# How should I get rid of these old rifles? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 23, 2020, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472 "2020-04-23T22:33:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/1 "2020-04-23T22:33:35Z")
Just curious. The day is going to come when I will have to deal with 3-4 hunting rifles in the gun safe. They were bought within the last 50 years and there are boxes and boxes of ammo in the closet, too. I don’t know what kind, and they haven’t been used in years. … I’m not looking to make a profit, I just want them out of here. Who should I call? The police? A sporting goods shop? Craigslist? I honestly have no idea what to do when that day comes. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/2 "2020-04-23T22:41:50Z")
A pawn shop will buy them. Call ahead. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/3 "2020-04-23T23:12:43Z")
Many gun stores also function as resellers that will buy. They may not be interested in everything you have, though. There are some gun specific online auction/sales sights that can help ease the background check and transfer through a FFL dealer. Your favorite search engine is your friend. That might get you more money if you can put in the effort to figure out what specific guns you own. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/4 "2020-04-23T23:14:38Z")
You can sell them on gunbroker or another auction site, but you’ll need to get the FFL of the shop/dealer to deliver to, and you’ll need to send it by UPS (or possibly FedEx). A sporting goods store may take them on consignment. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/5 "2020-04-23T23:45:31Z")
I don’t know New York state law but here in California, disposing of our inherited firearms and ammo was a bit problematic - some were no longer viable here. (Alley-sweeper, anyone?) We drove the weapons to Nevada where a firearms shop gladly bought them. Ammo was trickier - no shop in wither state would buy old ammo - but a local dealer took them for disposal as per CA law. I’ll suggest checking NY law and regs to see your options. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/6 "2020-04-23T23:48:34Z")
I actually asked a similar question a couple of years ago on this forum. One of the members expressed an interest and we wound up making a sale. It was the first and only time I met a fellow doper face to face. Unfortunately, Kopek, who I only met briefly, and took an instant like to, passed on recently. It was such a memorable joy to visit with him for that tiny amount of time. Anyway, that’s what happened to me. I didn’t intend to sell them to a doper, I just essentially asked what they might be worth and how I should sell them ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/7 "2020-04-24T00:06:58Z")
[Moderating] This sounds like an opinion question. Off to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/8 "2020-04-24T00:35:16Z")
There’s several gun broker sites on the web. You’ll have no problem selling guns if you keep the prices reasonable. It’s far better to sell the guns to a collector that appreciates them. I’d hate seeing a collection of hunting rifles needlessly destroyed. There’s nothing wrong with old ammo. Heck Viet Nam era ammo sold on military surplus for decades afterwards. There’s several sites selling old ammo now. I don’t know how old it is. Doesn’t matter. It’s fine for hunting. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/9 "2020-04-24T00:36:29Z")
Gun shows have traditionally been a major place where guns are bought and sold–but they are probably mostly shut down now because of Covid-19. Do some research on [http://www.gunbroker.com](http://www.gunbroker.com) to see what they are worth. Note they have a search option for sold listings: [https://support.gunbroker.com/hc/en-us/articles/222614288-Searching-Completed-Items](https://support.gunbroker.com/hc/en-us/articles/222614288-Searching-Completed-Items) ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/10 "2020-04-24T00:43:19Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I don’t know what kind … I suggest you take a close look at the markings on each, and take some detailed photos. What you describe thus far could be worth little, or a lot. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/11 "2020-04-24T00:45:09Z")
I don’t know what kind they are, the names, or anything, they’re just there in the safe. I suppose I could call some kind of sporting goods store or gun store around here. I hope they would send someone to take a look. I don’t want to even touch them, much less hump them into the car and drive around with them. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/12 "2020-04-24T00:49:49Z")
If you take pictures, the guys at the gun shop can identify them from that. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/13 "2020-04-24T01:01:32Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I don’t know what kind they are, the names, or anything, they’re just there in the safe. Did these belong to a relative, or were they just there on the property when you moved in? The people we bought our current home from left behind some cool stuff (for instance tons of mason jars, nearly 20 rose bushes and a gigantic roll of aluminum foil that should last another ten years), but we haven’t found any guns yet. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/14 "2020-04-24T01:16:48Z")
Beat them into swords, then beat the swords into plowshares. I’m not positive, but you might be able to skip the intermediate form of a sword. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/15 "2020-04-24T01:41:04Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Beat them into swords, then beat the swords into plowshares. I’m not positive, but you might be able to skip the intermediate form of a sword. Weld them into a hat rack. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/16 "2020-04-24T03:00:19Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I don’t know what kind they are, the names, or anything, they’re just there in the safe. I suppose I could call some kind of sporting goods store or gun store around here. I hope they would send someone to take a look. I don’t want to even touch them, much less hump them into the car and drive around with them. Rifles will have some identification, such as this [Remington 700 hunting rifle](https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-71dd16c50014c50fdc1afd6d630bfdbe). You can see that it identifies the firearm as a Remington 700. (The number is a serial number.) It’s unlikely that they’re loaded, so it’s _probably_ safe to handle them. But since you seem to not be familiar with firearms, I understand your reluctance. Nevertheless, if you check the receiver (like in the linked picture), you can at least know what they are. Just keep your finger away from the triggers and you should be all right. . ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/17 "2020-04-24T03:03:00Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Beat them into swords, then beat the swords into plowshares. I’m not positive, but you might be able to skip the intermediate form of a sword. And there’s the corollary quote: “Those who beat their swords into plowshares, will plow for those who don’t.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/18 "2020-04-24T14:25:38Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > And there’s the corollary quote: > > “Those who beat their swords into plowshares, will plow for those who don’t.” > > 😉 Or the great philosopher from the '60’s “There are two kinds of people in this world. Those with loaded guns and those who dig…You dig.” ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/19 "2020-04-24T15:53:48Z")
Thanks for the answers, I didn’t even know how to check for identification! I hope I won’t have to bother with them for a long time, but who knows? Clothes, furniture, all that kind of stuff I can donate. but all that (including home-made ammo, shell casings, tumbler) and those rifles, I just don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472/20 "2020-04-24T16:11:44Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I don’t know what kind they are, the names, or anything, they’re just there in the safe. I suppose I could call some kind of sporting goods store or gun store around here. I hope they would send someone to take a look. I don’t want to even touch them, much less hump them into the car and drive around with them. Why wont you touch them? They are not likely infectious with COVID-19. 😛 That is going to the easiest way to determine their make and probably their model. Once you have that info then you will be able to communicate with a gun store, private owner, etc. what you have there, and then can better determine the method of disposal. While you have them out take some photos as well. Waiting for a knowledgeable gun person to come around wont get them to move very soon. I inherited an M1 army rifle from my dad, along with a Browning pistol from WWII that my uncle gave him. Both still with their original cases. I needed to get them out of my house as well and they are in a friend’s safe. He had them appraised at a local gun shop so now I have some basic data on them for when I want to sell. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-get-rid-of-these-old-rifles/852472.md?page=2)