Not if I was the buyer. I'd show up at his house, on time, with cash, and BEER!

I have seen this happen multiple times over the years and with some families I thought was rock solid.

Hell, we almost lost a whole company, due to a will being changed at the very end. But that's a long, convoluted story that is, thankfully, barely discernable in the rear-view mirror now.

That's the issue right there. Your heart is tied to inanimate objects, tools. If Dad or Grandpa gave it to me, I'm the same way. If I bought it, and family don't want it, SOLD. If you don't spend the money, the kids will darn sure take that when you go!

I volunteer as tribute to be adopted and inherit said firearms. lol

I don’t have the answer. I have enough grandkids/great grandkids to bait a trotline. Only one grandson has hunted and he is slowing down. No sons, just 3 daughters and not a gun in the crowd. I have a safe full of firearms and way too much hand loading gear.

And then there’s all the fishing stuff that take up a lot of garage area.

Oh well, it won’t be my problem.

It's interesting for us who have kids that did not take up / share our hobbies/passions. Being a guitar picker and my grown boys aren't, I sold much of my vintage tube amp collection a few years ago. Someday they will inherret only a few guitars and amps and can sell them. I'll probably sell whats left first. They both own guns and like to hunt and shoot. They will get my items and ammo and can keep or sell. My reloading stuff...they have never shown interest. But I'll keep loading for 30 more years God willing, and perhaps one will show interest so i can pass on my knowledge. I'm a heavy DIYER and tool guy, so they will get my tools. One son has a slight DIY gene. They would both gladly take the tools.

My point is to know your family and friend groups and what should VS could happen to your earthly passion possessions when you're gone, and plan accordingly. It's freeing and rewarding to gift, earmark or sell to others when we are ready to simplify.

Meant to add above ‐------ For all you guys in your 70s-80s reading this, consider making a family announcement or small groups of announcements to your kids and grandchildren, nieces and nephews. "Guys, you all know I have a lot of hobbies and passions in life. It would mean the world to me if any of you would accept my open and honest invitation to let me show you these things, tell you what they have meant to me, and for you to tell me what you would like to inherret from me. This would be a great gift you all could give me.

From there, you can begin to make your list of who gets what and when. Kids and grandkids get priority. But this way no one will have regrets after you've gone about not knowing how to approach you. I'm going to do this. Freeing and thoughtful.

Caveat will be there may be a few family members who truly share your passions. They should know while you're still kicking how cool you think that is and discuss what they should receive as they take priority.

If my family showed no interest after this, I'd either begin selling while alive or put in my will to auction the gun collection for a charitable cause, gift my tools to a charitable purpose, etc. As a strong Christian, I don't want to depart this life with hordes of earthly possessions stored in my house.

Good suggestion. I’ve already done some talking with kids and grandkids, and some of the pistols and rifles do have eventual new homes. The majority of pistols and rifles, however, don’t have eventual new homes. I think I will get in touch with that DFW area auction company and have them handle a couple of the more valuable rifles.

Same problem, however, with fishing stuff, but I’ll give it away eventually. Probably to forum folks. Nothing of any great value there. And then there’s the complete woodworking shop and power tools and hand tools. I’ll just use it till I can’t, and I have years left.

If it sounds like I expect to die at any moment, that’s not the case at all. I’m healthy as a horse (old horse perhaps). My parents and their siblings all lived till their middle and late 80’s, and I probably will too.

I try to give away, or throw away, something every day.

Well if any of y’all have a Winchester model 12 28 ga field grade your in-laws won’t appreciate I’d pay top $ and appreciate it to the moon and back ! That’s the last model 12 I need to complete my collection

I traded my grandfather's away years ago. It'd been cut for a Cutts Compensator.

They are as rare as hens teeth unmolested and not engraved !

It was a shame, and easily avoided if the owners had come forth and been transparent with the authorities. They were crazy to think they could get away with allowing the escape of an adult tiger. If you had seen where the tiger was killed, you would understand why f&g had their hands tied and had no choice but to shoot. Sad deal all around. That said, when my wife asked me why I needed an elephant gun, I was able to say, “Hey, you never know. Look what happened when we lived in Moorpark.”

If you would rather give them away than sell them I know a charity that can give you a tax receipt for a write off.
I take donations for my charity clay shoot raffle every Spring, and it raises money for a very good cause.

I was thinking the same thing. Uncle 603 has always been my favorite!

Kershen's idea is a great one!

Great idea, I'm not missing it in 2025.

Big Fitz, I think 603 likes me better

I’ve been doing the same

same here!

I need to start this. Actually, my wife needs to.

We were visiting family in Houston this weekend, and I got a chance to talk with the oldest grandson (28) about rifles and pistols, and what he wants or might want when I’m gone. We got a good start on what goes where and who else might want a rifle or pistol. He’s still irritated that the Colt Python goes to his sister, but he’ll like the 686. And, if his sister marries the guy she’s engaged to, he’ll be family and receiving a rifle or two.

Potential for problems with the younger grandkids. They have shown very little interest in shooting or hunting, and I can’t, in good conscience, give firearms to completely untrained 20-somethings. They are going to want a firearm or two, but I have explained to their mom (and my wife) that this isn’t favoritism. If the two won’t take a hunting or gun safety course and spend time with me shooting and being safe, they won’t get any firearm. This is my rule, and I won’t budge.

I might not need to sell more than one or two firearms. We’ll see.

I don’t have the answer. I gave a great grandson an awful lot of fishing gear recently. I got rid of the bass boat and realized that Cabelas would be jealous if they looked at my rod, reels and tackle boxes.

Now what to do with a safe full of firearms and mucho hand loading gear.,

Hate to hear that. Growing up without a dad around, that's one thing I miss out on, the heirloom stuff that means more than money.

I'm already collecting stuff to give my kids some day.

This is funny. I'm looking into having a 1915 Springfield 1911 ported, mount for a light, and milled for an RMR2 since nobody seemed to care about it. Now they care after I told them what I want to do to it. Without the Bayonet.

603, it sounds like you've got your problem solved. It'd be easy to sell a couple on here, and even easier to donate to DKershan.