quote:

Originally posted by TomV:
Depending on how the sale(s) are done, do you have to have any concerns with ATF of selling too many as an "Unlicensed Dealer" ?

Whether direct or consignment, I'd go through an FFL. It's required for handguns in MN as of a year ago.

I haven't.

The common 'nothing special' things of today seem to get tied up in nostalgia and become something special eventually.

There are a lot of hohum guns I bought years ago are some that I couldn't possibly afford now.

quote:

Originally posted by pace40:
Always wanted a Wilson Combat 1911 but could never bring myself to drop all that change for one. Fast forward to last year when one day I'm staring into the safe looking at all the guns that I don't shoot and mean really nothing to me. I picked out 6 or 7 that I was willing to get rid of and traded (along with a little cash) for a Wilson CQB Elite. One year later (a couple weeks ago) I did it again for a 2-tone CQB this time. Yea the safe is a dozen guns lighter with empty spots but I've put more rounds through those Wilsons, while really enjoying them, in the last 14 months than through those dozen guns in the last 14 years. Zero regrets.

When I saw the title of this post I immediately thought about my grail gun a Wilson Combat 1911. I look at Wilson's and think they are too expensive, but look in my safe and see too many mediocre guns that could be traded into what I really want. I really should trade into a Wilson 1911!

Our family only has one thing of my great grandfather's. It's a nickel plated Colt Peacemaker. If I'm going to have a collection, then I ought to have something really nice in it.

I have sold mine off a few times, mainly I was into glocks sigs, colts, hk, browning hp e.t.c only one I ever regretted was a hkp7m8 chantilly anniversary with the walnut box and coin. the rest not a big deal, if I don't shoot it I don't keep it.

When I decided to thin the herd, I had great results with a local auction house that specializes in guns. Yes take 20% off for sellers premium, but they advertise nationwide and get top dollar for all the items, much more than most. Guns I paid $300 for sold for 2 grand, so even with 400 off I made 1300 bucks on a single gun, and this for me has been typical. I decided years ago trying to amass a collection was not worth my time. I have very nice guns ( not super top end mond you) and in the case of my “working guns” - guns I use for various shooting sports or defensive use have a spare identical or similar gun as back up. With that about 20 pistols is plenty and about half as many long guns

quote:

Originally posted by ibanda:
I really should trade into a Wilson 1911!

Pretty sure you wouldn't regret it either.

IMO it depends on your definition of "quality" and your use case.

Quite a few comments about unfired guns in this thread. If you're not going to use it, and are just owning it for the purpose of having something nice to look at, selling off a few lesser guns to get something really nice makes sense.

When it comes to performance, though, there are diminishing returns after a certain point. Unreliable junk is obviously a waste of money, but I doubt my targets would look much different if I was shooting a $5000 Nighthawk compared to my ~$1000 Springfield. It definitely wouldn't be 5x better!

I like some variety in my collection...both to fill specific practical roles and for fun. I've got between 50 and 100 guns right now, and while only a handful get carried regularly, all of them get shot at least a couple of times a year. It's nothing really fancy...just good utilitarian reliable stuff (Sig, Beretta, Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Marlin, etc.). If I can't count on it I get rid of it. At this point my practical needs are pretty well covered, and I get more enjoyment out of playing with the wider variety of toys than I would trading them for a couple of really high end pieces that I'd be afraid to use.

Well I just did that with a Gen 3 Glock 19 that hasn’t been out of the house in probably sixteen years. I traded it at work for a low production S&W Model 60-3 that came into the store.

In fact my wife said “You’re getting rid of something?”