Getting old,what to do ?

[Heavy Barrel]

I am now 70 + in age,my problem is what to do about guns.I have roughly 30 +,Ruger No 1's and 77's, Weatherby/Sako/Winchester/Colt and an array of others.no junk. My problem is I should be getting rid of them but I want more,quit hunting about 7 yrs ago,probably haven't shot most of what I have in 20 yrs and a lot that have never been fired.Right now looking at a Pedersoli Sharps and it is hard to pass up.When do you quit and how?

Your thoughts !!

 

[JFB]

I am right behind you at 62.

No family (nor friends) to give them too. While also mostly #1 and 77's, mine are in heavy calibers that are not desired in the area. I have placed several on consignment for year and wound up bringing them back home.

 

[Don Lovel]

My dad is 91, still makes a pilgrimage to the NRA Whittington Center in Raton New Mexico from his home in NW Oklahoma 2 or 3 times a year. He has Garands, carbines, 03 Springfields, Mausers, Moisins, SKS and several other rifles he takes with him and shoots on the high power silhouette range. He is a good shot, Lasix surgery back in his 70's has his eyes in good shape. One of my brothers and some of his friends usually all go together, that way he has assistance. Whittington Center has real nice comfortable accommodations for a good price.
He has 3 safes and a steel storage building full of gun stuff, reloading & gunsmith stuff.
Last year Mom was diagnosed with cancer, they discussed selling the house and moving to a retirement community, but the disposition of dad's guns was an issue. So now my brother is buying their house so that they can live there cheap, dad's guns can stay right where they are until after they pass and my two brothers and I have agreed to divide it all up sensible and peacefully. Basically we took a list of the guns and such, put our name beside the things we really want, some guns that I had unsold when I was an FFL and personal collection of mine are there, a couple of the rifles I built for dad over the years and reloading gear is what I put my name on. Items that we all want we will draw names out of a hat. Mom made us promise, no bickering and what you get is what you get, enjoy and shut up about it, no drama allowed.
There are some real gems in his stuff, a historical provinance Winchester 1897 Riot 12ga, 1886 Winchester Lever, Dad's Inland and US Postal Meter carbines, as well as his 03 Springfield sniper reproduction he built. He built Garands out of CMP parts for each of us as well. Back for his 75th birthday, I built him a sweet Remington 700V in 223, which I am going to rebarrel from it's 1:12 twist to a 1:8 twist match barrel when I get it.
He has some interesting WWII memorbilia from his adventures in the 9th Armored div. as well. There is probably enough 308 and 30-06 reloading supplies and canned ammo to shoot non stop for a few years.

 

[wwb]

I'm 71, and have reduced my inventory over the last few years to those that I shoot regularly as well as those my son has expressed an interest in, even though they may not be a regular shooter. When I'm no longer able to shoot, my son will sell those he's not interested in, giving the proceeds to "The Boss", and take the rest to a new home.

Depending on your situation, you might consider leaving the collection to the NRA.

 

[mohavesam]

Everybody dies. Whatever you do, hang a tag on each gun TODAY, stating each one is "the property of___________" , on loan to you. This eliminates any possibility of being sold by the pound by the judge in a probate challenge or contested will. Think there's no potential for that? Wrong again. Check with your lawyer now. Maybe PA doesn't confiscate all the guns when a guy dies, like New York State does (Bloomberg's SAFE Act), but why gamble, and why leave years of headaches to your wife or kids?

At 70+, you're taking a big chance on your undone affairs, as there is no guarantee of tomorrow (or being able to declare your wishes tomorrow). How do I know that?

Not planning ahead is inviting years of discussion on how selfish the guy in the urn was.

Seriously consider what you can take with you, and plan on paper for everything else. Today.

- Twice an Executor since 2015, and both estates are not cleared yet. I had land and collector cars to deal with, plus over a hundred very fancy guns. Let me tell you the story... :? :? :roll:

 

[DGW1949]

I am now 70 + in age,my problem is what to do about guns.I have roughly 30 +,Ruger No 1's and 77's, Weatherby/Sako/Winchester/Colt and an array of others.no junk. My problem is I should be getting rid of them but I want more,quit hunting about 7 yrs ago,probably haven't shot most of what I have in 20 yrs and a lot that have never been fired.Right now looking at a Pedersoli Sharps and it is hard to pass up.When do you quit and how?

Your thoughts !!

I'm 68, retired, don't owe anyone anything, and purty-much live worry free.
Do note however, that a good bit of that "worry free" is because I've made it a point over the last several years to not keep anything that I don't have a real use for...which BTW, has included many of the guns I once owned.
Some folks would call it 'down sizing'. Myself, I look at it more like 'eliminating unnecessary clutter and worry'.

On a different but similar note, I have a good friend who say's that the more 'stuff" you have, the more expense and upkeep you have...and...I had preachers tell me more than once that it's real easy for one to become a slave to his things.

Purty-much, there's a lot of truth in all of it, and purty-much it all comes down to about the same thing...meaning that when all is said 'n done, it's just stuff, and you can't take it with you.

DGW

 

[pete44ru]

.

About 20 years ago, I was in much the same situation, wanting to retire early @ 62y.o.

So I decided to reduce my hoard, starting about 5 years prior to my target date.

The first thing I did was to gift every gun they wanted to immediate family members (Son, Daughters, Grandchildren).-, so about a dozen or so various hand & long guns went to them, so I could actually get to see them enjoy their use.

Then, I sold off the bulk of the rest, piecemeal, in various venues. walking them around gun shows with a F/S flag flying from the muzzles, online gun forum classified's, online gun auction websites - different venues for different guns, depending upon where I thought each would be beat marketed.

By the time I retired, I was able to pay off all my outstanding monthly debt ( vehicle & home loans, credit cards, etc), leaving me liable for only unavoidable debt (taxes, utilities, insurance, etc).

I kept about a 1-1/2 dozen guns for my continued use & enjoyment, each tagged with an ID tag describing exactly what each is, and a current market value (updated monthly) - so my family can have the best shot for moving them on after I pass.


.

 

[Fox Mike]

I have a notarized paper stating exactly who gets what when I leave the range. Set up so there can be no doubt.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

At some point many of us are going to be faced with that. I'm foruneate to have one son and he will be interested in a few, just not sure how many. One thing I can attest to, is that they will never be worth more than they are now. As time goes on those of us who have collected these nice rifles and revolvers, we have discovered that the younger people have no interest in them. Most don't have any interest in hunting at all and the rest could live with the cheaper made guns by Ruger, Savage, etc. I'm more of a handgun guy though I have a few rifles, I can tell you for a fact that it won't be long before the guys that appreciate what I have will have multiples of them already, or have gone under and aren't buying. If there is something special you've always wanted to do, or somewhere you wanted to go start selling off those guns and do those things while you have some money. I'm hoping I've got another 10 years or so left but none of us really know how much time the good Lord is going to give us on this earth. I've really got to get this through my thick skull because I'm still buying. I've tried to down size advertised locally but just as I suspect these younger people are only buying the "cheap" guns. It's all the money they have. Before I left Alaska I sold a few guns and almost all my ammo at the time, and was able to sell my wifes car and buy her a new one, that will hopefully last us many years.

 

[bogus bill]

I could have wrote many of these reply's and still haven't done anything. I am 76, just have a daughter and two grand daughters, BUT I now also have a great grand son, about three months old. I hope he ends up with some. I will be pushing a hundred when he`s ready for them and I already have heart stents. I have always hated to sell guns but eventually may have to as my retirement funds probably wont outlast me and my wife is sixteen years younger than me. I have always hated selling a gun as probably two weeks later I couldn't tell you where the money went plus I wouldn't have the gun either! I likely may have more great grand sons too.
Actually, I probably have only six or eight guns that I have heavily used and that I would consider "Part of me" another fourty or so that I own that I never really used or shot much nor hunted with.

 

[Ka6otm]

My Dad never stopped right up to the day he died, and I'll do the same. My will dictates what will happen with my guns.

 

[Conservative]

Heavy Barrel,

If you can afford to, give them away to friends and family you know who'll cherish them.

Honestly, if again, you can afford to, it's so much easier to give away stuff. (I have in the past few years with some quite valuable items) I too am quite long in the tooth and can't use a lot of the stuff I've given away anymore. I'm now too old and beat up. Not complaining, just recognizing fact. It's mostly sporting stuff I've given away i.e., boats, tackle, scuba gear, and on and on. Hell, I don't use it anymore, why not give it to someone who will? Like my Daughter and Granddaughters and friends.

Working at selling such stuff and then having to tolerate a parade of those who would come to my house and insult me with low ball offers isn't something I could tolerate. And yes, I can afford to give stuff away. So again, why not? I'm not in terrible health, but I'm not in great health either. I could last a few more years or drop dead in the next second at my age. I'm in my 70's.

Anyway, that's my opinion.

I wish you well.

 

[yooper1]

I do not have a definite answer / solution, but now's the time.

If a certain party gets their way, it may become possible in a few years that anyone who: cannot sign their name on their own; cannot remember a great grand child's birthday; needs a home health nurse to visit occasionally; ever and I repeat EVER needed to talk to a counselor for anything; needs to have assistance in anything at any time or other issue that the same party will determine as "not safe" or "Not in control of their own faculties", will have all of their firearms forcibly removed by nice young people in a uniform with a blue helmet.

Not a tongue in cheek statement...but close to where the line is at right now and why we need to keep our local politicians ears burning with our desires.

 

[powder smoke]

Don't know what to do? I would keep what I wanted for protection, some I would
pass to grandchildren. It's your choice do what feels right. I would make a couple of my grandsons Very Happy.ps

 

[Pierow]

Heavy Barrel,

When do you quit and How? You quit when and if you like and however you want. Shouldn't concern yourself overmuch the burden of those whom will inherit but you can make things easier.

Everybody dies. Whatever you do, hang a tag on each gun TODAY, stating each one is "the property of___________" , on loan to you. This eliminates any possibility of being sold by the pound by the judge in a probate challenge or contested will.................- Twice an Executor since 2015, and both estates are not cleared yet. I had land and collector cars to deal with, plus over a hundred very fancy guns. Let me tell you the story... :? :? :roll:

Mohave Sam,

Firstly, and I'm not kidding in any way, sorry you have been named executor on the two wills. Knowing a bit about estate planning there is nothing good in being named an executor or executrix of a will. You are locked into the probate process which is a multi-billion dollar industry. As you well know anyone can challenge a will. Placing ownership tags on items that carry no title does little good. I could walk in to court, protest the deceased's will and say the owner promised me all his firearms. I'd get my day in court and make your life more miserable.

Folks, the one and only way to avoid probate and to ensure all your belongings go to the people you want is through a properly drafted trust. If I had 500 firearms and wanted them to go to 500 different people I could make that happen and no one could say a thing about it. If one of those 500 people spoke up and said I promised them more, well they would be contesting my wishes and per the trust they would lose their inheritance. That's what happens when you contest a PROPERLY DRAFTED TRUST. I put that in all caps as I have reviewed hundreds if not thousands of trusts and most of them are not drafted properly. Most missing lots of crucial language.

Mohave Sam, for a comparison, if back in 2015 you were appointed a successor trustee of a properly drafted trust as opposed to an executor of a will, you'd be done in two to six months WITHOUT any attorney's needed, WITHOUT any court dates and WITHOUT the need for a probate judge who most definitely at one time was most likely a probate attorney.

Pierow

 

[SR1911SHOOTER]

I am now 70 + in age,my problem is what to do about guns.I have roughly 30 +,Ruger No 1's and 77's, Weatherby/Sako/Winchester/Colt and an array of others.no junk. My problem is I should be getting rid of them but I want more,quit hunting about 7 yrs ago,probably haven't shot most of what I have in 20 yrs and a lot that have never been fired.Right now looking at a Pedersoli Sharps and it is hard to pass up.When do you quit and how?

Your thoughts !!

Heavy,
I am 83, have about 30 firearms. I willed them to my buddy in Houston, who is a LEO. He will leave
them to the NRA. As long as I can shoot, I will go to the range. I quit hunting 6 years ago,
too old to lug a buck out of the woods. But I still love to collect, I just bought two Remington R51s
to play with. Many 1911s.
Blackie

 

[exavid]

At 75 I've thinned down the number of guns I own. First reduction came when I left Alaska I gave away a few to friends and sold most of the rest. Now I'm down to five handguns, three rifles and a shotgun. I use these fairly often for myself and grandson. Those I have now will stay and go to family members if they want them. I've never been a collector of firearms, those I had were either carry guns or hunting tools. What I now need to get rid of is my tools. I sold the table saw, but have a band saw, drill press, two grinders, shaper, and disk/belt sander along with a lot of mechanic tools and other wood working hand tools. I just don't work on my own vehicles any more and aren't planning on doing much work on the house or furniture these days. I really need to pick out the small tools I need to keep and start selling the extras that I don't need.

 

[Ray Newman]

You really need to re-read what PieRow posted about a trust and being an executor.

My mother-in-law had a trust and when she passed away, except for the sale of her house, her entire estate -- savings accounts, stocks, house deed, etc. -- was distributed to the three children within about 3 days of her burial. And without the need for a probate attorney or going to court.

When we lived in California, we had a trust drawn up and upon moving to Washington, we had an attorney review it. I asked him if we did not have a trust how long it would take to probate our estate. He replied about 4-6 months plus court and attorney's fees. He said a trust takes a few days. I once asked a bank officer how long would it take for my wife have access to our accounts (I will most likely predecease her). He said since the all accounts are included in/are part of your trust, "minutes" -- just bring down the trust papers and ID. Without a trust all of your assets are frozen until the will clears probate.

As for the executorship problems, a good friend of mine asked if I would be his executor. I respectfully declined for the issues PieRow stated. As it turned out, he had earlier mentioned to his son and daughter that he was going to ask me about being executor. When he passed, his daughter and son, girlfriend, and two or three cousins, started calling about the will, where it was located, what they were getting, and when they would get the money, how much I was going to take as the executor fee, etc. None of them really got along. Since they did not believe that I was not executor, the attorney wrote them a letter stating that under the terms of the will he was the executor. Even though they knew who the executor was, they still would call and complain -- "so and so and the lawyer are screwing me out of what is mine", what could I do to help, why does it take so long, etc. If I saw them in town, at the gun shop, or at the range, they would start in complaining. It was a very long 18 months.

 

[opos]

I'm 80...have thinned the "herd" over the past few years...California laws being what they are there ain't nothing easy. We have a trust for all our assets and the guns and ammo and reloading are part of the misc. assets...I have a letter that details each gun I own..where I got it...it's value, etc..also the "paperwork status" on each...Each weapon has a couple of names associated with it...and in most cases that they should be gifted to that (those) persons....My reloading gear (and it's a bunch) is spelled out in my lists and it's going to be given to one good buddy and /or my Grandson (if he wants to reload)....The ammo I have (we got new laws about transfer of ammo in California as of Jan 1 of '18 will all be disposed of to a relative and 2 friends that live out of state and are shooters....the ammo will have to ship UPS under their laws but I"m not about to go through the hoops our new laws dictate...they forgot about shipping out of state so that's the route I'll take....short of that my heirs can do with it all as they please..they know who my frineds are and also know who the "vultures" are that circle the death notices and show up to "help out"...they don't get the time of day....Too much hassle and it all goes off shore with a buddy on his boat and get's slipped over the side...without a "permit". Life is too short to sit and fret about what happens after I'm dead...it won't matter to me...just the easiest for my survivors.

 

[vito]

I'm "only" 74, and have tried to not buy anything, or keep anything, that I do not value and have a need for. I don't deny myself much so it really isn't a matter of money regarding my guns. But I decided that having guns that sit in a safe for years, just waiting for me to die and my wife to sell at pennies-on-the-dollar just to get rid of them is not a very satisfying practice. So I keep a few for concealed carry, a few for strategic placement around the house, a few for target shooting at the range, and one, just one for sentimental reasons (my S&W Model 19, nickel, 4 inch barrel), plus a 12 gauge for if and when the SHTF. Occasionally I replace one that I have with another for the same purpose, and keep the total to about 10. The Model 19 will go to my youngest son, and I really don't care what happens to the rest when I start my dirt nap.