Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Question on advertising guns

How come, when some people advertise a gun for sale, they will say the firearm came from an estate or a friend who recently died or something like that. For instance, at our local club, a person selling a rifle advertised " got this rifle from the estate of an older fellow who recently died, I dont think he shot it very much".

WTF, over? Does the fact (?) that the previous owner is now deceased put a premium on the price or somehow increase the quality of the firearm? I see this all the time and just wonder about it.

Lies, more lies and damn lies. I'd bet half the time, it is the actual owner, it don't shoot for schidt, he gets to say when you bring it back complaining, "Well, I never shot it, I got from Fudd's wife when he croaked, I had no idea it was a piece of schidt with a 1/4" excessive headspace."

It may be their way of saying they don't know dick about it.

That's a distinct possibility. Almost daily we read right here on these pages of one of our esteemed members sending a dud "down the road."

Gives the seller a chance to touch up the bluing and the stock and able to avoid answering any questions about it.

In some cases it may be to forestall someone asking "Why are you selling it?", which can be annoying.

Well played. I had a table adjoining a fella at the Big Reno Show, in 3 1/2 days he never told the same story twice about any rifle on his table. It was kind of fun to listen to his yarns, I think he owned a pawnshop. Hmmm.

To avoid any personal responsibility.

Literally the most annoying question ever. What difference does it make, it’s for sale?

Additionally I’m on board with the “don’t know dick about it” boys. Honestly it’s usually because they got it at an auction or from some rando and felt they could make a couple bucks and that gives them plausible deniability.

If the doctor ever gives me the bad news, I'm gonna have a pre-estate sale.


To me, those little sayings are red flags about the veracity of the seller - "I don't think", "doesn't look like it's been shot much". Great, so you cleaned it and put some oil on it.

It might very well be a slightly used firearm, or it could be well used but well cared for with decades of life left in it, but unless someone knows its history for a fact don't regale me with your speculation and try to pass that off like it's some kind of iron clad certification.

if th e gun is bought off the estate of a dead man, the 4473 dies with the guy. gun lot harder to trace.

Funny you should post this; had a cheap $250 pump shotgun advertised locally; got this inquiry. My listing had good pics and acknowlgded not perfect condion; but clean and functioning.Sheesh; I mean what was it used for? Shooting shotgun shells ,maybe??

"Interested in the pump 20guage.
Are you the only owner?
How long have you had it?
What was it used for?
Why are you selling?
Everything working?
No squeaking?
No rust?"

I can’t help but be an [bleep] in response to those questions.

Most everything I've ever listed online
brought out every tirekicker in the nation.
Sold more things through the old free
sale papers that used to be everywhere
Nowadays there's a gazillion and one
"bored " basement dwellers looking online
for whatever they can see whether they're
truly interested in purchasing or not.
I can see how people get angry and frustrated
with people asking a bunch of questions
when you know blessed a-well they're not
really looking to buy anything.
It's much the same at gun shows around
here any more.