At the crossroad - milsurp collection

kjohn

kjohn

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SE Sask.
Well boys and girls, I am approaching the intersection where I should start considering what to do about my pile of them old army rifles. Over the past years, since I was about 11 or 12, guns have been a major part of my life. I started with a BB gun that my parents gave me for Christmas, then a Cooey 39 that Dad bought for me on our way out of town to go "chicken hunt'n". From then on it's been a wild ride.

The last thing I would want to have happen is some greedy "dealer" scamming my family. That will not happen. My daughters aren't particularly interested in guns, so that rules that out. One option, I suppose, is to start putting theguns up for auction. Another is to dribble them out on CGN. Putting them on consignment is another way. Keeping and enjoying them until I finally ride off into the sunset is what's happening right now.

I am in reasonably good health, still work Spring and Fall on a big farm, and still spend a lot of my time reading about guns, researching and storing information on a HUGE OneNote file, reloading, shooting and whatever else might be associated with guns. I carried a S&W 5946 for 18 years, working for the RCMP.

Maybe losing Buffdog and smellie has rattled me a little. I lost a good friend some years back, an Indigenous man who was seriously gun crazy, like me. I still have good gunner friends, Deaner being my mainstay when it comes to gunning and ranting about the mess Canada is in right now.

I guess, if I face the facts, it's just the very thought of selling off my guns that chills me to the bone. Some guns in the pile are quite valuable, and a couple are truly "rare". I know there are those who think that having guns that don't get used is ridiculous. Each to his/her own. I think it's just fine to own guns that don't get used, especially when I'm the one paying for them. :)
 
I'm kinda there myself, esp with the handgun thing as I have many thousands $ in desirable handguns but also because I'm in the midst of downsizing my living arrangement and really have no room for the accumulation anymore and no one in the family to leave them to
Its a tough mental battle that I am having trouble with as well


kjohn said:
Some guns in the pile are quite valuable, and a couple are truly "rare". I know there are those who think that having guns that don't get used is ridiculous. Each to his/her own. I think it's just fine to own guns that don't get used, especially when I'm the one paying for them. :)
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This has always bothered me, I've got more unfired (by me) guns in the safe than guns I've actually shot - why does that bother anyone? I just like being the custodian for some very uncommon guns
 
Nothing wrong with being a firearm collector as most firearms only go up in price , and you always have the firearm there to use if you want too , or just to look at . As we get older , sometimes changes in our lifestyles have to occur , but if someone's health is still good , really no big rush to down size ones collection unless you need the cash . Like all property , we are only the temporary guardians until we pass on , and the property moves on to someone else as no one lives forever .
 
canuck said:
I'm kinda there myself, esp with the handgun thing as I have many thousands $ in desirable handguns but also because I'm in the midst of downsizing my living arrangement and really have no room for the accumulation anymore and no one in the family to leave them to
Its a tough mental battle that I am having trouble with as well




This has always bothered me, I've got more unfired (by me) guns in the safe than guns I've actually shot - why does that bother anyone? I just like being the custodian for some very uncommon guns
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Enjoy them until you don't, then pass them on, or maybe sell them to someone else that will.

Nothing new going on here, it's always been this way.

When people get to the point where they have to make lifestyle changes, they have to forget about regrets and move on.

I'm getting long in the tooth myself and I've passed on a lot of firearms to family members and friends.

That doesn't mean I'm not still buying/selling/trading.

I've long gone past where the actual value of the firearms/accessories/ammunition, etc is significantly meaningful to me or will make any real difference to the lifestyle of my spouse if I go before her, or myself, if she goes before me.

Some people just don't understand that. To bad, because it's an awful load of baggage to carry.

Over the last ten years, I've helped dozens of young folks get their first rifle to learn on and later their first rifles to hunt with.

It still blows me away when I hear some 35 year old person say "My Dad/Uncle/Grandfather is going to leave me their hunting rifles in their will and I can shoot/hunt"

When asked if they have a PAL or a CORE certificate, they give you a blank stare. OOOPS

Then when they are informed about what they have to do to get all the documentation and the cost of feeding the firearms, they look at you like you're lying to them.
 
I think a lot of us are in the same place in our lives. I would go to Smellies house to talk and look at firearms, and now realize, that was over 40 years ago.
the realization that the kids will have to deal with all my stuff is overwhelming.
And the political climate these days,, moving some on the EE seems like the best option.
 
gaff said:
I think a lot of us are in the same place in our lives. I would go to Smellies house to talk and look at firearms, and now realize, that was over 40 years ago.
the realization that the kids will have to deal with all my stuff is overwhelming.
And the political climate these days,, moving some on the EE seems like the best option.
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I’m having the same thoughts.
 
At 67 years old I catch myself thinking of selling off my collectable items and closing up the Shop and just travel. I have not done a walking Pilgrimage in Spain on the Camino since Covid and the open road calls out to me! On the other hand, I am going to buy a small collection of antique guns and bayonets this afternoon.
 
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I did what you're considering about five years ago, keeping a few of my favourites.

Even if they are eventually sold for what they're worth, some people think it's not fair to leave your loved ones with that additional responsibility. My mother was the Executor of the will of a bachelor WWII veteran and even knowing I owned guns, saw a bunch in a closet, panicked and told me that a "nice man from the legion", disposed of them for her..... Not everyone can be rational when it comes to guns.

Watch a few episodes of "American Picker" and you'll see old farts with huge collections with nothing they'll sell as exasperated family stand by. You just know that a fire sale will follow their death....

Of course it's:"your guns, your decision", but you can't take them with you and there are others to consider.
 
kjohn said:
Well boys and girls, I am approaching the intersection where I should start considering what to do about my pile of them old army rifles. Over the past years, since I was about 11 or 12, guns have been a major part of my life. I started with a BB gun that my parents gave me for Christmas, then a Cooey 39 that Dad bought for me on our way out of town to go "chicken hunt'n". From then on it's been a wild ride.

The last thing I would want to have happen is some greedy "dealer" scamming my family. That will not happen. My daughters aren't particularly interested in guns, so that rules that out. One option, I suppose, is to start putting theguns up for auction. Another is to dribble them out on CGN. Putting them on consignment is another way. Keeping and enjoying them until I finally ride off into the sunset is what's happening right now.

I am in reasonably good health, still work Spring and Fall on a big farm, and still spend a lot of my time reading about guns, researching and storing information on a HUGE OneNote file, reloading, shooting and whatever else might be associated with guns. I carried a S&W 5946 for 18 years, working for the RCMP.

Maybe losing Buffdog and smellie has rattled me a little. I lost a good friend some years back, an Indigenous man who was seriously gun crazy, like me. I still have good gunner friends, Deaner being my mainstay when it comes to gunning and ranting about the mess Canada is in right now.

I guess, if I face the facts, it's just the very thought of selling off my guns that chills me to the bone. Some guns in the pile are quite valuable, and a couple are truly "rare". I know there are those who think that having guns that don't get used is ridiculous. Each to his/her own. I think it's just fine to own guns that don't get used, especially when I'm the one paying for them. :)
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It's alot easier to give the kids money down the road than to deal with guns, especially if they have little interest in them. At least by selling them here they should be going to a licensed individual that can appreciate them. We are only caretakers keep in mind. Good luck.
 
Assuming you have or will have Grandchildren, set aside a few favourites for them, keep a couple you really like to shoot, sell the rest.
 
My youngest Boy is very interested in Military History, he'll get the Lion's share of the Milsurps.
There will be enough left over for all to get one even then
 
Walk and talk your heirs through what you have and explain to them what it all means to you. If they don't have the time of day for that, sell it all and enjoy it through a vacation or something that will give you satisfaction, because if they can't do that for you, they are not worth the time, effort and dollars you have put into your collection.
 
Jesus.C said:
I wish could see the kind of collection those who got early in the hobby have now.
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I started breaking up my collection of milsurps (800+) about ten years ago.

Mostly Lee Enfields, Mausers, some handguns and some very select high end sporters.

I'm down to a manageable amount now, which some folks would consider overwhelming. The thing is, they don't have any interest, or care about what those firearms represent as far history, personal freedoms, etc go.

Some of this is our fault as owners. So many people wouldn't include their families in their collecting circles. In some cases there was a definite conflict between them and their spouse, who usually had the most influence on the children.

We can't blame it all on WOKE, anti gun government and mainstream media.

It all requires effort on a personal level to promote and maintain.

There are still a lot of people out there that reall do like firearms, especially milsurps, but they bow to peer pressure and don't want to be ostracized.

Most people I know can't focus on anything in a rational, informed manner. They make it up as they go, often with information from another uninformed, irrational and biased source.

Motivated firearms enthusiasts are still out there in significant numbers. Finding them can be a problem, as many of them are socially reserved to the point of being irrational
 
bearhunter said:
I started breaking up my collection of milsurps (800+) about ten years ago.

Mostly Lee Enfields, Mausers, some handguns and some very select high end sporters.

I'm down to a manageable amount now, which some folks would consider overwhelming. The thing is, they don't have any interest, or care about what those firearms represent as far history, personal freedoms, etc go.

Some of this is our fault as owners. So many people wouldn't include their families in their collecting circles. In some cases there was a definite conflict between them and their spouse, who usually had the most influence on the children.

We can't blame it all on WOKE, anti gun government and mainstream media.

It all requires effort on a personal level to promote and maintain.

There are still a lot of people out there that reall do like firearms, especially milsurps, but they bow to peer pressure and don't want to be ostracized.

Most people I know can't focus on anything in a rational, informed manner. They make it up as they go, often with information from another uninformed, irrational and biased source.

Motivated firearms enthusiasts are still out there in significant numbers. Finding them can be a problem, as many of them are socially reserved to the point of being irrational
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You have hit the nail on the head. Many collectors are reluctant to show anybody their collection, for various reasons. Fear of theft is a valid one, for sure.
 
kjohn said:
One option, I suppose, is to start putting the guns up for auction. Another is to dribble them out on CGN.
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Lol... That's goin to be one LOOOOOOOOONNNNNGGGGG dribble my friend.

'Surely some difficult decisions to be having to make, but the harsh reality is... You can't take 'em with you. :(
 
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