I buy stuff to shoot, and if it doesn't get used, or doesn't work as desired, it goes away. I suck at selling things, and always lose money, but it's the cost of trying new stuff sometimes. I don't have anyplace around here to rent guns, so if I don't have a buddy who already owns the one that catches my fancy, then I have to buy it to try it. I do a lot of research, and as a result most of them have been keepers, but there have been a few that I didn't care for and they promptly went away. I don't miss them.

I had some cheap stuff that I bought early on in my shooting life that got sold off to fund other, better stuff. Don't miss those either.

Ironically, the most recent one I let go is the first one that I really kind of miss. I shouldn't, because it was innacurate as all get out, but I recently traded my beautiful little Mini-14 ranch rifle for a Beretta 92x Compact. I've used the Beretta more in the past month than I'd used the Mini in years, but that was a sweet little rifle. I have other stuff that fills it's role better, though, and it had to go.

I'm coming to a realization that there is such as thing as enough guns. All of my needs are currently filled...if there's a specific task that I need to do in my environment with a gun, I know I can go to my safe and get one that's suited to that task. My small-ish safe is about at capacity, and if I'm truly honest with myself, I'm at the point that a lot of them get neglected because there's just not enough time to shoot them all. I do make an effort to get each of them out at least once a year, and most do go out far more frequently than that...but there comes a point where some stuff is more of a liability than a benefit and is just tying up money and space.

When the boss at my last job ripped me off, I had to sell some guns to pay the mortgage.

I sell the ones that I lose interest in after I’ve confirmed my children also have no interest. I’ve also sold to raise capital during lean times to ease some pressure. That being said I am in the double digits on just pistols that I’ve never put a round through and I don’t own a firearm I’m not willing to shoot if they’re safe. I am lazy when it comes to selling because of the hassle. I usually wait until I’m in such need of the room that I push 5-10 out at a time. That usually insures that I don’t let something go that I end up regretting. Some guns the return capital isn’t worth the effort to sell.

I currently have some Gen5 Glocks and a little NAA 22 mag mini revolver I should probably let get of, but I am not ready for the hassle and don’t need the money. I’ve already given my son about a dozen or so pistols. I’ll also say that over time my collection interests changed and I made a sizable shift in my collection dispensing of a whole bunch of classic S&W revolvers.

quote:

Originally posted by 1s1k:
I have basically improved the herd by keeping the best of the best and letting everything else go.

“nature abhors a vacuum”

And so does my gun collection apparently. Every time I sell a few lesser ones and buy a single more expensive one, those new empty spaces seem to fill back up again pretty quick. About the only thing it accomplishes is raising my tolerance for paying higher prices, allowing the replacement guns to cost a lot more than the ones I sold.

I have had to sell guns to eat and pay bills. I sold my first BHP matte chrome that hurt. Colt magnum carry. I still dream about finding it one day.

Now I am in a position I no longer sell. Only buy. My kids can have them.

With the exception of one gun I traded to my son and another that I gave to my granddaughter, I have every gun that I have bought over the years.

quote:

Originally posted by Schmelby:
I've been collecting for forty years. I know a lot of people buy,sell,trade.
I have a few I can't hit the broadside of a barn with. But for some
reason they are all special to me. And I want them to go to my sons when I'm gone.
Anyone else like me?

I am right there with you. At the time that I purchased a gun, I had a reason for it. I am just a regular guy and will never be able to afford high $$$ collector type guns. If things changed and I now use some other gun, that is fine too. Never sold one. My son who owns and likes guns but perhaps not with the passion I do can decide what he wants to keep/sell.

Only one I've sold is a S&W Model 13 .357. Sold it to my CCW instructor because I didn't plan on carrying it. Kinda wish I kept it, but not sure why.

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:
I've sold a few, but I'm like you. It took me many years to acquire them, and I like having 'my stuff'.
I don't need the money, so I'm not selling anything else.

I love 'my stuff' But I don't know what to do with it. I have hundreds of books, my sons don't read
books, I have thousands of dollars of tools in my garage, They go to Jiffy Lube to change their oil.
Another hobby worth thousands they have no interest in. I've been in this house for thirty years,
I couldn't imagine packing up all this stuff to move out in the sticks where I would like to live.
Hopefully they will want my guns and ammo.

I have sold one in my life, a P239 in .40 cal to a member here.

I've sold a couple over the years, but most of mine I've kept. I don't call it a "collection" because there is no theme to it--it's more an "accumulation". Most of them have been shot at one time or another, and a lot of them were purchased because they make big muzzle flashes (hence my avatar and username). My hobby may be a little strange but it's not hurting anybody.

flashguy

I'll sell a firearm no longer useful or wanted in my collection. Or in some cases, I'll gift it to a relative.

I'm actively trying to prune what I have but seem to continue to add 1-2 yearly which makes it a zero sum game. The struggle is real...

Already sold 1.5 this year (one sale was just an upper). Not really looking for any, except maybe a Supermatic S101.