Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Emotional Stress when thinning the heard

About 10 or 12 years ago, a female co-worker's husband was found murdered and floating in a creek near their home. He was quite the avid collector of all kinds of stuff. He had an extensive and quite eclectic collection of arms.

I had always been very kind to her, so she approached me about what she should do with her husband's stuff. When I asked her about his arms, she said that she hadn't a clue about what he had or the value of them. I suggested that she let me help her to dispose of them for her.

It worked out great. He had some very fine pieces, as well as some rare and even weird (to me) stuff. I had to do some research to find values and what not. I ended up spending some time on this. She repaid me by giving me my choice of a dozen of whatever I wanted from the collection, and I would arrive at the office with wads of cash for her on a regular basis. She was well pleased, and so were my kids and I.

My daughter got a Browning 22 LR that was sleek and very nicely done. The shells fed through a hole in the side of the stock and she also got a very nice Model 7 in 243. My youngest son got a Remington Model 1100 in 410 and a Ranch rifle in 223. My older two kids got some good stuff as well, but my memory eludes me on exactly what, except that my older son did get a M1 Carbine that was in great shape. He still has it. I got a Colt Sauer in 06 (smoothest bolt action I have handled to this day), a Browning A5 in 12 ga, a Dissipator and a older Colt AR with the NAM look, and a AR Pistol with a LOUD 7 1/2" barrel (what use is it?) as well as a few more that went down the road. And lest I forget, I also got a real deal Thompson Chicago Typewriter in 45 acp (semi-auto only) that shot very nicely from the hip at reasonable ranges. I parted with it, but now wish that I had kept it, even though I only had the stick mags for it. A drum would have been nice.

My point is; if you pass on, and your wife does not know what your collection is worth, she could be taken advantage of. I would not have charged Sue a dime for helping her, but she loved me and my family because we had been very good to her over time and she knew she could trust us. She also knew that I was into firearms in a big way, and that I knew far more about them than she or her daughters did.

Unless your wife has someone that she can trust to help her dispose of your arms, or unless she knows the values herself, you will be doing what is best for her now to dispose of some of your darlings.

I know it's difficult. If a gun is reliable and shoots really well, they stay here, even if it's ugly and means more cash shelled out for another safe, but they are, after all, just tools that we use for a purpose (I can't believe I just wrote that!). Do what is best for the one that you love the most...that's the bottom line... in my mind. I will be 58 in a couple of weeks. It will be time for me to begin whittling away at my stuff soon too. Heck...I could buy a nice custom home from the proceeds if I divested myself of everything, but I don't want another home to maintain.

I feel your pain. I too have been attempting to downsize a little. The ones I'm currently down to are like my kids. Here is a link from David Petzal's "Gun Nut" blog at field and stream that touches on this. http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/gun-nuts/2012/06/which-ones-sell

There are a few I regret selling after the fact, years later, but a few times it was either sell a rifle or lose a roof. Easy choice there.

I think if I was like probably the majority of hunters in the US and only hunted deer locally or maybe in a few places, I'd stick to 2. A main, a back up, lets go hunt. With the variety I hunt I probably COULD get away with 2 as well, but at least in my mind something will always be lacking, and over kill/under kill. You know, the typical thoughts of us gun nuts lol. But I really am trying to whittle things down lately. I'm trying to get it down to 2 rifles for small/med game, and 2 rifles for med/large game.

I know a good counselor....it will only cost ...ahem...5 0r 10 rifles...

A couple of years ago I helped a lady sell off some of her deceased husbands guns. To him it was his "collection" and he had some fine rifles. To her it was just stuff. She was also afraid someone would break into the house and steal it, putting her at risk. She got a nice big check out of the deal and peace of mind. The local gun dealer got some new inventory that brought folks into his store. It was a win/win for both. kwg

I have sold a bunch of my prized guns over the years mostly to pay medical bills for my wife. I feel a bit of a pang when boxing up some of them like my Marlin Marauder 35 and Browning 1886 SRC, but as has been stated so well already, they are just things. Besides, even the very rare ones can usually be replaced with a little effort and patience.

that's exactly what I'm sayin'...:-)

Nice Mustang......

Shoulda kept this one......

Sometimes I'll sell for a specific reason. A few years ago I sold about $12K worth of guns, ammo scopes, dies, etc to fund an equipment purchase I didn't want to go in debt for. Lost some nice customs, a 4" stainless Python, a Sako 22-250, some real beauties. Never looked back since my ultimate goal was met. I view guns as better than money in the bank but fluid enough to generate quick cash with. Banks pay what, 1%?! I think I'll buy guns thanks.

On October 1 of this year I owned 58 guns.

On October 26 of this year I owned 45 guns.

On October 29 of this year I paid off the last $30,000.00 of my mortgage with the money from the guns I sold.

I don't miss the guns, or the mortgage, a bit. What emotional stress?

Mortgage free is a good place to be. Nicely done.

That was a smart use of your rifles. I was thinking home remodeling.

Been enjoying this tread. Something I think about often now that I'm pushing 60 years of age. One of the things I suggested to my wife if I pass first, is to have every scope taken off the hunting rifles I own and put them on ebay one at a time. It's amazing what used higher quality scopes go for on ebay. Also keeps her from getting ripped off on a expensive scope on a rifle when she sold the rifle.

Heck,
I have 7 centrefires, a rimfire and three o/u shotguns .....and I think I have TOO many.......

thanks guys for putting my collection into perspective!!!!!
Gus