I've been thinking about how to start liquidating a gun collection of 50 years. There are pleasant memories associated with each rifle and handgun. It's a tough situation mentally to give up a nice piece of wood and steel and there are always some guns in the collection that will never be sold. It's just a situation when one realizes that the alloted time above ground is getting quite short. Any thoughts on this from other members?

The time is when you decide. Start with a list of what stays in the family and who gets them. Then watch the gun market and sell the rest when you can get a good price.

I began to reduce the size of my gun accumulation several years ago. Osteoarthritis and a damaged right eye have eliminated the prospect of further competetive shooting, so my target rifles are being whittled down. Also a number of projects I now realize I will never complete are being eliminated.

Also some expensive "safe queens" which I bought because they appealed to me aesthetically have been put on the block. I am spurred on to a certain extent by the thought that whatever I leave undone, my oldest son will have to deal with. None of my three sons is interested in hunting or shooting.

However, I am still acquiring a few select guns, and as long as I keep the ratio of sells to buys better than two to one, I think I am accomplishing something, in effect reducing quantity in favor of quality.

To answer your question, I am 73, and this process has been going on for about three years now.

My sons and I have already divided the guns up. Most I have given to each of them, I've only kept four (my Ruger Mark IV 22 pistol, Springfield LongSlide in 45 Super, 500 Jeffery and 270 Weatherby Magnum Mark V). Of those 4, the two pistols have already been "spoken for" in the original "divvying up", and the two rifles will be sold with proceeds going to my wife. Both boys have a BDL in 270 and no one wants to shoot the 500 Jeffery lol ...
Had a close call a year and a half ago, so got my affairs in order ... No plan to check out soon, but it's nice to know things are handled.

My plan is to let the kids decide what they want and then sell the rest. Collecting has been a lot of fun for me as I learned a great deal from the hobby. It does sound like fun though doing the gun-show and Gun Broker thing. -Rob

While I am not looking to Die anytime soon, I now have adult Children (3 girls and 1 Boy).
When They visited last week I took them out to the range to go shooting with dad. We took about 1000 rounds with us and made it a day with lunch. I watched them shoot everything then start to gravitate to their favorites I began to train each on on that weapon. As we were driving home I told them the evenings chore was to clean everything...When we got home I surprised them with " you are responsible for cleaning yours" and presented them with the Handgun they Gravitated to. I also gave them the Leather and Ammo for those weapons.
My girls were so touched that I had given them the tools and training to protect themselves with they cried, and hugged and kissed me.
I would have missed that if I had waited till I was dead....Now we all have a reason to go shooting together. Next time I will do the rifles...Holding back just my favorites.

Hans

Thanks to everyone --some good advice. The great thing about an interest in firearms is that there is always something new to learn--kinda like working with computers

I have one adult son and a few years ago asked him which ones that he really wanted. I set those aside, I then sold ten that have not seen the light of day in years and bought a double rifle which I used on last years ele hunt. I am about to sell a bunch more "safe queens" and hopefully take myself another trip for ele/buff. I have collected for years but now feel like I am on overload with "stuff". I will be spending the rest of my days USEING the few (15-20?) remaining guns on hunting trips paid for by the rest! Only YOU will know when the time is right.

I have tried to apply the 18 month rule, if you haven't hunted or shot it in 18 months is it a keeper ?
I have some that this rule does not apply to.
I always seem to trade one for another and the quantity never seems to go down.
My gun safe is full.

Nitro

My kids do not have the same passion for hunting or shooting that I do, and my concern has always been that if I "bought it" unexpectedly they would pretty much "get taken" by whoever it was they use to dispose of them. So with that in mind, I sold off all my "collector" grade stuff. My M1D, 1903A4, and a few vintage Winchesters are gone. The only collectible I have left is a 1st year production Gold Cup 1911, and only cause I still shoot it!

When the first shovel full of dirt hits your coffin.

Walk to your gunvault, open it and look at every rifle. When looking/handling one does not bring back good memories, you can safely dispose of that one.

Rich

works for me

I don't know. I tried that once and got rid of a pile of long guns. Then I ended up getting more. Only consolation is that I went from more guns to better guns.

If I try it again I guess I will just have to get rid of all of them and have the one ULTIMATE gun made in their place.

That is a tough question and most of us will have to answer it to ourselves at some point. I have two sons and one has no interest in guns or hunting and the other goes hunting/shooting with me once in awhile but certainly not a gun enthusiast like many here. One thing is for sure, if you leave your guns to a family member that knows little to nothing about them they will be sold eventually and the sharks will be waiting....so do them a favor and sell them yourself and leave them cash instead...they will get more of it. I know many people that were scalped by both "friends of the family" and collectors/auctioneers/pawnshops alike.....they can be ruthless to unsuspecting sellers. If you don't want to sell and leave cash, at the very least either point them (or leave a note) to someone you trust that can assist them OR leave a list of what you got and a fair market value for it....hinting at sites such as gunbroker/guns america/accurate reloading etc. for a DIY listing. You will rest better if you know someone is not having a last laugh on you.

Don't assume that your family doesn't want your guns. This is a good conversation to have with your spouse, kids and other relations now rather than later. If anyone has interest, make sure you document who gets what and give everyone a copy. That way when you go you don't leave behind misunderstandings and hurt feelings.
Might not be a bad idea to make an inventory, check prices on gunbroker and document that as well. And if any of those have a special meaning to you, write that down also. Some of my rifles have notes like "This was Walter II's deer rifle. He bought it new in 1937 and hunted with it until he couldn't see the sights anymore".
You may be surprised how much a firearm means to someone if they know some of it's history.

Hi all,

I, too, began reducing my meager collection rather inadvertantly. I have 9 daughters and only one is interested in shooting, hunting or concealed carry, and she does. My guns seem to leave the house whenever this next-to-the-youngest has a whim to shoot. Well, ear protection, ammunition and targets, too. I only get to visit once in a while and she lets me shoot her guns. The disadvantage and advantage of living only a few miles apart. I do not begrudge her any of my guns she fancies and always feel 1 for 9 is OK.

Luck,

Stephen

I know for a fact I have less than 5 years left.

So I know I should be selling rifles right and left starting a few years ago. Even knowing that, the only things I have managed to part with are two still-NIB collector's pistols, and a military surplus rifle.

Problem is, with various health concerns interrupting, about the only things I have left to enjoy are the memories my rifles bring back, and the recreation I get from using and caring for them still a bit.

I do have some concerns about my family getting shafted by whoever they turn to, to off-load my toys after I am gone.

But, when all the nut-cutting is done and we're down to bare facts, it was & is their choice not to learn anything about guns or show any interest in them whatsoever, not even as investments. So I guess it is their decision to leave many thousand dollars on the table for someone else when I am gone.

Heartless? No. Every action (or lack of action) has its consequences. I've invited them numberless times to go to gun shows, matches, hunts, all sorts of gun activities with me. Offered to teach them reloading, how to shoot, and such basic things as how to defend themselves in case of an attack on them.

No dice. They're into big-money horses, and firmly believe no one would ever try to hurt THEM. They are such NICE people, don'tcha know.... Lunch at the Biltmore is so much more genteel than the nasty old rifle range or a dirty, primitive, hunting camp with no running water, automatic dishwasher, queen-sized beds, or flush toilets.

Anyway, I have stated in my will that my nephew in Canada who heads an RCMP detachment in the far north, and a grand-nephew in southern Alberta who is only 8 years old right now, will get their pick of any and all of my guns they want after I am gone. Both have independently, and against their families' wishes, developed an interest in and love of guns on their own.

The rest will reap the results of the ignorance that they have sown and meticulously cultivated.

AC, really good post and a reaaly realistic way to look at the situation.

Only the rocks live forever and I would rather see my rifles sold so that Lora will not have to deal with that. I have an idea of what the guns are worth and if the money from the sales of those guns provide me and her with a few good times down the road so much the better. I am not giving up yet but I have sold a few guns.

I buy guns to use, if I have a gun that has not killed anything or been out hunting for anything for an extended period of time, I will sell it because my guns were bought for hunting, not just looking at.

Besides, with the condition our country and world are in 10 years from now there may not be any hunting the average person can afford. What good will those rifles be then?

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Besides, with the condition our country and world are in 10 years from now there may not be any hunting the average person can afford. What good will those rifles be then?

Might be the only way you can keep your house or put food on the table

I'm not selling any. I have a letter in the safe and update it yearly not only guns but on all valuables. I have one daughter and if she doesn't want any of them she knows the value and will offer them to my friends and relatives first. But at a fair price.

I'm starting to sell off most of my guns. I'm 70.

Dave

I've tried downsizing several times but gun trading and tinkering is what I enjoy. My wife has a spreadsheet of everything I own, descriptions, serial numbers, wholesale and retail values, etc., and knows how to sell on-line and the name of a reputable gun dealer for consignment purposes when the time comes.

Unless you have a bright son who is really into hunting,who cares what happens to your guns when you are dead?

Although 64, I've had written into my will for over 10 years that my daughter gets first choice of one of my guns. Each grandchild, oldest first, then gets their choice. When this is finished, my son gets all remaining guns. Oh, slings, ammo, cases, scopes, etc., go with each gun. Anything left goes to my son.
My ex-wife has in her will that our daughter gets the china and silver to make up for the numerous guns her brother gets. All seem quite pleased with the arrangement.
A NOTE: Each of the grandkids (youngest 14) have talked to me about which gun they would like. To a person, they've said something to the effect that I should not sell a certain gun they fancy, but they hope they don't get it until they are over 50. Any wonder I love the bunch of them?

I am 67, at 50 my doctor told me I had 6 months to live, obviously he was wrong. My only child lives in Germany & is married to a non hunter. I have a bunch of guns with values from $300-$6,500. This year I decided to start selling 10 guns per year, so far I have sold 6 & bought 8. I have a spread sheet of my guns with their value and my best friend will sell them off when I die.

Some great input--thanks to everyone. A common theme seems to be that many gun enthusiasts do not have any family members with much, if any, interest in hunting , target shooting, or guns in general--such is my case also. It seems like traditional values in this country are fading away and one of the worst things about being old is that you can remember when America was not in the condition that it is in today. One thing for sure , the "golden years" certainly cause mortality to be a major issue. Best wishes to everyone.

Believe me, one day our sons and daughters are really going to find out the true value of owning a few guns. Just have the polititians allow this country to keep going on the path it is currently on and guns will become an invaluable asset....in more ways than one.

Thanks Woodrow S--you are totally correct. Our polititians, with few exceptions, have no interest in the welfare of America--it's all about what is best for them and not the country.I think that the true value of owning guns will come about sooner than we think.

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tom ga hunter: I am 67...I decided to start selling 10 guns per year, so far I have sold 6 & bought 8

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Some great input--thanks to everyone. A common theme seems to be that many gun enthusiasts do not have any family members with much, if any, interest in hunting , target shooting, or guns in general--such is my case also. It seems like traditional values in this country are fading away and one of the worst things about being old is that you can remember when America was not in the condition that it is in today. One thing for sure , the "golden years" certainly cause mortality to be a major issue. Best wishes to everyone.

Just my opinion, but the above is as close to the truth of the matter as it gets.

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Might be the only way you can keep your house or put food on the table

In my opinion, that is a myth. Depending on the outcome of the 2012 election, there may not be an America in 10 years. IMO, we are just now entering hard times for this country and its citizens.

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Depending on the outcome of the 2012 election, there may not be an America in 10 years. IMO, we are just now entering hard times for this country and its citizens.

Sad thing is that for anyone with any common sense...that election is a no brainer. The fact that it is neck-and-neck is what saddens me worse and reiterates Randall's quote above.

Czech Prime Ministe Necas:

It is easier to focus on the puppet in the spotlight, then the puppeters pulling the strings behind the curtain.

I will try to specifically avoid liquidation of any of my gun collection. If I die and my heirs want to liquidate so be it, but if I am still around and can't use them I want my firearms to go to family or friends that will keep them and use them. My Dad still regrets giving firearms to my little brother only to have them sold or traded for something of half the value or less.

I say that liquidation is for the heirs or perhaps from guns that don't have any meaning and could help finance a hunt!

That is indeed wisdom:

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Originally posted by fla3006:
Czech Prime Ministe Necas:

... From my cold, dead hands,
... or when I go blind,
... but I will keep the shotguns if just blind.

great post from fla3006---kinda strange when the "polls" tell us that Congress has a 10% approval rating and yet the same bunch of crooks keep getting elected year after year. The Founding Fathers would be quite disgusted. Obama is a slap in the face to every great American who served and is serving their country in the military.

When my rifles start knocking my crusty old ass outta my Camo 4X4 Power Chair with sandbags on the dash, then I'll start to sell.

JM

You can always leave them to the NRA to sell and continue the fight after your gone.