Reeder Custom Guns - REGRETTING SELLING GUNS

I often see posts where someone talks of regretting selling one of their guns. I have been there and it is not a good place to be. In 1963 I was working full time at night and going to college full-time during the day and was in my junior year. We had three little babies which insisted upon eating regularly. I was faced with the choice of either paying tuition or buying food so that was no choice at all. If I dropped out of school I felt it would be awfully hard to get back. So I sold three very special guns: a 1950 Target .44 Special, A first-year production Second Generation 7-1/2" Colt Single Action Army .45, and a pre-64 Winchester .30-30. As we left the gun shop Diamond Dot looked up at me with tears in her eyes and said you'll never have to do that again. She proved to be a prophet and we have never had to do that again. Oh I have sold some guns for good reasons such as raising money for my dear friend Jim Taylor and his mission work, however that is a positive not a negative.

I got a call from Shapel's Gun Shop several years ago and told me I should come up as a young fellow there was selling grandpas guns. He had three Colt Single Actions from before World War I as well as three Winchesters from the same timeframe. I bought a pair of his Colts, both .44-40 and 4-3/4" barrels. One was from 1897 and the other from 1903. (I should have bitten the bullet and bought them all) I felt really bad that a young kid would sell grandpas guns. I figured he was gonna buy a motorcycle or a boat or something like this, however I felt much better later when I learned he was selling guns to pay medical bills for his own kids. God Bless Him!

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sell their guns. Most of them say their kids don't want guns around the house so they might as well sell them. It is a shame but at least they get a decent price for them whereas the kids would just dump them in a pawn shop for pennies.

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This Ruger SBH serial # 41 with the longer grip frame is one I regret selling. I believe #20 was given to Jack O`Conner and I never researched #41.. And Gary is right about getting a decent price instead of selling for a couple of dollars...

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But looking back I have no REAL regrets. Sure a few I'd like to have back. When I was a kid making $80 a week I had to sell my shotgun to get a muzzle loader (always upgrading) then sell it to get a handgun to shoot in the summer....each time I upgraded. Soon I had a shotgun, handgun, and a ML. That was the early beginning of a huge hobby and sizeable collection. By selling and upgrading I have experienced literally thousands of different firearms of all types. When I had a FFL I'd buy the new stuff I liked, try it, test, then sell.

Even today I sometimes have to let one or two go to venture off on a HHC or once in a lifetime adventure. I end up blessed ever greater and gain back afterward. I have (3) kids at home, one in college, another next year, on a public utility salary. You have to get crafty. I've lived way beyond my means. If I can just get my wife to go back to work...

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worth of my personal guns a year ago to finance my latest African hunt. I knew a top 5 Cape Buffalo was going to be at least $20,000 and I have a rule where I never pull money out of the shop for personal stuff. So several guns went bye bye. The good part is most were guns built in my shop so good Lord willing, I can replace them. The only one I can't replace easily was my last 44 Auto Mag. It was a very low serial number B model and there were only 350 of them made. But I hadn't shot it in 20 years so no real love lost. My Cape Buffalo mount should be finished pretty soon and that will make it all worth while.

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It was, I believe around '59 or so. My Dad who was not by any means a rich man, one child was born and another soon to be on the way, Me. He had at the time amassed a small fortune in firearms, A Browning Auto 5, a Ruger SSix convertible and a Winchester Westerner, 264 Win Mag. You may think this is not a small fortune of firearms today, but as a factory worker with a family, eventually 5 in total!! A lot of savings, along with a ton of thought, went into decisions to purchase things, especially when money could have gone to other things.
Long story short, He had to sell the Winchester, a decision I know at 80+ years of age now, still regrets. He has never sold another, In the ensuing years, time has blessed him in more ways than one, and has acquired and KEPT more than 150, pieces of various firearms.
And His son, Myself, has also learned from his Fathers Mistakes, after selling a few myself, I do not do it anymore. A few potential regrets were purchased by my Father, and then sold it back to me, He knew! Thanks Dad

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7.5" 3 screw super Bhawk .44
3" round butt .41 M657
338 Alaskan win M70
4" pinned and recessed M57
Savage M99 .358 win

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20 Years back had to move, asked my friend if I could park my safe and a few guns in his garage. He offered to give me 5k for the guns. I needed $$ so took him up on the offer.
This past week an robbery attempt was made, it freaked my friend out, he called and wanted to know if I wanted my guns back,
sure!
Browning 1964 Safari 7mm
Browning 1964 Safari 222 pb
Browning Citori 12ga & 20ga
Browning SA22
Asked him how much?
5k
They were all in the exact same condition, near mint.
He even offered to pay me for the safe now that it is all messed up. The safe company is rebuilding the safe, and delivering it back to my friend, it’s his now.
My only regret got the cure 20 years later thanks to a GREAT friend.

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and really wish I had that back. I used the heck out of the saw so it was a good deal at the time but it ain't no Hi-power.

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Most of us had to sell guns for rent, tires, food, child support etc.

Some very close gun buddies and myself formed an informal arrangement. When one of us had to sell a gun to raise cash another would buy it and move it to his safe. Kind of a gun loan arrangement.

This last summer I was cleaning out my safe and came across several guns from friends that have passed. I’ve never shot them.

I think I’ll shoot it this weekend. Then have a drink and a cigar to toast him.

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If they need to sell a gun, I will buy it and they can have it back at the same price, whenever. No question.

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REGRETTING SELLING GUNS

Glad that some went to you.

we get older folks in just about every week wanting to

yes

I've been faced with selling may prized guns

I have it a little better than most. I sold almost $25,000

Regrets

A few regrets

Regrets

Regrets, i've had a few

Traded an Inglis Browning Hi-power for a skill saw years ago

At different times in our lives

I have a standing deal with my friends.