Selling off collection due to illness

[Targa]

My prayers to you and your family. I don't blame you for wanting to sell your firearms and I admire you for your strength in putting your family first.
With that said, I hope your not giving up, medical miracles through Gods grace happen all the time. I pray that we get to see posts from you trying to replace your sold collection because you whipped this cancer.

[weedsnager]

Prayers to you and you're family

[Hal]

Sorry to hear of your condition.

If it helps any, I'm not all that far from it myself. (I've got end stage COPD & it's a real sucky way to check out...)

Keep swinging & don't let the - stuff - get the better of you!

The "For sale" section here is a good place to list things.

[peggysue]

Sorry. Prayers for you and your family.

[Chris_B]

There's always hope.

Please get well soon.

[jackstrawIII]

You could also try having a fundraiser / raffle, That could potentially yield much more then the guns are worth normally.

As someone said before, I don't know you but I'd be willing to pay more than a gun was worth in a situation like this. I'm sure someone in your town (maybe at the fire dept) would be willing to host an auction like this for you.

[45_auto]

As others have stated, best return for your wife would be to put your items on Gunbroker.

Do you have any trusted "gun nut" friends or family members that could handle it for you? That would probably be the most practical option.

[vito]

My thoughts and prayers are with you. Any one of us can be struck down at any moment, and too few of us take the time to really appreciate our gift of life. I wish you strength and hope.

I think you are wise to try to sell off your guns while you can. I know that if I passed, my wife, who is totally ignorant and uncomfortable around firearms, would likely take them to the nearest shop like Gander Mountain and get pennies on the dollar for these guns. Even if I leave a list with expected values, based on Gunbroker for example, she would be so anxious to just be done with them that she would lose out significantly. I would do what I am seeing that you plan to do and sell them now, other than possibly one firearm for home defense.

Good luck and Godspeed.

[doofus47]

Sorry to hear that Gilfo.

I would try selling first on Gunbroker.

Pros:
1. You could set a reserve price that would be a "bottom floor." Let the market decide if you think too highly of your collection. If you go to a pawn shop or some location, you will receive their "top dollar" and their price will reflect that they will try to turn around and make 30 to 100% profit.

2. You can control the buyers' expectations. You can also dictate terms of payment and tell the buyer that nothing will ship until the $ passes.

3. Generally criminals don't like to leave a paper trail, so the buyer will probably not be straw purchasing or buying for criminal intent.

Just random thoughts.

[CodeSection]

Gilfo, my prayers go out to you, your wife and daughters. My mother-in-law had lung cancer that metastasized to her brain too.

You have been given good advice here as well as in the other forum where I read your post. Since you are an experienced seller, I suspect you have an idea of your collection pieces individual worth. If not, the following link may be of some guidance....

https://bluebookofgunvalues.com/Subs...ion_Start.aspx

I feel you are probably pretty good at judging one's character. However, by the sounds of it, your health situation may interfere with selling items. Time may be better spent with treatment and family.

Do you know of any individuals at your regular local range tha can help you? I understand you live in Orlando, FL. You might want to contact the NRA representative that covers that area for suggestions. I understand your wife actively shoots as well. Therefore, I suspect she knows the value of your inventory and is capable of dealing with an auctioneer or dealer if you put any of the items on consignment.

Again, my prayers are with you and your family.

[rebs]

My wife and I will pray for you. May the Lord give comfort to you and your family through this difficult time. I would like to know if you setup a go-fund me or some where else I could send a donation to help out you and your family.

[keithdog]

Our prayers will be with you and your family. My mother was beset by the same exact situation as yourself. Very sorry to hear what has happened to you. You have some good advice from the guys on selling your gun. I have nothing to add in that regard. I wish you the best in trying to accomplish what you have set out to do.

[gsparesa]

God bless you and your family. If you need money, fund raise it through gofund me.com.

[4D5]

Sending prayers for you and yours.

[mpd61]

My prayers fr you and your family

[Chainsaw.]

Good vibes heading your way!

I have a friend/coworker who just came back to work after a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis. Hang tough!

If ypu can dig up the energy (I know its an asset on therapy) a good gun show might be a start in my mind. You could lay it all out and talk to nice folks in the process.

Gun broker etc can be a bit of work. Posying pics, shipping etc etc.

Let your amigos know. Such things are not difficult to peddle. I have sold guns for friends in literally minutes to other friends.

[Recoil spring]

I used to visit the gun shows in Minnesota for decades and there was a guy who was the cousin of a good friend of mine. He had the most fabulous military hand gun collection I have ever seen, rare stuff, kept them in a glass case that took up a whole table. He started collecting Lugers in the early 50's had great advice.

Just before I left for Texas in 2008 I was at the last big show and saw him with only a few handguns for sale, he clearly had signs of a one or more stroke damage and he told me he was selling everything due to declining health, he did not look well at all. He was down to just 4 handguns, he told me he was 86 years old, which I did not know. Because he had collector grade guns it was a chore to get a decent price for them, but used the gun shows to unload his collection. I doubt he is still alive and I live too far away to visit.

You may want to try a table at a gun show. Sorry to hear of your health issues.

[TRX]

I would first put the word out to friends, co-workers, and family, to give them an opportunity to help out financially as well as getting a keepsake.

Next I'd try some ads in the local papers. If you have any local gun clubs or ranges, see if they have bulletin boards or newsletters.

A local gun shop might accept some of them for consignment sales.

[lee n. field]

Well got some news today that I am sure no one here on the boards would ever what to get. I was just diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer which has spread to 3 spots on my brain. I have just completed radiation treatment and it has taken some toll on my body as far. Tired all the time and not much energy. This brings me to my question for all my friends on the site. I now have to task of selling off my small gun collection to get as much money as I can to leave for my wife. I hope not to get into the position of “giving away the guns for any money I can get but to get a fair price for each for the family. I am asking for any advise as to how to sell the inventory to maximize it’s worth and would welcome any suggestions as to how would be the best way to sell them off. I would also like to sell the assorted magazines and quite of bit of ammo I had been accumulating for the coming problems I see out nation facing. I have weapons that I have not even fired for lack of time as well as weapons that I have all being in like new condition with original boxes and paper work.
So again any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as to making the task before me a bit easier since I really don’t know how much time God has allotted me on this earth before he calls me home.

Sorry to hear this. We are all mortal. I have metastatic prostate cancer, known to be in my lungs. Currently kept at bay by a drug that I seem to have every listed side effect of. Won't stay at bay forever.

Anyway, we used to have a small-ish FFL locally that would sell estate collections for folks, mostly using Gunbroker. He knew the ins and outs, could ship and could deal with the FFL stuff. Of course he took a cut. You might want to see if there's anyone trustworthy locally that could do that.

[ibfestus]

I have a friend in Slater MO. His name is George and he too received the bad news... Stage 4 lung cancer that had metastacized (SP?). He has had surgery, he has done chemo, he has done radiation... dozens of times.

He was given 4 months to live and that was in 2010.

George simply refuses to die and he is still fighting. He has 1/3 of 1 lung left but I talked to him last night and he told me that yesterday he loaded 200 rounds of .45ACP on his Dillon 550.

The point being, George never gave up.

I had another friend that had the same diagnosis. He gave up and quit fighting and was dead in four months.

Never give up, yes sell your collection. I suggest a estate auction... you have other things to do but worry whether that Marlin 336 is worth $275 or $325.

Hope this helps, I am 74 and have prostate cancer.

[baddarryl]

My father passed from Adrenal Gland cancer 2 years ago. I hate to be bleak, but he went from diagnosis to dead in 3 weeks. I would as soon as you can as others have said catalog everything for your family so they can know value. If you can arrange a trusted friend or auctioneer that would be beneficial too. One off local LGS's will consign for 10%. That is worth looking into.

My dad never had the chance to delegate certain things in his will and I have had to fight his widow for them. I would not wish that on anyone. Best wishes to you in your journey.

[ThomasT]

My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer about 3 years ago. She went through 8 chemo treatments and had a double masectomy and has been cancer free so far.

I have an idea of what you and your wife are going through and as I type this I have eyes filled with tears. The memories are still very strong for me and my thoughts are with you and your family.

But yes, post a listing of your guns with pictures if possible here in the for sale section. I bet we can help. GB is good but takes some work and time investment. I have bought one gun off the S&W site and felt I got a good deal and I didn't try to haggle with the seller. Knowing what part of the country you are in might help also with maybe a few face to face sales.

May God be with you and your love ones.

[silverhawk500]

GILFO: Sorry to hear the news- Prayers are ongoing. Did you ever make a decision on a sale/ auction? I ask because I would like to help, I am sure myself, family or friends may be looking for something and I could push the price. Never give up. Be Safe,

[rc]

Sad news indeed. My heart goes out to you and your family but this is not the end! May I suggest you find a good friend or child who can help your wife liquidate your collection should you go before you have a chance to take care of everything you would like to sell. I would write down a list of everything and how much you expect it's worth. I know it's not easy getting news like this but my grandmother was told she had 6 months in 1989 with metastasized breast cancer and then proved her old doctor wrong by going to Stanford which has a great cancer center, getting on tomoxifen and living till 1998! I would see a specialist and ask if there is any new treatments that are worth trying. What have you got to lose? rc

[gilfo]

To all my friends on Firing Line. Most of my collection has been sold at fair prices for both parties. I only have 3 rifles to sell and that will be completed. I also was holding back a few additional guns that are near and dear to my heart. I couldn't bare to see them sold.. I have a good friend that will handle that for me.


So again I want to take this time to thank you all for your help and suggestions.

May God bless you all hope they have a nice range up in heaven where we all can meet.