"But how does one choose???" Start by sending me the decoys

Pretty much like George Lang, parkers, colts, pre 64 winchester model 70s, all pre 64 winchester 22s, mauser 22s, early smith and wessons, big old tractors and small ones-have 4 farmall cubs with different attached equipment, books-probably every gun or hunting book published in the past 45 years-coins, the classic sets, lincolns, buffalo nickels, mercury dimes, washington quarters, standing liberty halves and franklin halves. The stuff that was circulating when I was growing up, land and old tools. I think that covers most of it. Sylvia and I have a big house and a 100 foot barn. They are both full. I have started downsizing but a slow process. My kids will probably go nuts trying to figure out what to do with all this stuff.

I think I'm lucky in that my interests are pretty narrow compared to some here. It's just guns,guns,guns and that's limited to Pre64 M70's with a couple of lever guns thrown in, Parkers a couple of Fox's (I want some more:rotf:) and English guns. Oh I have some old wooden shell boxes and old cartridge boxes mostly for decoration.

As we age we invariably come to the conclusion that there is way to much stuff and that it would be better if we parted it out vs some one else who might not have the knowledge to do so. This is a decision I'm quickly approaching with the Winchester M70's. I have all the FWT's and only lack a 300 & 458 from having all the std calibers and have duplicates of several. It's about time to start moving some esp the duplicates. I have been on a custom rifle kick the last couple of years and we all know the investment made in them won't be recovered and they will pretty much take care of any big game hunting I'm likely going to do from here on in.

Prewar American made custom rifles, Parkers, eight to .410, gun paper, especially Parker, Prussian Daly shotguns, single traps, American and otherwise, Nash Buckingham and Henry Bartholomew information, Super Foxes, eight gauge shotguns, graded high condition Model 12 and 42 Winchesters, guns with serious provenance. My decades long search for the perfect Purdey pigeon gun ended this year when I found a high condition late bar in iron Whitworth barrelled hammer gun with all pigeon features. Now I can relax and continue my search for the perfect Parker. It is in range, but still not in the safe. I have started to retire my collection of old shells, because they are too heavy to keep. The next to go may be the eights and tens, for the same reason. Elmer Keith claims that he sold all of his Sharps buffalo rifles because they were too hard to move around. Now I realize what he was talking about. I guess I forgot the prewar Browning Superposed guns and the early trap and pigeon shooting memorabilia. I also collect early NSSA skeet memorabilia and early shotgun shooting trophies.

We would like to hear more about Eric's .410 skeet gun.

I got a good laugh last night watching a bit of "American Pickers". These guys travel the country buying antiques from people with sometimes multiple buildings filled with the things they have acquired over their lifetimes, and sometimes buying from someone's heirs who have no idea what to do with all this "stuff". Anyway, they are looking through the mountains of things this 87 year old gent has acquired and they ask him what he collects. He replies with a sly grin, through his Snow White whiskers "Old things. I like anything old except women. I prefer younger women!".

Re: American Pickers - Just how "American" can they be if they have NEVER come across any old guns of any description?

...nevermind, I already know the answer - 'Guns' just ain't politically correct :shock:






.

My two children are well aware that when I am gone they will be left with some much loved and well used parkers and empty beer coolers.

they do occasionally find a gun, they bought a Krag close to the Rough Rider's serial range in a rerun a week or two ago

and some muzzleloaders - a few years back they had a Japanese matchlock that ended up worth more than they thought and they sent the guy more cash on the deal

i have told the kids their inheritance is in double guns and out of print bird hunting and fishing books :rotf: