To Sell or not to sell???

[RobertJ]

I have a very extensive firearm collection. I have been collecting since I was legaly able to buy firearms in the mid 80s. I have only sold about 5 firearms from my collection in the past and have regretted every sale, bar one (a cobrey M-11,9mm). It was a turd from day one and never functioned correctly even after going back to the factory twice to be repaired. The other four I still regret selling.
I have more firarms then I will ever be able to cary in a bug out etc. ... I really dont want to sell any, some are not even replaceable. I have only function fired a few and put back into the safes never to be fired again, and only brought out to be inspected and cleaned. I have 2 NFA weapons I only brought home and put up, bought for investment purposes.
A friend of a friend of mine wants to buy two of my "Jems" A spikes Tactical "Brown Recluse" that only were made in a limited run Under 100 and mine was heavily modified at build up by Tom Miller there with the addition a Mike Rock Barrel and some other goodies not offered on the production run. He also wants to buy another one off build I have from Spikes tactical that was a proto type never put into production by myself and Tom. I could never replace these but dont know why Im torn about selling them or any of my collection for that matter. Its not like Im AR=15 poor by any stretch of the imagination.
Im trying to ask myself why I have such a collection, and no children to pass it on to or what not. I dont trust the idjits in my neighborhood to pass them out to in the event of something happening, not a big subscriber into that scool of thought anyhows. The collection just started growing and now its just a... labor of love? bragging rights? Big timing? I just dont know...
The gentleman is offering me top dollar for it plus wanting to trade me some items I need. I am torn and know I should take the money and run...Buttt... something keeps telling me I will regret it like I always do.
I prayed about it and feel I should... call me crazy but I feel like I need to cull the flock but cant bear to make the decision on what to sell and what not to, every time I lay it out to pick and choose each one has some special meaning or value to me, I also feel if I sell now and there is a future ban I might miss out on top dollar sales for stuff.
I do realise I dont need that many AR-15s and may loose my butt if there is ever an outright ban. ARs are the bulk of my collection but have many more makes of long guns,shot guns, pistols etc.
Before anyone asks, no Im not set up for food to well Just started in the arena of bulk food storage. So Im torn verry torn and respect yalls advice here. I just cant rationalise keeping it, or selling it though I know I should cull it...arghhhhhh

[Matt In Oklahoma]

sounds like a good problem to have LOL
I have made trades and sales that i regretted before but life goes on and you can always get more. They are just wood, plastic and steel and unimportant in the grand scheme of things. make sure you keep what you need/want and be solid in your choice

[protus]

ive been in your shoes. and each time thought back..was that a good choice. Even now i have a bunch of C+R stuff, but what will it get me..few 100 here and there?

If your lacking in food and have some "toys" to get rid of , you may as well. Least then it will go towards stuff you canuse vs just watch it sit in the closet. Least its an AR..if it was an AK id say dont sell it :P
seriously get your food and water tightened up. One of those rifles would set you up well on that end of things.

[Grand58742]

Least its an AR..if it was an AK id say dont sell it :P

Uncultured heathen!

I've looked back on some I've sold and regretted it. Mostly a Browning Hi-Power Mk 2 I (stupidly) sold because I was going overseas and thought I needed the money. Looked back and regretted it since then, but what's done is done so to speak. But others I've sold/traded, not so much. Just got done unloading a rifle not long ago and one I probably won't miss. I'm trying to consolidate my ammo stores down to a few calibers and some weapons are just taking up space in the safe.

Right now though, the iron is hot to strike. Folks are buying up anything in anodized black that goes bang and you can get a decent price for whatever AR you are selling regardless of the manufacturer. If you have reliable replacement(s) for the rifle you are selling and lack in other areas, I'd say go for it.

But don't look back and say "I wish I hadn't." What's done is done and your friend will probably give it a good home.

[Lowdown3]

I've been sitting right where you were, maybe a little bit better on the food, etc. but nevertheless, pondering the decisions.

When we moved up here almost 13 years ago, my collection was in the three figures. A few years later the lower two figures.

Couple reasons why-

1. I dumped everything that did not perform (almost) flawlessly. Can't take the risk of that. Seriously, what are we doing this for? I'm not a collector and I doubt you are either.
2. I dumped pretty much all of the "show" guns. I "miss" a few of these- a pretty IMI Model B, a 1974 original HK91, couple other similar.
3. I dumped most all of the non mil spec long guns that were not in primary (to me) calibers. This meant the Mini 14's and a handful of others.
4. I dumped most all of the toys, many of the "why do I have/need a dozen shotguns?" type deals, etc.

Oddly enough, I think I only dropped one caliber from the logistics train after going through all of them. You guessed it- 223 ;)

I needed cash as well, that was a big part of it. MOST things I at least broke even on, but some were a loss. So much for the "guns always hold their value" idea. People forget the fact that most of us buy at retail and then sell at wholesale. Like trading in a car. A couple of person to person sales were money makers, but not all of them.

I came to the realization that if something did happen, MOST of these weapons would be sitting the same place they always did- in the safe.

More to the point, and something I think most of us should seriously consider- what could looters do with YOUR stash? The "12th Ward Wannabees" with barely a Raven .25 between them could become a much bigger threat once they got control of most any of our safes. Yes and I know the gun doesn't make the man, but the point is, do you want to contribute to the problem by arming looters? Folks that are determined to stay in stupid areas of high population density need to consider this carefully. Having 12 extra battle rifles you aren't going to use is just going to arm looters after they grab your wife and put a knife to her throat. Not saying this applies to your particular situation, just bringing up a point few people consider.

Good luck on your decisions. Remember you can't eat bullets and you really don't want to have to fight for each and every meal.

Lowdown3

[cfcw]

I've sold guns before and regretted it. However, the main reason is that the money was not deployed for other useful items and tends to disappear into the abyss.

Most of us have too much "stuff" as it is. If you have a hole in preps that needs to be filled then I think you should sell the surplus and immediately utilize that capital to fill that need. If you have no immediate need for the money and enjoy (and can afford) your collection, I'd probably hang on to them.

[BioG8r]

It seems as though we are in agreement, It's gonna be one of those decisions you will regret but probably in your best interest to start going through and culling out the less than necessary.
Only you can loosen the grip! Having a few too many is a heck of a lot better than having too few!
Sentimental things don't feed you in times of need, they just make you feel warm and fuzzy when it is cold and prickly!
Good Luck with your decision!

[protus]

Uncultured heathen!

me. Naw.. im all kinda cultured LOL.


sell that AR...go get some food.......

[Pop_45]

Im trying to ask myself why I have such a collection, and no children to pass it on to or what not

You can adopt me!!

jk

[RobertJ]

Thank you all for the Humor, advise, and input... it is well recieved, I have decided to get rid of some of the safe queens... my go to weapons are staying.

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Thank you all for the Humor, advise, and input... it is well recieved, I have decided to get rid of some of the safe queens... my go to weapons are staying.

You will likely look back on this decision and be thankful you sold some. It is hard to eat a rifle and most of us can only shoot one at a time (unless it's the movies).

[Grand58742]

most of us can only shoot one at a time (unless it's the movies).

Speak for yourself there partner. I can wield dual ARs, have a pistol in a drop leg holster with another in a shoulder harness and one more still in the small of my back while clamping a Bowie between my teeth. All while firing from the hip, hitting everything I aim at and saving the damsel in distress.

And I've got them 30 round magazines that never run out of ammo as well with the bullets that throw folks back fifteen feet when hit.

[BioG8r]

And I've got them 30 round magazines that never run out of ammo as well with the bullets that throw folks back fifteen feet when hit.

Ur my HERO!

I have searched high and low for those mags, one gunshop owner said I could find them in Hollyweird, he said it was near narnia.

@Robert J -- As for the safe queens,,, you gonna post some sales where we get a chance to aquire a few??

[RobertJ]

Bio
I had a buyer who really wanted the ARs that are pending sale. If he backs out, which he wont I will let you know. I am emptying the safes out this weekend and am gonna pick and choose some more... I will let you know if I decide on more sales and where I will post, or give yall here a chance first. I just have this nagging feeling to stock up on lots o the basic foods right now... I am so behind the curve...

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

RobertJ...I will let you know if I decide on more sales and where I will post, or give yall here a chance first.

There are many Florida members here that may be willing to have a face-to-face sale and other non-FL members that may benefit from your collection.