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What To Do With AR’s After Death (Page 2 of 2)
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Originally Posted By FALARAK: I sold a fellow arfcommer's collection here when he passed, for his widow. It felt like a full-time job for a while. Countless trips to pack, ship things, trips to my gun dealer to transfer/ship out of state, constantly meeting people around my city after work for $100 here, $200 there. Keeping meticulous records to maintain transparency. If not for the generosity of one of our members here who bought a LARGE amount of ammo (think half a pickup bed full) I'd still be selling that damned ammo. Were I retired, I'd have fun with the process. But dealing with a career, raising two kids, and that on top.... I have to admit it was not fun, and took over 8 months to move it all at "reasonable" prices. Maannnnn... this one right here. Be careful with this one, because total tar-baby. (um, I think we can say that still?) Work work work work WORK. You're the gun guy, trying to help out a friends widow, and want to do her right. So you'll look up the value of guns, and try to maximize that return. It gets 10 times worse if other family members get involved and look up the value. Because now it's a job to try and actually get that, which you won't actually do, and won't even get close to unless you make it a full-time job. Work work work. I've been involved in 2 estate sales (as a buyer). In the first, they laid out all the guns, opened the house to invite-guests, and references friends for a set-window. 20 guys in the house, going through. You'd pick up an item and ask her "how much". She would look up book value, and apply a generous discount (like 50%). Cash sale. Guns were sold as is, and if came with a scope, that value wasn't even included. AR's all came with 3 loaded M855 magazines (because dude pre-loaded all his mags, and he had a lot). Ammo was dumped in bulk for cheap. Entire ammo cans. Purpose and goal was to MOVE IT, but move it to referenced people. That worked out pretty good, I bought a lot of ammo, and got an AR for dirt cheap, with an actual ACOG on it. That was good, everyone was happy. They moved weapons into safe hands, got a lot of cash, and closed it out fast - DONE. As with most estate sales of more than 100 guns, very few of them have even been fired - and none have been fired much at all. So mostly new guns, with lots of handling wear. I picked up a Ruger NightWatch SS black 1911 missing a safety lever (somehow) for about $300. Bought a safety, there we go. They repeated a few times over a month, and were done. The other route was a guy who very similar to your story, was going to help a widow out. It turned into a nightmare. Dude looked up values, and tried selling for that. Family members saw the book value and saw $$$$$, so he couldn't just price to sell now. He didn't move jack shit, and spent a whole lot of time spinning his wheels going nowhere. As soon as I saw the few things of interest to me were priced too high, I bailed and never looked back. So did everyone else. The open house - I'm here to move this stuff approach, is how you get stuff moved quick. So, what do you do with your AR's? - You predesignate who gets what. I need to update my list. Basically write it down, by Serial number. ESPECIALLY if it's NFA, which gets a lot easier if there's a paper saying who gets what. It's quite easy, the trust thing is oversold; you just designate in your will who gets your NFA, and tadaa, a free ATF form, and they get the stamp - just like that. In your case - just assign a gun-friend guy the task of "take a few things you want, and dump the rest as fast as you can, and give the money to..." |
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Originally Posted By armoredman: Leave them to your local 4H Shooting Sports program in your will. Anything the kids can't use can be sold for money to fund the program. Don't let anti-gun relatives sell them for pennies on the dollar and then KEEP that penny, like my ex-sister-in-law did with my ex-wife's fathers' guns, after I spent hours cleaning them for sale. She sold a Darne sliding breech shotgun to a pawnshop for $200. I am certain her father was spinning in his grave. That made me sad. 
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Unload em at a pawn shop, gun shop, or give em to someone who wants em. They’re just a bunch of clutter. I’ve been involved in selling off two large gun collections after a death. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. When I was 40 I sold off everything I owned except three identical small revolvers and two lever actions, all in 357. I’ve told my kids they’re free to throw all my gun stuff in the trash if they don’t want it or feel like hauling it to a shop. That’s a much better thing to leave someone than of a mountain of junk to try to liquidate. |
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I helped Kendo's (fellow ARFcom member and friend) widow sell all of his stuff. Over 100 guns. I didn't take a penny for it, because he was a friend. In the end she gave me a heck of a deal on a couple that I had wanted. I appreciated that. Another "family friend" had offered her pennies on the dollar - glad I intervened when I did - even more grateful she trusted me. Like others said in here - it was a full-time gig for a while. Took over a year. He had over 100 pieces - let alone accessories, ammo, reloading, bayonets, you name it. It made me create an inventory for my wife with descriptions and values though... she had no idea what she had - and the vulture(s) knew it. In the end we tripled the amount the "friend" told her it was worth. I believe he would have done the same for me if roles were reversed. |
"And all that's left inside of me couldn't bring an heirloom seed to bloom..." Benjamin Tod
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Originally Posted By BoRdErBaCoN: I helped Kendo's (fellow ARFcom member and friend) widow sell all of his stuff. Over 100 guns. I didn't take a penny for it, because he was a friend. In the end she gave me a heck of a deal on a couple that I had wanted. I appreciated that. Another "family friend" had offered her pennies on the dollar - glad I intervened when I did - even more grateful she trusted me. Like others said in here - it was a full-time gig for a while. Took over a year. He had over 100 pieces - let alone accessories, ammo, reloading, bayonets, you name it. It made me create an inventory for my wife with descriptions and values though... she had no idea what she had - and the vulture(s) knew it. In the end we tripled the amount the "friend" told her it was worth. I believe he would have done the same for me if roles were reversed. I'm glad you did that and you are a good friend. I'd like to know you. But please note if you applied any value to your efforts, that changes things. In your case you donated that time and effort and were a good friend who got satisfaction our of it. For many, that would have been a lot of work. |
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Originally Posted By NTXGlocker: I'm not getting younger. My daughter married a leftist. She does grad admissions and he's in the classroom. They decided they don't need my guns. So, I have reassigned my gun trust. The problem: She don't know squat about guns. I have assembled a bunch of guns, so, do I sell them off? I don't need near what I have now. I inherited guns but, pales to what I've done. WTF? I don't want the heir to be wondering. Should I part with what I do not have interest in now? 3/4 of what's on hand now. You guys, be involved who your Dtr marries. Sometimes .. It makes and creates issues. I'm in f'ing Texas 
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Originally Posted By m6z: Consignment at a LGS. No need to overcomplicate this. That family member who 'did research' and is certain about how much they 'should' sell for? They're free to buy it all at the Ridiculously Low Prices the consignment dealer is offering and make all that missing profit themselves.  |
Disclaimer - OP is bad at knowing things, and might catch on fire.
Vet - Op MMAMA
Every other species kills off their stupid......we cater to them. -- spin-drift
Nobody ever called 911&said I just did something smart. -- TheFlynDutchman
Vet - Op MMAMA
Every other species kills off their stupid......we cater to them. -- spin-drift
Nobody ever called 911&said I just did something smart. -- TheFlynDutchman
What To Do With AR’s After Death (Page 2 of 2)
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