so many threads. I haven't given up on you yet but I just wanted you to know just how big a space you fill here. Thank you for graciously sharing your time and ideas with me.

If I were in your shoes now, I'd probably be asking YOU how to handle this. It breaks my heart to hear you asking for this kind of advice. If you need any practical help (cataloging items, contacting auction houses, etc) please let me know. I have time right now and I'd be more than willing to help out in any way I can.

All the best to you my friend,
Forrest Bruch

So sorry to hear this news. While I would love to look at an inventory of what you have accumulated and am more than sure that I'd be honoured to add many of those items to my personal collection, that all pales in significance.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We wish you Godspeed. Keep the wind in your face.

The best of luck to you at this difficult time.
Jd

I guess first is to inventory everything and categorize it if you can get it all into a spread sheet.
Then assign approximate street values.
There are some things that go together that are worthless when separated. Parts of loading tools need to be kept together. Special scope bases go with the rings. See if you can organize any items that you have like that.

Find out the cost of an auction house based on your inventory.

Find find a friend or family memember to help photograph the stuff if you decide to control the sales yourself. Dedicate a table and a camera and tripod. Get some one to help set the lighting. Find a teenager or friend that can take all the photos and manage the computer listings.

Write down instructions and try to let them do the job. If it does not work the auction house can always be a fall back position.

Some special things you will want to handle yourself.
Some things you will trust to family and friends.
Some things will just be stuff that can be listed on Gunbroker or Ebay by anyone.
Some specialty items can be targeted to particular boards if you know a good price and just want to list it.
Cast Boolits is a good place for any kind reasonable bullet mold. If they do not sell there you can default to Ebay.

Inventory and assign values.
Organize related items.
Write instructions -
Have a order of precedence for handling some items
Get some help
Have fall back plans - several levels if need be.

While I seem to be good with words in most situations, situations like this always leave me at a loss for words. So I will simply say, I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers in the days to come. Your post does serve to remind all of us that so many of the issues that upset us, occupy our time and attention, distract us, are really so petty and insignificant in the overall scheme of things. For that reminder and the perspective it provides, thank you. Godspeed.

AC, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

AC:

I hope your condition improves, there has been many a person the Docs consigned to the bone pile that lived many years past their declaration.

However, assuming the worst, if I were you, I would be concerned that time might not allow an auction to be completed. If you want reasonably accurate values for your items, then you will need to use a major auction house, not some local. I note this since a major auction house will require several months to catalog, sell, etc. Given that I would begin to make arrangements with one with the idea that someone else may have to finish the process. I would suggest that you spend an hour or so a day giving history, values, etc of the major items to a loved one or a trusted friend, preferably one who knows firearms enough to understand what you're saying.

If you are in a rush, I know of at least one guy in Dallas that will give you a fair bid for the whole bunch of firearms and pay upon your acceptance, not so sure about the accessories and loading materials. This might not get you the maximum return but it would get it done. I have purchased quite a few guns from this guy but have zero business or personal relationship with him. I know there are others that do the same thing but don't know any names.

I stress that if at all possible you need to put reasonable values on as many items as you can as soon as you can. There are dozens if not hundreds of true stories of unscrupulous individuals scooping up valuable firearms, etc from surviving relatives at pennies on the dollar who had no clue about the value.

AC First let me say that I've enjoyed your input and experience. It saddens me to hear your health hasn't turned around.

I just went through this a few years ago with a close friend. His time was way to short to get things taken care of ahead of time. I asked him to catalog what he had that he wanted to bequeath to family and friends. Then to continue with the rest as he saw fit with approx values. The sale of his accumulation continued well after his passing and deposits were made to an account from the FFL. If you don't have an FFL willing you may just make arraingements with one and allow a family member access to post here as they can.

You will be missed. Nate

Sorry to hear this... you have been on the forum a long time. Im praying for you. Remember there are worse things then death... one being not living when one had life...

http://www.durysguns.com/ buys collections. Tom Gresham sold his father Grits Gresham's guns through them I do believe. You may get in contact with them.

Blessings on you!
Pastor Aaron

While I don't know you I do pray for you. I agree with the previous poster who said there are things worse than death. The worst is not being ready. Spend your last days talking with the ones you love and with God. God will get you and your family through this. He will also work out the sale of your collection, if you ask and put your faith in Him.

God Bless you and yours,
Doug

Alberta

I dont know what to say friend, but there is lots of good advice here. If by chance you need anything let me know Ill do what I can.

Your friend Cal30

Few days ago I was going over the PMs that I had with various members here on AR. and I came across our thread. For some strange reason I felt compelled to read through it and reflect on the subjects we discussed beside the deal that was going on at the time.

My friend if you still have some of those good 9.3x74R 286 Norma bullets left I would like to purchase few boxes more when all is well and you recover. Because I am a firm believer, that all things are possible in God through Christ Jesus for them that believe.

My prayers are with you and your family and God's peace be on you.

God bless you and heal you.


Best regards

Malek
Good shooting/hunting and God's best

So sorry to hear this. May the Spirit of The Lord be with and comfort you and your family.

AC
From one Canuck to another, my prayers go out to you and your family.

I too will miss AC's knowledge and related experiences with "the nice toys" and his even handed voice on this board.
AR will surely be diminished in his absence.

AC, I can't tell you how sad reading this makes me. You'll be in my family's prayers tonight.

If you have a trusted friend that would be willing to handle the disposition for you, then your options are open. If not, then I would suggest an auction locally. I would recommend you not being present during the event though. My dad made that mistake when he sold off his shop equipment.

AC my thoughts are with you and your loved ones. Godspeed. Chris

quote:

I guess first is to inventory everything and categorize it if you can get it all into a spread sheet.
Then assign approximate street values.
There are some things that go together that are worthless when separated. Parts of loading tools need to be kept together. Special scope bases go with the rings. See if you can organize any items that you have like that.

This is key. Until you have a good handle on what you have and its approximate value, you'll be going from pillar to post and be apt to get screwed over or under by whomever you are dealing with. Only once you know what you've got and have it in front of you can you make a good decision on the route to go—and you might go several routes depending on what you've got.

Some family circumstances may dictate what you do as well. If you're not in immediate need of the funds and have a close family member experienced in business and guns and you have a lot of better pieces, then you might be able to handle things by a piecemeal sale and get more money. If not, maybe a sale of the collection or an auction is the way to go. I can refer you to someone in the Dallas/Fort Worth area who from time to time buys whole firearms collections.

Best wishes and godspeed.

LWD

Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

AC, If you know Jesus as your savior then you have no worries.

If you don't; forget the personal belongings and get to know Jesus.

Either way the stuff you own isn't going to matter.

This is a serious matter and time at hand can't be wasted. If I can be of service just let me know. I too have greatly enjoyed your input here and always new it would be good reading when I saw your avitar. You will be in my Prayers!

God Bless, Louis

Last I looked James Julia Auction and Poulins were offering free from the seller end.

Since I first joined here many years ago, I quickly found the few who stood out above the crowd -- the good guys, if you will. And you have always been near the top of that short list. Friend, my prayers go out to you and your family in this difficult time. I wish I lived closer or coud travel as I'd be honored to help in any small way that I could. So instead, I will lift you up in prayer and continue to look forward to your posts here.

And, like someone else mentioned, the doctors are not always right, either. And even when they are, sometimes God has a plan other than what has been predicted.

On a cold, dreary night nine years ago, we were given horrible news and told that if we intended to baptize our twins, now -- at almost midnight -- was the time as the morning would likely be too late. Today, even their specialists are amazed and can offer no medical explanation.

I will pray and ask my family and friends to do the same and ask God's healing hands to see you through.

Stay strong, my friend. Stay strong...

I have seen his very sad situation a few times, mostly when I was collecting S&Ws.

One major collector died suddenly. He sold half his collection through Amoskeag Auctions and the other half through a SWCA dealer to SWCA members. I saw other collectors sell just through an auction house and some sell just through S&W collector dealers. If you have a lot of guns and items you can certainly haggle on the sellers premium. Having seen all of these situation I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you sell through an auction house to avoid hastles for your family.

My thoughts are with you and your family.

Canuck,

What sad news! You will be missed here. Let's hope things aren't as bad as they seem but if they are, I hope you have a pleasant and painless journey.

465H&H

Im sorry to hear things have gone this direction. I agree that you and the family have better things to do with the time left than deal with this. auctions would be good in that regard but they do take a hefty bite, around 30 percent at times. I know a couple folks who buy entire collections. I will try and put them in touch. If I can help in any way let me know. May you and your family spend the last times together laughing and remembering all the good things in your life. If you put it out through an auction house make sure that it is one of the larger auctions. More and higher end items means more interest and attraction. Also don't let things go for peanuts. Set minimums with the auctioneer. If they don't get it, the items go back for a later date. I deal with many of the auction houses out there. Negotiate for the lowest fees just as you would on anything else. I see someone already mentioned RIA, one of many who will come pick it up and handle everything. You want an auction house that specializes in firearms and accessories. You need someone who knows their stuff.

AC I have enjoy your posts,thinking about you and yours.jc

AC,

You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. In this situation, I would recommend turning this matter over to a trusted friend.....communicate your wishes to him/her and focus your energy/attention on your family and getting well. God bless you!

Mike

AC, I have always enjoyed your posts, my thoughts and prayers go out to you. Forrest is good people, in your spot I would trust him to help me.

Dave

AC sorry to hear about this. Quite unfortunate. If you choose to offer your stuff here I would be proud to own one of your rifles.
Regards
Tim

AC
My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

May God be with you .

Alex

AC, sorry to hear. I am local in PHX and will offer to help in some way. I know lots of shooters and hunters. What about Cabelas?

You have my fervent prayerful support. If buying a rifle or two would be of assistance count me in.

A lot of your suggestions are worthwhile and appreciated but are beyond my ability. I cannot inventory my stuff because I do not have the physical strength to do it.. I have decided not to sell it piecemeal because I do not have the physical strength left to do that either.

So, my best friend is coming up from Tucson next Tusday to meet with me and several folks from Riata Pass Auctions (which also has an auction house in California). They will apparently do the inventory for me.

Then after the auction the things which do not meet the reserves will likely be transfered to another friend who is a local store-front gun shop owner. That way I will not have to 4473 them all back into my possession, my wife will get a check for the things which do sell at the reserve or higher, and the local shop can pay her as and when the rest of the stuff sells.

I want you guys to know how much I miss your company here on line. I also miss being able to shoot any more. I shot from one to six days a week for over 50 years and loved almost every minute of it. I didn't enjoy every minute of being a national team member because of the politics of it, but it was still well worth doing and I learned from it.

The major thought I would leave all of you with is to NOT fill your minds or souls with hate for any group...liberals, illegal immigrants, or anyone else. Our democracy, our country, and out freedom depends on accepting the outcomes of votes, followed by the actual support of the wishes of the voters until a next election, by which time we may be able to convince them to vote things OUR way.

And, a thought which I know will be very unpopular here... The NFA of 1934 established Class III weapons law ammonst other things. Much of a PITA as that was/is, it has maintained the rights of us to own machine guns, etc., at all for over 70 years, with none of the legally owned Class III stuff ever being involved in violent felonies. If Class III comes to include semi-auto "assault rifles", it may well be the very process which protects our right to own THEM for the next 70 years as well.

Our government is what WE each, individually, make of it. Substituting hatred of other groups and/or of our government in general will only lead to anarchy, more violence, and a loss of freedom in general for everyone.

BTW, as a 32-degree Mason, I have no fear of death, though I DO greatly fear the process of dying. So far it is neither comfortable nor calm. Being smothered by one's own malfunctioning heart is not a thing I would see happen to any of you.

Hopefully I will get to speak with you guys a bit more here, but if I do not, live with grace and pleasure, and pass in peace when your times come.

AC

You`ll be sorely missed Canuck!! See you on a cloud one of these days. Not too far behind you I fear! God Speed.
Aloha,mark

Of all the things I am sure of, if we are born...we will eventually pass from this life.

I have always had a good opinion of your posts and your character. You are definitely a class act and will be missed not only by those who frequent this site, but I am sure by all of those whose lives you have touched.

Please let us know what we can do to help even if it is just to spread the word about when and where the auction takes place. The more bidders and more interest...the better for you.

Sincerely,

Matt Moore

AC, Very sorry to hear about your situation. I will keep you in my thoughts.
Tom

Shame.

quote:

Originally posted by Badger Matt:
Just a quick, albeit uninvited, observation. You are a man of character; caring for others instead of yourself. I'll include you in prayers and lift a glass to a class act. Well done.

Fair winds and following seas...

I could not have said it any better.
Prayers and best wishes to you and yours.

muck

AC,
I am too new to this forum to have a history with you, but after reading all the above comments, I realize that I am diminished by your illness. If your books are ever catalogued for sale, I would deeply appreciate a posting or link on this forum. Each passing year brings more empty chairs at the table. Godspeed to you, and His comforting grace to your loved ones.
Tim

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
And, a thought which I know will be very unpopular here... The NFA of 1934 established Class III weapons law ammonst other things. Much of a PITA as that was/is, it has maintained the rights of us to own machine guns, etc., at all for over 70 years, with none of the legally owned Class III stuff ever being involved in violent felonies. If Class III comes to include semi-auto "assault rifles", it may well be the very process which protects our right to own THEM for the next 70 years as well.

That is a very interesting thing to consider. The NFA was passed more than 30 years before we had the creation of the current FFL system. Upon reflection, I think it would be worth using the Class III system to include semi-auto "assault rifles" if we could abolish the gun control act of 1968. I wouldn't mind paying the one-time tax for an AR if, as a trade-off, I could legally purchase lever action and bolt action rifles from out of state and through the mail without having to use a licensed dealer.