How to decide

[rondog]

I've sold far too many in my days, there's maybe two that I don't regret, the rest I still miss 'em.

[OtterbatHellcat]

So, what? You?re going to just accumulate stuff your entire life until you look like one of those people on those hoarder shows?

I?d be willing to bet you don?t currently own every vehicle you ever owned? Why would someone not bat an eye over selling their old pickup but treat a firearm like the family pet and not want to part ways with it?

I guess I was trying to suggest that I didn't over collect anything in the first place. Yes I've sold cars in my life, three to be exact....and there is no reason to part with any of my firearms. It's also highly unlikely that I would add anything to what I do have.

[leightoncash]

If I'm selling its because there is something else gun related I want to buy. I've sold lots, and the ones I wish I still had were the saiga AK I converted, my first Mosin, and oddly enough, this dumb little Taurus TCP 380. It was a tack driver with a nice trigger, and could hide anywhere. I've got nicer toys now, but those first guns of mine would be nice to play with again.

[Sawin]

I’ve sold more than a handful over the years and think the only one I regret is one I sold for too little. It was a mossberg silver reserve 12ga that I bought for a steal and never shot. I sold it for that reason, but have had a few times since when it would have been nice to have. Other 12ga’s had to do in such occasions so ultimately not a big deal. All the others I’ve sold are in better homes now.

That said, I get it and have a difficult time convincing myself to sell any of them too. I have a couple duplicates at this point that I really should sell...

[Aloha_Shooter]

I am planning on eventually moving back to Hawaii, almost certainly within the decade, likely in less than half that.

Storage and rust prevention in Hawaii will be issues as will be the sheer weight of moving back so I'll likely get rid of a lot of anything replaceable: furniture, electronics, and of course firearms if I have any.

I would therefore have to approach the problem from the reverse direction: instead of deciding what to sell, I'll have to look at it from the standpoint of what do I take? That narrows down to stuff of sentimental value or that I absolutely need or that would cost me more to replace than to transport. WRT firearms, I'd also have to add the filters of guns I could shoot at Koko Head without having some Karen freak out over the fact I even had it and that I could easily procure ammunition for.

[Squeeze]

Everything I own serves a mission (with the exception of 2 firearms which are sentimental). The minute that firearm no longer serves a mission, I send it off to another home. I don't consider myself a "collector". I keep what I can use, period.

[Martinjmpr]

I would therefore have to approach the problem from the reverse direction: instead of deciding what to sell, I'll have to look at it from the standpoint of what do I take?

As I inch closer to retirement, I'm the same way. 2 years and counting.

My dilemma with selling is that I have guns that in my mind are "worth" $X, but in the current market they are only worth .60X or .75X. So as much as I'd like to sell it and free up the space, I can't bring myself to do it because I would feel like I was selling the gun for less than I "Think" it's worth (and yes, economics professors, I know 'a thing is only worth what someone will pay for it.' )

I also have at least one gun that I got for a crazy low price (a DCM M1 Garand in gorgeous condition with a like new Birch stock and spotless parkerizing.) It really is a beautiful gun (even my wife thinks so) but I literally have put maybe 30 rounds through it and the last time I fired it was I think around 2007. Part of me wants to sell it and part of me wants to keep it but for what? I don't have any kids and there's nobody else in my wife's family who, I think, would appreciate it for what it is.

In the case of both of the above, "common sense" says "sell it for what you can get and don't worry about what you THINK it's worth" but that's tough for me to do.

However, I am going to have to get to the point of "thinning" out the collection. For example, I have 3 shotguns, and the last time I fired one of my shotguns was in probably 2003 (and it wasn't one of the shotguns I own now, which means that I LITERALLY own three shotguns I've never fired.)

(And if your next question is "why did you buy them, then?" the answer is: I didn't. The first one was inherited from a family friend who passed away, the second was inherited from my dad when he passed away and the 3rd one I won at a fundraising event.)

I try not to get sentimental about guns - they're just things, after all, but sometimes it's difficult. I'll probably never go hunting again. I was never really "into" hunting, but it was a way to spend time with my dad. After he died, I don't really feel an urge to go hunting, it just seems like a chore. But it's hard for me to get rid of that pre-WWII Winchester Model 70 in the gun safe.

[MED]

I don't sell anything I purchased 20-32 years ago nor do I sell anything I purchased private sale before '13. I have some things that are sentimental. Everything else especially after '13, it depends on if I need it or not. I got rid of a colt officers 25 years ago with intricate checkering on the front of the grip; I definitely regret that one. I think before I act now. If it's a polymer handgun or a dime a dozen AR I don't care. I downsized my AR lower inventory and focused on uppers.. This stupid new rule coming out will make things more difficult so I'll probably just hold what I have now.

[Rucker61]

I've only sold 1 gun in my life. If buying it back were to become an option, I would. I miss it for some reason.

But, I'm not like most folks. I just horde them like fat folks horde oreos. They're not exactly a depreciating asset like most of the disposable crap in the rest of the house.

Do you really think that fat folks horde oreos?

[00tec]

Do you really think that fat folks horde oreos?

Not for long. Thin mints disappear fast around me