Reducing my "collection"

[targetman]

For various reasons, mainly due to advancing age, I shall be 80 years old this year, failing eyesight and arthritis, I am trying to reduce the number of rifles I own. The enquiries I have made have been met with a lack of interest. I know that the market is, for various reasons, rather slack and dealers in particular are overstocked .

Has anybody any idea to what I can do.

I have a variety of Lee Enfields including two "composed" snipers, and L42A1 and No4(T), plus a P'14, an SMLE Mk1*** with target sights, a Lithgow SMLE "Range Rifle" with heavy barrel., a Canadian .303" Ross issued 1914, a .303" CLLE with Parker target sight, a Mauser K98 composed sniper..the list goes on including 7.62 Target Rifles, 7.5 Schmidt Rubins....and so on.

Anybody got any idea how I can proceed.

[Martiniman]

I’d recommend speaking to this man:

https://www.highwoodclassicarms.co.uk/index.htm

[targetman]

I have contacted Simon a few times but failed to get a reply so gave up.

[PeterN]

I am approaching a similar situation though I am a renewal behind you. I have decided not to buy any more military surplus rifles though I am tempted by a Persian Mauser I have seen. I thought that I would just wait until I go toes up and leave instructions for my family to contact Holts auction and let them take everything. I won't care what they make and the family will be happy to not have to deal with them. I am not there yet so I may change my mind. I did think about putting a few of my vintage semi auto shotguns in to Holts but when I got them out I didn't like the idea of parting with them yet. I can still get down prone and shoot so I will carry on as long as I can. A few of the older chaps at my club now shoot from a table as they can't shoot prone any more.
Regards
Peter.

[Vossie]

I’d recommend speaking to this man:

https://www.highwoodclassicarms.co.uk/index.htm

I would also recommend Simon, he can be difficult to get hold of but well worth it.

[Alpha1]

I am approaching a similar situation though I am a renewal behind you. I have decided not to buy any more military surplus rifles though I am tempted by a Persian Mauser I have seen. I thought that I would just wait until I go toes up and leave instructions for my family to contact Holts auction and let them take everything. I won't care what they make and the family will be happy to not have to deal with them. I am not there yet so I may change my mind. I did think about putting a few of my vintage semi auto shotguns in to Holts but when I got them out I didn't like the idea of parting with them yet. I can still get down prone and shoot so I will carry on as long as I can. A few of the older chaps at my club now shoot from a table as they can't shoot prone any more.
Regards
Peter.

Luckily I have managed to thin my collection down I now have very few firearms left. I am stuck with the modern stuff the 6.5 Creedmoor and a TIKKA in 6.5 x55 etc.
But its un likely I will renew my certificate when its due for renewal next year what I have left I will give away to my fellow Club members. If I am still stuck with the Ruger Precision and 6.5x55 stuff I will probably take the hit and hand them in to be chopped up.

[Martiniman]

I have contacted Simon a few times but failed to get a reply so gave up.

I 100% agree he is bad and then some at communicating. I’d suggest a call to his wife with her number that’s listed?

[Christel]

I would use Holts.

They have access to a big market, both nationally and internationally.

Ask them to put a reserve on the gun, back when I was using them they were happy to do so.
If you do not ask then they will take a view.

It will take some time though. Both selling and getting paid.

[dromia]

The thing to be aware of with Holts is that if the gun doesn't sell at that auction and you don't collect it straight after the auction then they charge you storage which soon mounts up. A couple of RFD friends of mine have been caught out on this and made hardly anything from their sales as a consequence!

[targetman]

Many thanks for all your responses. I have to agree with Dromia regarding Holts a friend of mine who was an RFD, sadly now deceased, had exactly the problem described.

Dromia, do you want my old 7.62 Schmidt-Rubin action target rifle again???? I have sold it three times and always bought back...I must be nuts.