What will happen to your "toys:?

S

Sport

New member
Don't know why, but I've been thinking
about my collection of "toys".

Maybe this is a "graybeard" thing, but at
my age I wonder what will happen to the
collection of guns, knives, fly rods, and
other toys I've managed to accumulate
over a lifetime.

Neither of my children (sons) has expressed
an interest in anything Dad does. In fact,
they are probably embarassed that the old
man takes pleasure in shooting,hunting,
fishing, and other outdoor pursuits.

So, the question is...what do I do with my
"toys" when I reach the point where the
time is right to divest myself of my
collection?

Yes, I do have a grandson who
will get a beautiful custom knife this month
when he turns seven. His father,a hunter,
will receive first dibs on my firearms.

My problem is..so much to give, so few who
would recieve with an understanding of what
the gift means.

I am not interested in selling any of the
items; they have too much meaning..to me.

Any suggestions?

Moderator..This would probably fit better
in the "General Discussion"
forum. I apologize for
mis-posting.


[This message has been edited by Sport (edited June 01, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Sport (edited June 01, 2000).]
 
Hello, Sport. I have no children and like you apparently are, am closer to the end than the beginning..........dammit! I have a list of whom various guns I have will go. Some are relatives, but most are friends who are closer to me than some family. Of course, my wife will keep her guns, but the rest would just be in her way. I want these to go to folks who will use, appreciate, and defend the Second Amendment for those who follow. If confiscation is attempted after my passing, I do know that none I've given guns to will turn them it; they'd bury or otherwise hide them. They are true believers
which is yet another reason they are close. They have no idea that they'll be getting anything from me; it's kind of a surprise that I hope happens no time soon for myself or you. Best.
 
Stephen,

Most of my friends and fellow sportsmen
have more gear than I.

I have made a short list of those who
shoot,hunt,and fish who will get some
items.

I am talking scores of items..all of which
have meaning and memories. I suppose
one can place too much weight on that.

I guess my interest is to leave my toys to
folks who will make them their toys; people
who will use them, appreciate them, and not
sell them on a whim just because they have
monetary value.
 
I am available to be named in estates,to receive planned gifts, or for adoption.

RJ,
who is always available to help in time of need.
 
Since my son has the bug he will be the custodian of my collection,After he pays his sister half the value :) Gotta be fair about it :)

------------------
We preserve our freedoms by using four boxes: soap,ballot,jury, and cartridge.
Anonymous
 
About 9 years ago, just after I graduated from HS, an elderly neighbor couple passed away. We were very close, closer than my grandparents ever were, and he had a number of very fine rifles and shotguns which he passed on to my brother and I. These guns mean much more than if we had purchased them in the store. They have great sentimental value that I remember and feel every time I shoot one.

Before he passed away, we always hunted together when he was able, and enjoyed listening to his many years of knowledge, experience, and wonderful stories when he got too old to hunt.

The only thing I regret is that we didn't really learn much about the guns before he died. I am certain that each gun has a very rich history as well as quirks that only he knew.

I guess my suggestion from that experience would be this. When you get to the point that you can't use a gun any more, choose that time to pass it on. Take the young kid, relative, or whoever to a range, show them all the details, history, and features of the weapon while shooting it, and then hand the gun to them before you go. The gift will mean much more coming from your hands than picked up from your estate.

This certainly can't be done in every situation, but I think would be an idea to ponder when that time comes.

Kiffster

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Sig 229 .40 - When you care enough to shoot the very best!
 
No gift could have more value than that of a weapon; the embodiment of freedom, individuality, and responsiblility.
I hope you chose well, the new custodians.
 
How about your local gun range. I am sure they could use them to teach others how to protect themselves. Or put them up for a gun auction to raise money for the nra or goa. Whatever you decide to do with them, DON'T SELL THEM AT A GUN BUYBACK!

------------------
"We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force."

--Ayn Rand, in "The Nature of Government"
 
Sport - you're probably right. This is more of a General Discussion topic for everyone. Look for it there...
 
I never thought a post could impact me the way this one has. This post has really hit home and I have no idea why. I dont know any of you personally, but I can only imagine the joy the grandson,son,daughter, friend or stranger that will recieve such a gift. I dont have anyone that will hand a gun down to me and I hope you dont forget that one person younger or older that will appreciate a gift that not only has value on the market but has value in their hearts. I know that when I pass I will be giving my guns to a family member or that youngster at the range who worked all summer for the marlin .22 rifle he shoots with great anticipation and joy.

Nothing impresses me more than seeing the father or grandfather at the range or in the country teaching the youngster the great joys of shooting. I know I will never forget my father and grandfather doing just that.

It takes only an hour or so of that time with someone that really enjoys teaching a youngster gun safety and pleasure to last a lifetime.


No matter who ends up with your guns I hope its someone that would enjoy them as much as I would. Happy passing!


Tim
 
I feel the same as Tim ... this gives me a bit of a 'catch' in my throat.

I agree that gifting them from your hands to your relatives and friends is the best course. The emotional value is tremendous, and there are tax, legal and privacy advantages.

Perhaps you could find a youth group in your area that still teaches the use of firearms? A little involvement with that group may help you identify kids that deserve, and would appreciate such gifts. If young, then parental consent would obviously be needed, but some 'kids' might be older than legal age as well.

Or, you could meet a few folks at a Friends of NRA dinner, your state rifle and pistol association, your local range, etc. Make a few new friends, note the serious shooters, and surprise them when you feel you've found the 'right' person to receive such precious gifts.

I hope that I'm still a long ways from such gifting, but when the time comes, gifts of firearms will carry special meaning. They won't be simply gifts of quality tools ... they will be gifts of history, philosophy, recreation and ... freedom in the right hands.

Sport, best wishes to you. I admire your wisdom at this time in your life. I hope you find the right folks to receive your gifts, and that you have many more years to take pleasure from your generosity.

Regards from AZ
 
If I might add my solution to the problem. I have a large family, no children of my own, but enough nephews to loan out. (My nieces are too few).
As you've heard before, ad nauseum, I teach the boys to shoot and enjoy it immensely. Not long ago, one of them, Daniel, asked, "which gun do I get when you die?"

Trying not to laugh my tail off, I calmly said, "none of them, and all of them."

He got a quizzical look on his face, so I told him simply, that if he had not learned to share by now, he's 11, then I wasn't communicating with him.

I told him I would give all my guns to all of them, and they could share the way a family should. If they didn't, I mentioned, haunting was not out of the question.

He understood perfectly, not realizing that I have every intention of having a SET of arms for each of them eventually. Then I kindly mentioned that I would appreciate it if he didn't rush me into the grave. ;)
 
Thanks, Sport.
There is now a note in my gun safe explaining "who gets what". And that includes my grand granddaughter who was just born on May 20th. ;)

Thanks again for your timely post.

------------------

Either you believe in the Second Amendment or you don't.
Stick it to 'em! RKBA!

TFL End of Summer Meet, August 12th & 13th, 2000
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Kiffster:
About 9 years ago, just after I graduated from HS, an elderly neighbor couple passed away. We were very close, closer than my grandparents ever were, and he had a number of very fine rifles and shotguns which he passed on to my brother and I. These guns mean much more than if we had purchased them in the store. They have great sentimental value that I remember and feel every time I shoot one.
....
The only thing I regret is that we didn't really learn much about the guns before he died. I am certain that each gun has a very rich history as well as quirks that only he knew.
.......

[/quote]

My grandfather just passed away around the 1st of the year, and left everything to me including his gun collection. Among them were some guns that my father had owned before he passed away 20 years ago, and were given to my grandfather to hold until I was old enough to own/respect them.

I have grown up around guns during my childhood, but haven't been very "into" them. Since I have inherited these guns, I have taken up quite an interest in shooting (I'm going to the range almost once a week now, and miss it when I don't). I don't know much about the history of these guns, but I too regret that I had not found out more before my grandfather passed away. Some of these were recent purchases, and although it's fun to shoot them, I don't feel the relationship that I do with the older ones.

Sport - just maybe they will be more interested in them when the time comes, knowing that they have received something that was very special to their father. Perhaps they will not have the passion that you do, but they might be able to carry on some of the history of these toys.

BTW - One of the more valued items (personally) is the 22LR small bore competition rifle that belonged to my great grandfather of which he custom built and had hand made the stocks. I have some of the shooting club patches he was a member of, and some of the targets showing 1/2" groups @ 100yds. My mother still has all the medals that he had won with this gun, and will be passed to me when her time comes. I hope that I will get the chance to add some more medals to the collection.

Sorry for the long reply, but I just had to get this off my chest.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Whatever you decide to do with them, DON'T SELL THEM AT A GUN BUYBACK![/quote]

I would add to this that you should not sell them to a dealer, thereby putting them back into the system. Whether you choose to do it now or later, do the transfer as a private matter, outside of your will and outside of probate, so as to lessen the "forward" paper train on these guns.

Paranoid, yes.

Delusional, no.
 
ME,ME,ME,ME ADOPT ME!!!! I like toys!!! I need a dad mines been dead since I was 12. Anyway, quite a topic. In my case my son is 12 and he loves dad's toys, come to think of it so does my youngest daughter. They both love to shoot and fish. Try doing some guy things take em to the range maybe it will catch on. If not, I'm still available, yes, ME< MEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEEEEEEE! I just pray they will still be allowed to play with them after I'm gone! Best to you all!
 
This post caught my attention. If you have read my profile you know that I am an art & antiques (and sometimes gun) dealer. I frequently see situations where a parent has put together a fine collection (paintings, furniture, folk art, porcelains, guns, books, etc.), but the children who will inherit have no interest in the parent's collection. Maybe they burned out on it as a child, the collecting bug never bit, whatever. It is a sad thing is to see a well loved collection sold off by the children for pennies on the dollar through lack of interest or knowledge. Even sadder is to see children who have no interest in the collection have a falling out over the cash dispersal of the collection (they may not care about the collection, but they certainly do care about the value).
I suggest that anyone who has accumulated a collection of anything of any value give serious thought to the eventual future of the collection, and even have a serious heart to heart talk with the children (or whomever may inherit) to determine the collection's future. If your children have no interest in the collection you are better off dispersing of it yourself since you are familiar with its worth and are in a better position to sell for a fair price. In many cases the children will be better served inheriting a sum of money rather than objects that they neither appreciate nor understand. If you choose to leave your collection to the children, understand that they may desire or even need to sell the collection. In that case leave a letter of suggestions of who to contact to handle the sale, notes on the individual objects, and some documentation of value. If they cherish the collection as you do, count yourself fortunate.
I know this is a difficult subject to think about, but it has been my professional observation over the years that some planning of this nature will be appreciated by the next generation, and the integrity and dignity of a fine collection may be maintained.
 
Boy does this topic make a person ponder deep thoughts.....

Fortunately for the Wife and I, we have a 10 year old son who loves all things hunting(got his first deer last year, among other animals) and most things shooting. He's even starting to take an interest in politics and freedom.

He has some of " His own" guns now and wants some of mine later. Including a couple Grandpa Fred (my Dad) left me. There is already an account saved up for him to go to Gunsite/ThunderRanch/LFI... when he's 21. If something happens to me, I want him to get good instruction in these matters.

I'm only 41 but I do think about it once in a while. Tough to think about your own mortality. :(


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"Carry" on

Rick

I prefer armed combat to unarmed combat. It's easier on the knuckles.
 
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