Don't write off the possibility that some of your children will come back around to shooting/hunting later in their lives.
I grew up going to the range and hunting, but got away from it in college. My Dad, who is now gone, told me that once I got married I'd start to rekindle an interest in shooting, etc.. He was right and I'm glad he kept that stuff for me.

I bet if you think back to your 20s- 30s, many of you will remember being busy with school, playing sports, dating, trying to get ahead at work, raising families, and so forth.

I can see where it makes sense to pare down a big collection, but I'd set aside at least a couple special guns on the chance they're wanted later.

I wish for all of you a lot of moons in your future. The last few years I had to liquidate two gun collections my uncle's and a dear friend/hunting partner. To be honest it was a burden, don't get me wrong I love guns and hunting but it takes a lot of time, effort, commitment and responsibility. Since I'am not an FFL dealer, it took me the better part of two years to liquidate everything including knife collections. Mostly to work associates, running a table at a gun show for the first time and GunsAmerica. I was grateful that the deceased entrusted me with their collections but I think they knew their family did not care about the guns just the money. I'am the only one who they knew that is gun savy and trusting. I did not keep or buy one gun for myself from the collections so they didn't think I gave myself a deal. Most important they were patient and I got them fair market value. Infact I had the checks written directly to the widows name so they didn't think I took a commission. Now I'am also going to be in the same boat since no one else in my family is into guns or hunting. When you start looking at the money invested in guns and related equipment, all from the fruits of your labor. You want it's value spent to your satisfaction and not squandered off by trustees at a fraction of the cost.
Make a detailed list of all your possessions small or large including pictures with supporting documents, certificates, receipts of custom work and a little history on each item. Update values every couple of years. If you are lucky to have family or friends that you are willing to give items to, call them all in and settle on who gets what and document it. So no future issues will develop and cause a strife in the family. If a friend showed interest in a gun settle on a price and annotate the details on paper.
List multiple resources for liquidating set items starting by your favorite and most trusting. If you can find gun shops that will sell for 20% or less consignment fee do it. Be aware not all gun shops are knowledgable in every type of gun, especially the high end customs that we have. Find resources for that and note it.
If you don't have any one to give your valued possessions to, here is what I would do. Figure out what form of the shooting sport you are most into and will be able to indulge in for quite some time. Keep the creme of the crop or ones with most personal value/sentimental etc... Start thinning the herd knowing you'll still continue to buy because its in your blood. But mostly don't lose focus you have to sell more than buy. Start treating yourself to some quality hunts from sales. Don't feel guilty you earned it. Build as many memories as you can now because you can't take it with you.
Charles

I started last year. I signed a contract to work offshore for a year. I have no wife, no children and have a pretty large collection due to the fact that both grandfathers and my father left me the guns they had and I have been buying them myself for 35 years.
I sold 30 guns and basically got a years wages for them. I'm probably going to sell another 30 when I return home.
I used a 'broker'. I give him the guns, he charges 10% commission, he gets all the headaches and I get a check sent to the bank.
I think it is better that way, as he is 'up' on the current prices, he does not have an emotional attachment to a gun that I might have and he gets to deal with the a$$holes. I have no time for someone who wants to run down something I'm selling at a fair price because he wants a 'deal'.

This topic sure has promoted a lot of wisdom from the forum members.It's somewhat ironic that while buying guns over a period of years is a pleasurable experience, the resulting collection seems, at times, to be kinda a burden as the number of days gets shorter. Everyone appreciates and knows the necessity of money and I'm sure that most gun owners have had a case of seller's remorse even though selling the gun was the right thing to do at the time. I guess that the best any gun owner can hope for is that the guns will go to someone who will use and appreciate them.