A gunsmith-friend

American Handgunner, July-August, 2009 by Alex Hamilton

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Gunsmiths are asked to tear guns apart, fix broken ones, restore abused ones, build new ones, alter working ones, ship 'em, receive 'em, clean 'era and evaluate them for countless widows. Most never paid attention to their husband's lucrative hobby and don't have a clue what to do with them when their old lover dies. All the widow sees is a pile of wood and metal that smells like rancid oil and looks like junk. If you never took the time to involve her and explain to her these chunks of metal were not the same as the hundreds of pairs of shoes she has collected over the last 40 years--sorry ladies--shame on you.

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Your firearms represent part of your legacy and have personal and historical value worth more than the money you sneaked out of your private stash to pay for them. Your gun collection is a solid, hardcore investment and should be treated as such.

If you have a small collection and many grandchildren, your widow's problem is pretty much solved. If you have no children or heirs-apparent, your large collection will have to be sold to pay the enormous death tribute to King State. Your widow will have two easy options, but you must inform her of these options before you die and probably write the instructions down to be kept in a safe place.