Are you a gun flipper? Do you trade more than you buy and keep? Is it a bad habit?

I manage to buy them, but not ever sell them

I've sold a Kel-Tec, does that count?

Only sold one of my guns to a friend who needed one. One way trap for me.

you can sell a gun from your personal stash ????

who knew....

Not a flipper in the sense of trading quickly after purchase, but I've sold and traded more than I currently own. Unless it is something with family history, I don't see the need to keep pieces of metal, plastic and wood that are no longer giving me pleasure.

I’ve only sold/traded 3 guns and only 1 is worth talking about.

My first gun was a Browning Pro 40. I went there to buy a Glock 22 and salesman talked me into the Pro 40. Slide never locked on empty mag and it was so new couldn’t find holsters, mags, etc. Traded it and cash for Sig P229. I joined Sigforum prior to the Sig P229 purchase.

I've definitely sold or traded more than I own.

When I was 21 I was able to buy quite a few pistols that I wanted. Over the last 7 years as life changed I found I could really only keep what I could afford to shoot, and I could only afford to shoot what I could carry, so my collection was sold off to pay bills.

I consolidated down to a small handful of pistols that I won't part with. One day I'd love to have a 'gun room' with display-worthy pieces again, but that's a long time coming.

Nope. I buy, and they stay with me until I die.

I'm not a flipper. I had accumulated a large number of guns, and realized I was aging. When a friend died I saw the "shark attack" of people on his guns and knew my wife would have difficulty handling it, so I am in the process of selling off all but a couple of prized ones and the few I will use for defensive purposes. I am also fine-tuning my defensive purposes collection. I intend to end up with a couple of AR's, half a dozen 250/320's in various sizes, a shotgun and a couple of 22's. I'm down to a few dozen. I have an appointment with my gun guy for next week, another 12 to 15 will go at that time.

I've never sold or traded a gun.

I would like to transfer some to my kids, but since they all currently live in Massachusetts, that's not really possible.

I have bought,sold and traded many times. I am not a flipper but my tastes have changed from time to time and I don't spend a lot on firearms throughout the year, so in order to get one I prefer more, I have to sell or trade. Some people love what they have and know they will keep it forever while others do not. There is no right or wrong answer.

"Gun flipping" is illegal for non-FFL holders.

This is the part of the conversation where someone pipes up to point out something that everyone here already knows- which is that individuals in most states are allowed to engage in the occassional sale of a firearm to another resident of their state.

If you- as a non-FFL holder- buy firearms with the express intent to re-sell them, you are breaking the law, and if you do this frequently, you are jeopardizing your freedom and your right to possess firearms.

"I don't buy 'em, I just rent 'em for a while."

Sometimes weeks, sometimes many decades.
I grew up hearing my father lament guns he had to sell, I swore I'd never do it. That lasted a few years. It's financially and logistically necessary when you're talking about decent numbers. lol

I've made money on 4 or 5 guns. Lost money on the other 95%

As I get older, I have a new rule' to buy one, I have to sell one. Otherwise, I could hardly move around the house if I still had everything I've bought since 1971.

I have only sold a few guns. I never buy a gun thinking that I may sell it in the future.

The guns I have sold were inherited. 30-30 model 94's. and I still have 3 30-30's in the gun safe.

I have never sold or traded a firearm.

I do a ton of research before buying, including renting an example at a range or asking a friend with one of I can try it out.

I have one or two I don't use much, but they're nothing terribly special and would involve more hassle selling or trading than I'd get from them.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
Not a flipper in the sense of trading quickly after purchase, but I've sold and traded more than I currently own. Unless it is something with family history, I don't see the need to keep pieces of metal, plastic and wood that are no longer giving me pleasure.

Me too, although I have kept more than I have sold or traded.

Keep or sell. Do what makes you happy - this is supposed to be fun.

Here is the BATFE's pamphlet about what it takes to be considered a dealer. The law says dealers are people who deal in firearms are those who "devote[] time, attention and labor to dealing in firearms as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the repetitive purchase and resale of firearms." Page 2 of the pamphlet talks more about this. It need not be your full-time job, though.

It is the intention to be in the business of gun selling for profit that is the primary key. You can trade in guns to enhance a collection or as a hobby without being a dealer. Repeated buying and selling (for profit) seems to be a relatively big factor. This is the "regular course of trade" factor. It is better to be conservative, as there is no bright-line test, and the various factors will be balanced in any given case.

https://www.atf.gov/file/100871/download

I buy and keep. Over the years I've sold a few, but a rare occurrence.

I am aging (now 80 years old) and my heirs aren't particularly interested in my guns. I'm beginning to think about slowly disposing of them.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by fallenangelhim:
Are you a gun flipper?

No

quote:

Do you trade more than you buy and keep?

No - much like buying and selling cars, you always get screwed when trading.

quote:

Is it a bad habit?

Depends on your definition of bad. Para pointed out some of the potential legal pitfalls.

Then there is the financial pitfalls of loosing money on every firearm you buy - doesn't seem like a winning proposition to me.

Then there is the technical / skill issue - if you are the guy who changes his carry gun every paycheck, you probably don't have one long enough to be proficient in it.

So in general I think it's not a great thing to do. That's just my opinion, but you asked for it.