Could you donate it to a museum and right it off on your income tax. Then lots of people can enjoy viewing it, instead of selling it to someone that will lock it up tight in his basement gun safe.
After you have been involved in a few of these "Museum" ideas where you can "write it off your Income Tax" you will soon find out that the idea does have some merit, BUT also does have it's downside.
The first is Financial. Let us say that the Luger and accessories in question is worth $10,000. You then declare a deduction of $10,000 off your Income Tax, but let us say your Income Tax Bracket is in the 40% range. This means that you have an ACTUAL amount worth $4,000 rather than $10,000 and if someone is willing to pay you $10,000 you will be losing $6,000 on the deal. Also, many of us have a small pension income, so really pay little or no Income Tax. Therefore, we would be having a loss of $10,000. There are also people who bought firearms to enjoy in their younger life, but also as an investment for a bit of income in their retired life, so a donation, while admirable, would downgrade their retired lifestyle. Compare this to investing in Canada Savings Bonds, then giving them away.
Another thing is dealing with SOME Museums. Many of us have had this experience, and have stated "never again." I am not going to relate some of my own experiences and those of other people I know and respect, who have had dealings with SOME Museums that have either ended up as a Gong Show, or like a Horror Movie that has gone out of control.
And there are a lot of the guys out there that do help out the Museums and other organizations. They volunteer their time, money, work and actual firearms and other items to help these Museums and such. They do so quietly, and do not blow their own horn like we have seen here when someone has donated a few cartridges or other small items to a Museum and loudly proclaimed it in this and other Forums.
I think I will let one small cat out of the bag here. About six months ago, SMELLIE and I concluded a project that we took on for ourselves. I initiated it, SMELLIE became a willing partner in it, and a grand un-named gentleman in Southern California was involved. We have mentioned the story to only a few of the GunNutz we know, but not put it out on the Forums. Maybe some day we will, but then again, maybe we will not.
It took us over three years of time, countless hours of research and computer time, lots of coffee drunk over discussions between Smellie and myself, and some of our own money, time and travel. There is one more person who should be thanked, Travis who owns Jo-Brook Firearms in Brandon, Manitoba. He helped us with information, and he imported the very special 1905 Ross Military Mark II Rifle at his own expense.
Buffdog, Travis of Jo-Brook Firearms in Brandon, Mb., and Smellie with the Fort Garry Horse 1905 Ross.
This rifle ended up in the Museum of the Fort Garry Horse Regiment, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and it did not cost them any money. A priceless exhibit for them, because while it was used by several other Units, the last owner of the rifle before it was sold off for surplus, and the marking NOT cancelled, was The Fort Garry Horse.
It is a good story, and someday SMELLIE or I just might tell it or write it up, but for now only a few people whom we have told, who are interested in military firearms, and whom we know and trust know the story. I think the OP and his Gun Show - activities friend know the story too.
The OP of this thread, by the way, is one of those people who attended the get together and shoot at Virden last July, so he is well aware of any Museum or donation possibilities. His close friend, another Collector and shooter who also attended is well aware of these things too.
