Update on Mark C's estate....I've been contacted and I'm doing what I can to help
Locust Fork
Member Posts: 32,058 ✭✭✭✭
I had sent a check to Mark for a sale I handled that was never deposited.
I didn't have any contact information, so I sent an email to the only contact I could find and sent a message via a mutual person that I thought could let them know I had a pending transaction, but I never heard back.
They are just now addressing things and trying to settle the estate.
The decisions are being made so that his estate will go toward the care of his mother.
Right now I don't know if they will want me to handle things, or if they are going to try to find someone to buy the entire lot. I did go through their list and got them some estimated prices to help guide them on what to expect. Some piece of dirt offered them$12,000 for the entire lot…just 3 of the 15 Garands are worth more than that.
I swear, I hate when I hear about preditory firearm dealers. I understand people need to make money, but seriously…..that offer is shocking.
I'm just glad to be helpful to them. If you are not familiar with firearms this kind of thing can be so stressful.
I'm posting this as a reminder to all of you…..keep your family in the loop on what you have and how to figure out what things are worth. Its a cruel world out there.
Comments
Sad to hear people trying to take advantage of others, but it does happen and thank you for the solid advice, Kacey you are good people.
I am happy to hear the collection was not sold at a pawn shop. I've wondered many times what the status was, as Mark had told me he had specific instructions for Kasey (Locust Fork) to handle his collection. This also gives update on Mark's mom who he was so worried about. We will never get Mark back but may his final wishes be fulfilled, care of his mom provided. Thanks for this update LF
Kasey, from you I would expect nothing less.
The week he passed he had just got a new Sig and a silencer for it. He couldn't wait to take it to the range. I don't think he made it to the range.
I was finally going to get a Garand at the CMP, but they are all sold out except for the expert grade, the ones with new barrels and new stocks, not much historical value there. They wanted $1400 I remember, or you bid on the few remaining that they have. I guess they were sold out by April for the other grades. It would be nice to get a Mark C. Garand, I remember him selling a few here on Gunbroker, so I hope Kasey can acquire his estate.
You folks are right - it's not just firearms. Kasey, my sons have my instructions and your contact info.
@Locust Fork
Can you do suppressors or full auto?
Just curious.
Thanks Kasey
Your truly a god person as we all know
I hope they let you help
RIP Mark you were truly a Loss to many
As for the dealer I have witnessed such low life's in action
Many years ago at a use to be nice gun show pre internet
I was at a table just as a older lady walked up and told the guy my husband died xx months ago he had a lot of guns and I want to sell them and need help as I have no clue
His eyes popped open and a smile on his face
said I help you dont worry then he escorted her to the door before she got to say a word to anyone else
I knew he was going to fleece her big time
I did not say anything I was young and just thought to my self
But a few years later when hot wheels were big I was at a flemarketas we were buying them for our boys at a collector diecast car dealer
A older fellow again walked up with a big case of the desirable red line (older colector and most hunted versions in new condition )
It drew a crowd as evey one of course wanted to see what he had
The dealer husled him out of the booth said i will call you later and work out a deal
I could not keep my mouth shut so I followed the old guy into the hall way and told don't let him cheat you
Just the quick look I got you had cars that would easily bring a hundred to two hundred + on there own and you have 20 or 30 of them i saw on the top layer
So please go see some more dealer before you sell to this guy
He may have been a honest fellow but his actions of getting the guy out of the area and his statement i wil buy them later after closing told me other wise
I cannot, but I know a dealer that can and they are very fair and honest….they keep a percentage, the same as I do on consignment sales or they will buy things if a person is looking to liquidate quickly.
When you are buying a large collection, it is customary to offer a discounted figure because you are paying quickly. Whenever somoene is asking me to buy something I'll find the cheapest recently sold item and that is my top offer because we typically do better than average, so I know I'm in the ballpark of a fair offer.
When my cousin and close hunting buddy passed away, I told his wife NOT to sell any of his guns without letting me advise her as to the values as I knew she knew nothing about them. Her sister's "friend" swooped in and ripped her off less than a week after the funeral. I was disgusted to say the least, but kept my mouth shut.
Sad to pass with nobody to contact.
Kasey, I know you will get the best you can for Mark.
As for me and mine, my kids subscribe to the you can never have enough guns way of life so nothing will be sold after I'm gone. Kids and grandkids are hunters and investors.
I understand a dealer wanting to make a buck, but it needs to be a fair buck….
A good friend of mine, now long deceased, intervened in a similar situation…. An older collector in a small town had passed away. His wife was left financially secure but had an enormous collection to liquidate. As I understand it, the children had no interest in the collection. A "gentleman" in the same town visited the widow a few days after the funeral and offered her a decent amount of money for the collection and she told him she would think it over…
Fortunetly, the widow called my buddy and asked if he would come over and look things over before she accepted the offer. My friend told her the widow what little he knew about the collection, it was worth considerably more than the offer.
My buddy visited the family home and started inventorying the firearms. The collector was mainly just that, not really a shooter. My friend was amazed at what he found. There were firearms mostly still in the box and stored properly in a climate controlled area. Everything you would expect, older Colts, S&W and Rugers. Semi-Autos and revolvers. There were also several high end Merkel shotguns, Brownings, etc.
My buddy helped the widow find an auction service and the whole things grossed over a quarter millions when all was said and done… The widow tried to pay my buddy for his time and assistance. Before the auction, she told him to pick out anything he wanted…. Reluctantly, he picked a NIB S&W 27 5". He said he always wanted one.
The Gentleman who made the original offer was dressed down by several folks in the community when all the information became known…. As I understand it, his business suffered due to attempt to take advantage of the widow…..
Kasey, I hope you get the opportunity to handle some of this for the family….
I just want them to have a better idea of what they are dealing with….whatever route they take I feel better for them just knowing they have a better understanding of what is there. I will be proud to handle the sales if they let me, but just knowing I can do this much for Mark makes me happy.
A lawyer (enough said) with an FFL swooped down on a widow from our gun club & low balled her. Later when he wanted to join our club, his application was tossed out. He was also told that he would not be welcome as a guest. Several of his friends applied and they were told why their applications were tossed.
I somewhat fear for this same. My wife is a smart lady and depending on when I go, there should be countless people around that know what things are worth so hopefully she'll be OK on this. However, I took the entry book that Kasey sent me some year(s) back and have my stuff logged there, along with a digital copy of my inventory. I also have all the GB item numbers, prices paid, etc. So, between all that she should be good. Several family members get their choice from my collection and after that, my guess is LocustFork will get the call to liquidate most of the rest. I hope Kasey like's the 10mm auto. ☺️😁
as Bambi said I have a book with all the serial numbers and how much, best I can remember I paid. with a high price, if they want to hold out for that person who wants it, and a low price, I call the sell it now that just about anyone would pay. that way they can decide if they want to hold out or sell them to get rid of them…….. did the same with my reloading equipment, though nowadays it is harder to put a real price on
Sure miss Mark, especially when he sent someone to the "land of misfits"
I was fortunate to purchase one of his Garands. It ain't going anywhere soon.
When it comes to selling things because of a death in the family….the most important thing someone can do is nothing at all…..until they are really ready to address things like this.
When you lose a loved one you might not even realize how out of sorts you really are. I understand the need to rush into things if you are in need of money, but if you can possibly hold off its a very smart move to just hold off on selling anything for quite some time. Once you "get your feet under you" its a much better time to handle things.
Being a dealer myself I have heard that alot about not just other dealers but plain shooters trying to steal collections away from the family. Myself I have offered the same way Locast does using the auction side sales listing. If the want to consign we talk about what we saw online and what they feel they would like to get. Then my commission. As for my collection,I a mark the items in my A-n-D book personal and which kid will get that item. Plus the cost of what I paid for it at the time. Now my wife has no idea of anything in it, but she will have the dealers that she wants to take care of the estate. My stock pile of parts will have to be addressed by a friend who can identify them.