Was looking at the Thread Giving up some Rugers.

As a gunshow enthusiast, and a licensed plumbing contractor, I always ask my customers if they have any old guns, when it's time to write the check for plumbing services. I have assisted multiple widows liquidate their dead husband's collections.
We sit down with the Blue Book, determine the condition, then the value, then I give them 70%, which is twice what a pawn shop would pay and still leaves room to turn a profit at the gunshows. That formula has worked well and these women are relived to be unburdened and not ripped off either!

I just turned 79. I've been a gun collector/trader since I was about 21 years of age. Don't have a large collection compared to some, and no really high dollar guns. I kind of went on a binge when I retired, 2006, and bought quite a few nice bolt action rimfire rifles, too many. Around 2015 I liquidated a lot of them and now probably am left with around 25 left, mixed rifles, shotguns and handguns. I have a few that I need to let go and it wouldn't bother me to do it, but I'm just kind of being lazy. I've thought about dedicating a nice weather gun show day and just spend the day trying to sell some, but I guess I just haven't felt like doing it. It's not nearly as much fun spending a day at a gun show trying to sell stuff as it is looking for that special gun that you didn't even know you wanted. I think you know what I mean.

My plan for my wife is that I have a good friend that used to own a pawn shop and he would be a good one to help her liquidate my stuff. I just hope he outlives me.

dannyd said:

I have a Gun Trust with everyone in the family over 21 added to it, so when I am gone they can do what they want.

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This is why it's a good idea to have a trust set up for your Class III devices …

I liquidated my best friend's collection after he passed. His widow wanted nothing to do with it. She gave me his USP9SD as a thank you. But the process was sobering.

I had another friend who passed, he was into high dollar shotguns and had an extensive collection. One of his acquaintances convinced his widow to let him sell the collection, and store it all at his home. Well, nothing sold for several years- he always said that due to the high value of the guns they were hard to sell. After a total of about 5 years, the widow passed away. This "acquaintance" ( I'm not going to call him what I'd like to-) ended up with all the guns. I'd estimate well over $100-200K. There was no record, no will, nothing to keep him from lining his pockets and his safe with his ill-gotten fortune. My friend had a son but he had mental and I believe drug issues- and therefore never knew about his father's collection. Sad.

I have 3 binders with each firearm I own documented and every associated receipt attached. I do own many guns I never shoot and really don't care if I ever do. I probably need to start thinning the herd- but I hate auctions and the like, local dealers give about 50-60% of Blue Book value, and consignment takes forever even though they only (only) take 15%. I'd rather just give them to the kids. I probably should get a list added to the will…

I wonder how many of us have guns that are not part of some sort of a collection, and that we never even look at? Like I ask myself why I own 2 different pump riot guns? Several plastic fantastic HK's that I put a box of ammo through and haven't shot since? An AR in .224Valkyrie that I have no desire to shoot? And others… maybe I do need to sell some… I could use the money to buy a few more nice OM Rugers.

Randyzzz said:

An AR in .224Valkyrie that I have no desire to shoot?

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Ohhhh.... tell me more.... start with the why

I really quite like my .224

thinckley said:

Ohhhh.... tell me more.... start with the why

I really quite like my .224

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It's a beautiful gun built with quality parts. I have 5 20rd mags and 400 rds ammo. I built it with the intention of long range shooting but I no longer have the desire or the place to do that anymore. Honestly, I have never even fired it. If I could get something reasonable considering what I have in it, I'd gladly sell the thing. It's got very unique upper/lower receivers, billet by Northtech Defense with a patriotic serial number and "American Patriot" engraved on it (special request). Northtech no longer makes lowers so this has some rarity to it. Not that it adds any value, it's just cool IMHO.

With the optic and mags I'm in it about $2200. And there's about $400 retail in ammo on the low side. Any offers? Worst I could say is no…


And if you're local and want to pick it up, I'll throw this in…

Randyzzz said:

It's a beautiful gun built with quality parts. I have 5 20rd mags and 400 rds ammo. I built it with the intention of long range shooting but I no longer have the desire or the place to do that anymore. Honestly, I have never even fired it. If I could get something reasonable considering what I have in it, I'd gladly sell the thing. It's got very unique upper/lower receivers, billet by Northtech Defense with a patriotic serial number and "American Patriot" engraved on it (special request). Northtech no longer makes lowers so this has some rarity to it. Not that it adds any value, it's just cool IMHO.

With the optic and mags I'm in it about $2200. And there's about $400 retail in ammo on the low side. Any offers? Worst I could say is no…
View attachment 43315

And if you're local and want to pick it up, I'll throw this in…

View attachment 43318

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That looks an awful lot like mine does:

I collected a lot of military rifles and I did sell most of them. Now I picked up a couple of Rugers.
I guess now I have a Ruger bug!

"I had another friend who passed, he was into high dollar shotguns and had an extensive collection. One of his acquaintances convinced his widow to let him sell the collection, and store it all at his home. Well, nothing sold for several years- he always said that due to the high value of the guns they were hard to sell. After a total of about 5 years, the widow passed away. This "acquaintance" ( I'm not going to call him what I'd like to-) ended up with all the guns. I'd estimate well over $100-200K."
--RandyZZZ

Seen that happen not only with firearms, but home-shop wood and machine shop tools and machines, fountain pen collections, and first edition books. In each case it always the deceased's best friend, fellow lodge brother, etc., who took advantage of the situation and/or widow for his benefit and without any qualms. In fact a few 'sorta' bragged about their "helping out."

Ray Newman said:

Seen that happen not only with firearms, but home-shop wood and machine shop tools and machines, fountain pen collections, and first edition books. In each case it always the deceased's best friend, fellow lodge brother, etc., who took advantage of the situation and/or widow for his benefit and without any qualms. In fact a few 'sorta' bragged about their "helping out."

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This is why I feel it is my job to identify who will help sell things off. There are more than a couple of examples of "friends" taking advantage just in this thread. This is also why it is so important to have an inventory with values.

Ray Newman said:

"I had another friend who passed, he was into high dollar shotguns and had an extensive collection. One of his acquaintances convinced his widow to let him sell the collection, and store it all at his home. Well, nothing sold for several years- he always said that due to the high value of the guns they were hard to sell. After a total of about 5 years, the widow passed away. This "acquaintance" ( I'm not going to call him what I'd like to-) ended up with all the guns. I'd estimate well over $100-200K."
--RandyZZZ

Seen that happen not only with firearms, but home-shop wood and machine shop tools and machines, fountain pen collections, and first edition books. In each case it always the deceased's best friend, fellow lodge brother, etc., who took advantage of the situation and/or widow for his benefit and without any qualms. In fact a few 'sorta' bragged about their "helping out."

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Yeah, I left out some of the more despicable details. Especially reguarding the "bragging".

Randyzzz said:

Yeah, I left out some of the more despicable details. Especially reguarding the "bragging".

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I have seen more than one case of this happening. It has happened in my own family and to a few elderly friends. I was able to stop one of the thefts by catching the nephew physically removing his uncle's guns while he was in the hospital. However the kid got away with a couple before I got there. 4 were unaccounted for when I was able to get a good look at his cabinet.... 2 Winchester lever actions, a 1950s vintage Model 94 30-30 and Model 71 in .348 and 2 Ithaca Model 37 pump shotguns. The creep swore up and down that he didn't know where they were. Later I found out that he sold them to a large dealer in the next County....

Fortunate to have a son who likes firearms and hunting. I have let my buying slow down due to no space left in the safe. When I'm gone and they come in to clean up my mess, they may be quite surprised to find things around the house that they didn't know about. That's my little joke on them. While l'm here, I'll enjoy what I have and when I'm gone they can do what they want with it.

jimbo1096 said:

they may be quite surprised to find things around the house that they didn't know about

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Ugh!! My father-in-law has guns hidden in walls and above ceilings throughout his basement and he's not completely sure he remembers where everything is. I'm honestly not sure if/how we are going to be able to find everything, short of tearing the house down.

And I see some things that are the root of my problems. I sold my first gun at the age of 11(Win M-12)...made a 20 dollar profit. Sold 60 Winchesters at the age of 22...bought a house for my new wife...been at it ever since. For me it's like giving yp a large portion of my life. Bur I guess I just have it to do... I looked at a nice Python yesterday 4 inch too. I can get it for 1200

thinckley said:

Ugh!! My father-in-law has guns hidden in walls and above ceilings throughout his basement and he's not completely sure he remembers where everything is. I'm honestly not sure if/how we are going to be able to find everything, short of tearing the house down.

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This finds wood studs, metal studs, pipes and wires through Sheetrock and paneling.

Call them and ask them to test with a gun in a wall and see if it shows up….you may give them another outlet for their product…


Update: I just emailed their support and and asked about this possibility.
I'll let you guys know what they say.

jimbo1096 said:

Fortunate to have a son who likes firearms and hunting. I have let my buying slow down due to no space left in the safe. When I'm gone and they come in to clean up my mess, they may be quite surprised to find things around the house that they didn't know about. That's my little joke on them. While l'm here, I'll enjoy what I have and when I'm gone they can do what they want with it.

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Both my kids like guns, but they are not passionate about them like I am. I fear my son would sell any of them at the drop of a hat if something more appealing appeared on the horizon. And my daughter and son-in-law probably wouldn't sell any inherited guns, but they sure wouldn't be cared for or appreciated like I do. Then again, once I'm gone what does it matter?

I guess you are right...when we're gone what does IT matter? But to me it does matter...Stupid I know! I happen to have 9 D grade 1100s and F grade Rem 11. Couple of sets of small gauge 1100s and even the same in 870. Only worth a couple grand each...but these things seem like they have a life of their own. I even have a couple Ruger Over/Under's. Most of the Ruger handguns I shoot except the Blackhawk combo in 32HMR/32-20. So no real high dollar revolvers

Here is what I sent Walabot this morning:

Hi,

I frequent several firearm forums for old guys.

A fellow online was lamenting that his father-in-law has told him that he has concealed multiple firearms in his basement walls over the years.

He is concerned about how to ensure the family finds and recovers any firearms before selling the house when his father-in-law passes.

Have you tried your Walabot product to see what a firearm in a wall would look like if it encountered one?

I'd be interested to know.

Maybe a little software tweaking and imagery refining might open your product up to a niche market you haven't thought of.

Good luck.


Here is the reply from Walabot:

Thanks for reaching out.
We will pass your information on to the appropriate team member.

Feel free to contact us with any further questions or feedback.
Walabot Team

John in WYO said:

Here is what I sent Walabot this morning:

Hi,

I frequent several firearm forums for old guys.

A fellow online was lamenting that his father-in-law has told him that he has concealed multiple firearms in his basement walls over the years.

He is concerned about how to ensure the family finds and recovers any firearms before selling the house when his father-in-law passes.

Have you tried your Walabot product to see what a firearm in a wall would look like if it encountered one?

I'd be interested to know.

Maybe a little software tweaking and imagery refining might open your product up to a niche market you haven't thought of.

Good luck.


Here is the reply from Walabot:

Thanks for reaching out.
We will pass your information on to the appropriate team member.

Feel free to contact us with any further questions or feedback.
Walabot Team

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Thanks John! I sent them something similar and am waiting to hear back as well. Everything they talk about on the site seems to me that it would work.