Help me out brothers......

bronco_mudder

bronco_mudder

CGN Regular
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Manitoba
I'm torn right now, here's the situation I'm in. For the most part I'm a sporting arms guy, I love my hunting rifles. My collection starts at the .22 rf, and extends to .375 covering nearly all bore diameters in between, as well as a few 45/70's. The number of firearms is more than 50 and less than 100;) For the last couple of years I've been thinking about liquidating the majority of my guns and buying a really nice custom, namely a Martini and Hagn single shot in 300 H&H flanged, and make it an heir loom rifle. I would hunt it in the right situations...some of my deer hunting locations are very cushy so no worries about harming the rifle;). I've grown attached to some of my rifles and won't sell them, but I've got so many that I don't get to shoot them all as much as I'd like, and deffinately don't get to hunt them all. I have a huge appreciation, more like a love affair with beautiful rifles, and those Cranbrook BC rifles turn me on:D What would you do if you were in my situation? Sell off a bunch of your toys and buy a really nice one? Or just keep them all and forget about the heir loom rifle? Because chances are I won't be able to keep all, and get the Martini and Hagn.:(

http://www.martiniandhagngunmakers.com/
 
That's your call. I average around a dozen or so at a time, and to me, that is too many. On the same note, it is also not enough. I know the only rifle I will ever need, for anything is a .300 Winchester. But I have others. I know that all I really need is a 12 gauge shotgun that fits me well, but I have more. I realize that one good .22 rifle will outlive me and my offspring, but I love buying these up. I tell everyone new to hunting to buy my above three firearms. But I wished I could take my own advice. A beautiful rifle is a pleasure to own and hunt with, but if it were me, I wouldn't do it. Buy the fancy that is. Sell off some of your guns. Put some of the money away, use some to buy a couple nice models that you like, plus optics. You will enjoy using any of them as much as th M.H. and you can still passd them down. Who's grandson would not be the happiest boy in the world to have Opa hand him his first .22 rifle? Or who's son would not be proud to take his dad's faithful Remington 700 .270 and shoot a deer with it? An heirloom is what you make of it. And a special rifle doesn't have to have ### grade walnut and gold engraving. A special rifle is a rifle that you carried up a mountain, dropped in the creek, shot umpteen deer with or taught your son how to shoot for the first time. A special rifle doesn't even have to wear a wood stock. As long as the memories you made with it are good, who cares the cost or looks. Good luck with your decision.
 
I could say that in your situation I would be inclined to sell many, if not most of the rifles to get that one that I thought would transcend the specialness of all the others, but in truth, I wouldn't get into your situation (50-100 rifles) because with less than a dozen I already know I don't ever want to have "so many that I don't get to shoot them all as much as I'd like, and definately don't get to hunt them all. "

So, I like your plan, but I'm not sure when you've carried it out you will like it that much. I hope it works the way you hope. Maybe if you do come to regret selling so many from your collection, it will be some comfort to know that you then face the enjoyment building it up again.
 
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I pitty you, that is quite the dilema. Anyhow, if it where me, and that's just me, I would get rid of the rifles that I don't shoot. I don't collect guns, I shoot them, once I get bored with a rifle, it's gone. I'd love to have one of those nice pieces, but then I think "what for?...am I really gonna enjoy it for what it was meant to do?....no?" end of self conversation. On the heir loom thing. I probably would have prefered receiving a rifle that I knew my dad or grandad used to feed himself and family with, like an old '95 Winchester say. I can't really say that I would buy a nice gun like that as an heir loom. Mind you if you want it for YOU, then go for it. Bottom line buddy, is you just gotta do what you feel is right, simple. Good luck:)
 
pharaoh2 said:
An heirloom is what you make of it. And a special rifle doesn't have to have ### grade walnut and gold engraving. A special rifle is a rifle that you carried up a mountain, dropped in the creek, shot umpteen deer with or taught your son how to shoot for the first time. A special rifle doesn't even have to wear a wood stock. As long as the memories you made with it are good, who cares the cost or looks.
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My thoughts exactly. I have a mossberg 12ga and a .308 7600 that were my grandfathers, and will be in my family long after I'm gone. They're well taken care of and mean more to me than any of my more expensive guns. The memories they carry will last more than just my lifetime.

As far as other guns I've had, if I don't use them, they leave. I keep usually 10-15 in my cabinet.
 
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pharaoh2 said:
An heirloom is what you make of it. And a special rifle doesn't have to have ### grade walnut and gold engraving. A special rifle is a rifle that you carried up a mountain, dropped in the creek, shot umpteen deer with or taught your son how to shoot for the first time. A special rifle doesn't even have to wear a wood stock. As long as the memories you made with it are good, who cares the cost or looks.
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I deffinately agree with your logic, and as I mentioned there are rifles that I will never sell, those too would be eventually passed down.;)
 
Makes sense to me. A really nice rifle is a treat to own and pass on.

let me know when you start peddling waffen. Until then I'll just keep circling like a gun-vulture.
 
I pitty you, that is quite the dilema. Anyhow, if it where me, and that's just me, I would get rid of the rifles that I don't shoot. I don't collect guns, I shoot them, once I get bored with a rifle, it's gone. I'd love to have one of those nice pieces, but then I think "what for?...am I really gonna enjoy it for what it was meant to do?....no?" end of self conversation. On the heir loom thing. I probably would have prefered receiving a rifle that I knew my dad or grandad used to feed himself and family with, like an old '95 Winchester say. I can't really say that I would buy a nice gun like that as an heir loom. Mind you if you want it for YOU, then go for it. Bottom line buddy, is you just gotta do what you feel is right, simple. Good luck
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..............x2. Well said Gitrdun!!!

I have my Grandmothers Savage 99 that is priceless to me. My grandparents had a trapline on their farm and this gun brought down deer, moose, bears and calf stealin wolves and coyotes. I wish this rifle could talk as Grandpa passed on 10 years ago and Grandma did last year. I'd love one last story for the road.

To me heirlooms are even more priceless because of the stories and adventures they were involved in.
 
I would definitley thin the herd. I used to like all guns, now my taste has refined. I only like really nice guns, Sako's in particular. My total collection is about 8 give or take what is for sale. I won't own a gun I don't shoot.
 
I'm doing the same thing...going for quality over quantity. Was running out of space & looked around and realized that I hadn't shot half my rifles in several years. I always thought of myself as more a shooter than a collector, but I was starting to turn into the latter. Figured it was time to thin the herd, keep those with sentimental value and move those I could live without and take the money and buy new toys that I will play with on a regular basis. Be prepared for lots of ridiculous low-ball offers though!
 
You wont be dissapointed in ANYTHING that comes out of the martini hagn shop. Allthough I would be more tempted to get them to build me a mauser on a harttman & weiss action. Id say if you really want a world class firearm go for it. I could even check up on it from time to time...they are my neighbors afterall ;)
 
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X-man said:
Be prepared for lots of ridiculous low-ball offers though!
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I've sold in the EE before, and the low ball offers don't worry me:D If I decide to go ahead with this plan I won't be selling for a loss, I'll sell for what I think they're worth and take the money from each rifle, add it to the mason jar I've got burried in the back yard. If a rifle doesn't sell, no worries to me, I've still got that toy to play with;) ;)
 
Slimbo said:
You wont be dissapointed in ANYTHING that comes out of the martini hagn shop. Allthough I would be more tempted to get them to build me a mauser on a harttman & weiss action. Id say if you really want a world class firearm go for it. I could even check up on it from time to time...they are my neighbors afterall ;)
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I love single shots though, especially falling blocks. I have considered the '98 route though. I've got an Orberndorf 8x68s already with claw mounted scope that I thought about getting redone there, or my '98 375 H&H, but the single shot is what would hold the most interest to me:)
 
Id sell what you dont use (Ive been doing that quite a bit lately). But I will never sell my first rifle (an old Sav99 in 308). Got it when I was six.

heirloom guns to me, are the type you strained to get (picked bottles as a kid or got given to you by an old timer or relative)

I dont know that buying one and designating it as such would work for me. But then we aint talkin about me are we.....
 
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