Tell your Mom that you have received excellent advice that Grandpa's old rifles must never be sold. They can be handed down; you could keep one and give the other to another Family member with the understanding that they must stay in the Family. If Grandpa wanted them sold he would have done so. There is something essentially different about these things as compared to a mere automobile, for instance. You could only use one of them at a time. But, you and another Family member could both go plinking or rabbit hunting together with GRANDPA's GUNS, in a way that draws both of you together in a renewed appreciation of Grandpa. Of course, you could do the same thing with brand new 22's that have no connection with Grandpa and you know; it wouldn't be the same thing at all. Do you get it?
Well a miracle happened last night.
I recieved an email from my non-blood uncle. He had heard about mom having a 22 of grandpas. Mind you these guns have been at mom's since 1994. I did not even know they were there or what they were till a year ago. At that time, Mom wanted them sold so she gave them to me to find out value and to sell. I figured they would be all beat up, but they are completely mint. Once I held them I really wanted them to say in the family. I approached mom and she said one not both, firmly. Her father her decision. Since then I have been buying my own guns. And sitting on these 2. All hoping she would have a change of heart and let me keep them both.
Anyway out of the blue... my uncle emails wanting one for the house and wondered if I had grandpas 22. That maybe my aunt might like having one of her fathers guns. Well they are not known for being sentmental or caring about keeping stuff. They like bargins and treat stuff as such. Mom and I had already discussed that if one was to be sold I would not let them go to a person who would not care for them. Like my 21 yr old stepson for example (His dad bought him a new sig 226. He shot if a few times and suddenly he tells his mom that it rusted. So within a few months, due to neglect and lack of proper cleaning he rusted a $1000.00 gun) ugh! Anyway... if that meant a private collector later down the line so be it. But this was not willy nilly to me. It was important to me, esp since I have nothing from grandpa myself. I had to do right by him.
I called mother. Told her about uncle carl. She got agravated and said he is not blood. She proceeds to explain how my aunt gets things and lets them rot. Apparently there were family auntiques she stored in a dirt floored basement. Let the cats pee all over them and then gave away when she moved. The next time she moved she gave away a bunch of grandma's stuff that was family hand me downs.
At first mom says you have two 22s, give them one. Then she calls back and says no keep them both. Let them get one from my brother. They were with me for 20 yrs and no one wanted them. He's my dad so their mine and I'm giving them to you. I'll deal with gram. Just tell him you sold them... seriously? Yep!
So yeah! It only took a year of waiting but they are finally safe!
I was amazed she changed her mind. Guess it helped I just took her shooting so she saw I was genuinely intrested in guns and not just being greedy!
. Due to ammo shortages I have yet to do this. Truth be told I was stalling. Trying to keep them both I the family. 
