Unused Guns, What can happen?

Mile_Hill_Cowboy

Mile_Hill_Cowboy

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Howdy, my friend's grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease several months ago. The older man in question was a very avid gun collector about 15 years ago and owned about 20-30 different guns of every class and size. However, he didn't shoot or clean (probably never even touched) any of his guns for the past 11 years. They just sat in the gun cabinet collecting dust.

Now last week, he named my friend the executor of his estate and since the fella in question is not of sound mind, the guns are being transferred to my friend, who has little to no knowledge of civilian firearms (he's a very accomplished military shooter). He's told me that he's sending every one of the guns away to be refurbished before he decides what to do with them.

Now my question is this: Does he need to send them away? This seems like a major waste of time, effort and money to me. Can much damage really happen to a gun that's been under lock and key for eleven years?
 
First he needs to decide what he is going to do with them. Whether keep them, sell them or a little of both.

The ones I would sell, I really wouldn't do a lot too them other than clean them.

The ones I would keep, I would clean them myself and anything beyond my ability I would pay someone to do.

As for damage it depends on how they were treated and the conditions they were store in. Stored dry? High Humidity? Use of corrosive ammo? Well oiled before storage? A lot of variables to consider. A simple function test (dry firing/snap caps) and look down the bore will tell you a lot, and look at its exterior.
 
Does he know the difference between having them cleaned and having them refurbished?

Cleaning will not affect their value. Refurbishing them will destroy any collector value. Tell him that.
 
getting them priced is step 1 why spend twice what something is worth refurbing
or worse take all the value out of something by refurbing
get them looked at by someone who knows then decide by what you have
 
Mile_Hill_Cowboy said:
Howdy, my friend's grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease several months ago. The older man in question was a very avid gun collector about 15 years ago and owned about 20-30 different guns of every class and size. However, he didn't shoot or clean (probably never even touched) any of his guns for the past 11 years. They just sat in the gun cabinet collecting dust.

Now last week, he named my friend the executor of his estate and since the fella in question is not of sound mind, the guns are being transferred to my friend, who has little to no knowledge of civilian firearms (he's a very accomplished military shooter). He's told me that he's sending every one of the guns away to be refurbished before he decides what to do with them.

Now my question is this: Does he need to send them away? This seems like a major waste of time, effort and money to me. Can much damage really happen to a gun that's been under lock and key for eleven years?
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The bold text is a dead giveaway that there is not likely anything wrong with any of the 20-30 guns. He was an avid collector, for many decades so should know what is abusive to a gun. Unless some of the firearms are military surplus, or have shot milsurp ammo and completely neglected, the amount of use a collector subjects any one gun to is probably minimal.

So barring the obvious caveats, little if anything can happen to a gun that's been stored for a decade and your friend if in the hands of an unscrupulous "gunsmith" could get the shaft: Think, purchasing time shares at a seaside resort in New Mexico.

AND if there was damage caused, the most likely culprit being rust: He had best be getting estimates from qualified gunsmiths on replacing the barrel on that vintage 1866 Winchester - because anything that would be done, to a concourse would do nothing to increase the value. Your friend should look them over, with a knowledgeable civie friend, clean them and the basic examination required to determine if the bores are good, oil them etc then decide what to do.

He might have inherited a treasure trove: It'd be good to keep it that way. Just my humble opinion.
 
Clean them up and sell them. Unless they were stored in a locker at the seashore they are probably fine. Refurbishment is a nasty word in collecting circles.
 
Depending on what he's got, a refinish could be worth more than the gun in some cases and destroy the value of expensive antiques with others. Talk him into doing some investigating first and figure out what he has there. It could be a huge benefit to his bank account and if they've been sitting that long a couple more weeks won't hurt anything.
:needPics:
 
Someone who knows firearms needs to look at these guns before he proceeds at all. Like the others have said, anything starting with "re-" is likely a bad thing for firearms. Odds are that they are in fine shape. I've got guns that have sat in the safe and, other than the occasional fondle or wipe, have had nothing done to them for several years (thanks to this living in the North business).

Get someone gun-saavy in there to look them over and point him in the right direction.
 
While your at it keep an eye out for other firearms related items such as ammo, reloading stuff, scopes, accessories and especially vintage cases and boxes the guns may have come in.

See if the executor is willing to take you on as his advisor of sorts on this issue...that is if it is something you want to do.
 
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My father-in-laws guns were stored in rifle bags and ignored for about 20 years. They were in mint shape when I got them. Gave them a detailed cleaning and of course oiled them.
 
He may be executor of the estate but I would not think that any disposal of assets would be allowed until the death of the person in question. If the firearms are not willed to any particular person then they would have to be sold to satisfy the beneficiaries. Any monies spent would have to come out of the estate and when money is involved, people tend to change. The firearms should be inventoried, a quick wipe down as not to leave any contaminants from the inspection handling and then locked back up. The firearms are still the property of the Grandfather and any actions to transfer ownership is IMHO theft.
 
FALover said:
He may be executor of the estate but I would not think that any disposal of assets would be allowed until the death of the person in question. If the firearms are not willed to any particular person then they would have to be sold to satisfy the beneficiaries. Any monies spent would have to come out of the estate and when money is involved, people tend to change. The firearms should be inventoried, a quick wipe down as not to leave any contaminants from the inspection handling and then locked back up. The firearms are still the property of the Grandfather and any actions to transfer ownership is IMHO theft.
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It is probable that the caretaker has power of attorney and so could dispose of the guns as he sees fit as long as he documents what he is doing. ( I have been in this position for a relative in similar circumstances)
 
Update: My friend has to take the weapons on or the RCMP are coming to seize them. The grandfather has lost his PAL card because of his mental state.

I was talking to him last night and apparently about half of the guns are rusty. We couldn't figure out exactly how that happened when they're in a cabinet, other than it's a very humid room the cabinet is in.

He's having another gun collector over to advise him on what to do but apparently he took them and tried to clan some of the rust off and it wouldn't budge. I haven't seen pics of any of them s i couldn't really give him any advise. Thanks for all of yours though!
 
Mile_Hill_Cowboy said:
Update: My friend has to take the weapons on or the RCMP are coming to seize them. The grandfather has lost his PAL card because of his mental state.

I was talking to him last night and apparently about half of the guns are rusty. We couldn't figure out exactly how that happened when they're in a cabinet, other than it's a very humid room the cabinet is in.

He's having another gun collector over to advise him on what to do but apparently he took them and tried to clan some of the rust off and it wouldn't budge. I haven't seen pics of any of them s i couldn't really give him any advise. Thanks for all of yours though!
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Does your buddy not have his PAL? He should be able to possess them unless they're prohibited models or restricted and he does not have his RPAL. Don't lose em!
 
Mile_Hill_Cowboy said:
Update: My friend has to take the weapons on or the RCMP are coming to seize them. The grandfather has lost his PAL card because of his mental state.

I was talking to him last night and apparently about half of the guns are rusty. We couldn't figure out exactly how that happened when they're in a cabinet, other than it's a very humid room the cabinet is in.

He's having another gun collector over to advise him on what to do but apparently he took them and tried to clan some of the rust off and it wouldn't budge. I haven't seen pics of any of them s i couldn't really give him any advise. Thanks for all of yours though!
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No!

http://m.nfa.ca/resource-items/information-executors-regarding-firearms
 
Calum said:
No!

http://m.nfa.ca/resource-items/information-executors-regarding-firearms
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Exactly, an executor does not need any sort of license to posess ANY and ALL class of firearms for a "reasonable" length of time to "dispose" of them... sell, deactivate or {shudder} destroy. If the cops come to seize them from your friend he has every legal right to refuse, and if he is determined enough to invoke section 494 of the criminal code: Seizing these guns is theft, probably indictable offence in this case and he can also employ CCs. 337(a nasty one that can send an agent of the state to prison for up to 14 years) I hope the cops will comprehend the illegal nature of any such action they my try to coerce, but as this country goes, your friend may have to assert the law and his rights and they should back off.
 
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