I have seen some at gun shows that would never be shoot able so they were sold as wall hangers. I've never had a gun get to that point.

 

Tragic boating accidents?

I've fixed a couple, but I think a lot of them get torn down and sold for parts. I've seen $25-$50 parts sell when you can't get $100 for the gun.

 

Or save them for the next gun buy back lol

 

Hang them on the wall

 

What happens to old firearms?
They retire to Florida and play golf.
:
0331exmc

 

The only one that I ever had disposed of, was an old single-shot 410 that the stock broke on. It was cheaper to replace the whole thing than to replace the stock.

 

So, what did you do with it? Unless you'd rather not say. Cut it? Take it apart? Put in the household garbage? Take it to the scrap yard?

Where do they go, that's what I want to know.

 

Any sane person would sell them as a...

1. wallhanger (for decoration, display)
2. for parts

I would never throw them in the trash. Even wall hangers at the gun store have to have paperwork filled out (unless older than 1898).

I've heard of old guns, rusted junk and saw off shotguns that were all whopped out being found in attics, basements and garages. I wouldn't keep them for fear of loosing my gun rights.

Guns can be turned in anonymously to the ATF...guns with serial numbers filed off, etc. Even then only the frame is turned in. The rest is sold for parts.

Never throw a gun in the trash. At the very least save it for a $50 gift certificate at the next liberal gun buyback.

 

I've restored a few non working guns that were stashed in my father in laws shop.

I scrapped a few non working clunkers. I usually bash the action with a sledge hammer so it will never work again and then throw it in an iron pile that is eventually sold for scrap.

I have actually lost a 22 revolver when we rolled a boat while floating a river.

 

I gave it to someone that wanted it as a project. Not sure what his project was, but really didn't want to know either. I didn't ask.. he didn't tell.

 

I have stripped out several to use the parts to the point that all I had was a stripped frame.

After a while you have a big box filled with blocks of metal with serial numbers.

At that point they seem to lose their soul and are easily forgotten.

 

I have been given old near worthless non working guns that I fixed. I wont spend any money on them but if a few dollar part or something I can make will do it. Somebody gave me a 1858 copy years ago, locked up, whoever originally had it didnt clean it, broke the end of the cylinder rod off trying to get it apart. I took the guts out, and knocked it from the back, welded on a new tab and got it working again. I have an old 410 somebody gave me, a pistol now, its worthless, might just cut it up in pieces and chuck em in a pond.

 

I have a friend who asked me for any old guns that didn't work and not repairable. When I asked why he said he takes them to the gun buy back in St. Louis put on by the city and some churches. He gets a minimum of $50 each, but averages over $100. No questions asked, no paperwork, it is all cash. Recently, he said they where offering gift cards to Walmart too. I have no guns ready for the melter, but I have some old shooters.

 

Taken apart for parts.
Refinishing practice
Sold for parts
Random other gunsmithing practice
Wall hangers and other "art"
Guy buy backs

 

How complete does a "gun" need to qualify for a buy back?
Do they buy zip guns?

 

Numrich Arms, known on the web as gunpartscorp.com, will buy old, non-serviceable firearms from you. (where do you think all those antique parts, screws etc. come from?)

 

Yes....^^^^^ they go to Numrich Heaven to be recycled as parts to keep their brothers and sisters working.

 

If they're pre WW1 single shots, they migrate to my gun room. Bit by bit they get restored, or donate parts so that others can have new life. I have never destroyed an old gun.

When my old Dad died in 2004, I had to slip his small collection of 19th century revolvers out of the house in secret, before my philistine brother took 'em to the local polizei. We had quite a row over that. Haven't spoken much since. No great loss, he's a Democrat.

 

Damn can't imagine someone doing that knowing their father collected.

 

never throw away a single part. old cracked frams and cylinders? new life as footpegs, ect for motorcycles. made a set of floor boards once out of a pair of shot muskrat traps <G> if its in any shape, it gets redone. from LC smith (recarve stocks and forends) to Belgium browning A5 ( got 125$ tied up in my Belgian ,yard sale + discolored bell and carlson stock ) this is my current project to restore. 25$ gun to buy, so far 80$ in parts in it. now i just gotta recarve a stock and clean up a cracked backstrap (ugly braze patch on it) long octangular barrel 30 WCF with a" nickle steel barrel especially for smokeless powder".