Do we overvalue sentimental value of our guns?

Tex_Hunter said:

Does anybody else think it's really dusty in here?

No I'm not crying, you are crying!

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After reading these posts, its EASY to see whom never has had a treasured memory, or given the respect and honor of our Heritage; and it's very apparent whom HAS!
Theosmithjr

FIGJAM said:

I have always pictured some of the guns I own being passed down to my kids and my grandkids and their kids etc. family heirlooms you know? Recently I had two experiences that shook me to my core - two elderly gentleman that I knew from church and had great gun collections passed away. One about 6 months ago and one just last week. Wife and kids put all of their guns up for sell at liquidation prices. It was my understanding that both men had life insurance and had their homes paid off etc - I don't think they needed the cash, they would just rather have cash than dad and grandpas guns. Made me sick to my stomach and really got me thinking if we over value the sentimental value of our guns? What do you all think?

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It's not that I overvalue my Firearms, I've made it clear to my Son's and Daughter's on what to do with my collection. It's been said that my biggest fear is that their mother will sell them for what I told her I paid for them. But it's up to them

I think we all overvalue what we have! Just try looking for a used 700! Millions made but everyone thinks because they killed their first deer with a rusted out 700 it's worth $700! The value is truly only in collectibles!

I think you may be missing the point. It's not the money were talking about, it's something worth so much more than that. I'll let you figure it out.

I think most of us can distinguish between personal value vs actual value. Consider two of my highly coveted firearms. One a H&R 20ga Topper model, single shot hammer bought for me when I was 12 by my father and, to this day, my most memorable gift. It cost him $19.99 in 1963. With that shotgun, I shot countless rabbits, squirrels, upland birds, and waterfowl with this shotgun. Most importantly, I learned to make that first(and only) shot count! I doubt you could even get the original price for this well worn shotgun today. The other was my second shotgun. At age 17, I was given my Grandfathers shotgun. Not realizing it's true value, it was a 16ga "Best" Austrian Ferlach 16ga SxS. In need of a firing pin repair so I could hunt with it, the gunsmith that repaired it offered $3000 for this fully engraved beauty that was in excellent condition. When I told my father the value of his fathers shotgun, while shocked, and as much as we could have used the money, the idea of selling his fathers shotgun didn't even cross his mind. Today this shotgun is worth more then a couple of times the value when it was given to me. Both of these firearms, regardless of their real values are priceless to me, and will never be sold. I'm fortunate to have a family that will very likely value them as I did when I'm gone.

There are only two guns that I have any sentimental attachment. One is an Ithaca 12 ga. DB, with an engraved scene of a Dog, hunter, and a pheasant, which belonged to my Father. The other is a 12 ga. Franchi semi auto. I bought this gun New at the age of 16 years old, I traded a compound bow and 60 dollars. It's not valuable, however, it was my first shotgun that I worked to earn my own money to buy. The pheasant, quail and ducks etc. I took with this gun is invaluable in memories. It's about worn out from the thousands of rounds shot so, I don't it use much anymore. It's been decided that my Son will take the both of them and hand them down to his Son, or daughter, which ever the case is when he marries. All the others our of no matter.

hubb said:

I think you may be missing the point. It's not the money were talking about, it's something worth so much more than that. I'll let you figure it out.

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I have an old 12 guage that my dad got from his Grandfather. My brother used it for a long time and never took care of it. One day I will restore it...and it means alot to me! I guess that is why I have it not my brother! Quick story when we were kids we took off the plastic butt pad to put a rubber one on and there where camel cigarettes stuffed into holes drilled out inside the butt stock and yes we smoked them! Love that gun even though it was probably bought from Montgomery Wards or Sears back in that time period in norther Idaho!

For myself, I under valued the sentimental value of some of the firearms I've had but sent down the road . For one reason or other.
Sometimes it was because I was broke. But much more often because I got an itch that I just HAD to scratch with that extra special, gotta gotta gotta have it new gun.
I guess new guns was my addiction for a few decades.
Nowadays, I got most of what I need and want.
I only NEED about a half dozen more

I have a little sentimentalism going on. When my grandfather passed away I was told I could go take whatever I wanted. He never had anything overly expensive or fabulous by any means, but we sure did spend a lot of time together hunting. We mostly hunted deer and squirrel exclusively. I felt really guilty going to his gun cabinet and looking and trying to pick something I wanted. I ended up picking an old savage 340 in 30-30 with enough notches in it to tell a story. Every deer he took he put a notch in the stock. I remember the one year he actually asked me to shoot it in for him. Anyway, there was one more I wanted because I remember him using it while we squirrel hunted and that was a savage double barrel 12ga. I didn't have the nerve to take it though because of the guilt for taking his guns. I really don't know what happened to the rest of them, but I really like shooting that 30-30 with some reloads. Crazy what kind of accuracy you can get out of it. Anyway, the memories of what we hold dear are worth nothing unless shared.

Enjoy them while you have them. Look at them, hold them, shoot them, hunt them, and clean them up good when done. When you're gone, maybe a son, daughter or younger relative will want one or all, but sometimes no one wants to deal with a collective bunch of hardware and basically give them away much like your old clothes, hunting equipment and boots.
I just had to let go of those cherished thoughts that my beloved firearms would stay within my family. I just enjoy the heck out them while I'm alive. When I'm gone. I won't care.

Wow, a lot of people chimed in on this one. This caught my attention. I was just going through my guns today, laying them out to take photos and of the serial #s. I was thinking about all those scopes that sit in the safe and the guns get used a couple or few times a year. I have a couple of savers like two Win 1894s, those are like art, very subjective on value. A Smith 29 from the 70's because of Dirty Harry; I shoot it once every year or 2, just a few rounds or when I'm showing it to a friend. What gets me is thinking about all the time I have invested in my target and varmint rifles, getting them tweaked, customizing them, threading barrels, installing brakes, changing triggers. The driving to the gunsmith, waiting for parts, spending time at the range to sight in, and bragging about targets and hunting trips. It's more than steel, wood, Plastic and glass to me. I always wondered, if you could buy a rifle , let's say a rem 700 in 22-250, from someone and you knew it shot quarter inch groups, would you rather buy that used gun from him for $1000 rather than a new unknown rifle for $700 from the gun store? Does known performance add value to the gun or are we buying used guns so we can get a good deal? I have a 30 year old varmint rifle that cost me $275. A new replacement is $800. I could probably sell that rifle for $400 to $500 in a heartbeat. My 1907 Win 1894 blue book is $1500, that gun probably cost $20-$25 back in the day and mail ordered to boot.
So, there is value, but it's worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
Does your family have the knowledge or desire to piece them out one at a time?
Do you own 3 or 4 guns, or 50 or 250 ??? It may just be too overwhelming for your family to deal with. My wife just sees "stuff" she has to deal with and may get rid of them for spite, though I have a son who will definitely want to keep 10 or so, so there is some comfort there.
I was at a gun store that just took in a collection from a family, 200 guns. The lawyer representing the family took the colt pythons and Gold cups and a few others out of the collection and left all the dime a dozen military crap.

As someone on another site once said,
" My biggest fear is that my wife sells my guns for what I told her I paid for them!"

My main worry in Britain is that the police will confiscate and destroy my legally held firearms on my death. This did happen to an historically important Webley pistol I had when the British government banned legally held pistols in 1997. (22 years later and gun crime involving pistols is at an all time high!!).
My most important rifle is my complete Lee Enfield No.4T Sniper outfit - boxed, all matching numbers etc. currently worth £4,500 - £5,500.
there are many collectors in the U.K. that would snap it up.
To prevent misuse of authority by the police and to ensure my heirs receive the market price for my firearms one of my clubs has a scheme run by some very high power legal club members that will deal with all firearms issue on behalf of my estate.
What a pity that I need 'protection' from my own civil authorities!!
Take Care and be warned. Keep vigilant.

You guys know I'm from a Briar family..I got a Remington 1100 Skeet model
shotgun for my H.S. Graduation in 1971..I still have it...