mikld wrote:The only way I would sell one of those rifles is if my wife and I were starving (not figuratively but fer real!). You could have them packaged, and stowed somewhere and they won't take up too much room. I wonder, do you know what you really have? A bunch of rifles? Nope, you have real life history...
+1!
Several years ago, same scenario with my father. May God bless you and your loved ones in your loss.
As for getting rid of any of the firearms: I HATE that we got rid of most of the great old firearms and the memories attached. He had matching pump guns in 16, 20, and 12 Gauge Magnum; a wonderful .270, and a cool (old) pump .22 LR, all of which provided game for me and others when we were younger and had time to play. Then all of us had obligations, work, no time to enjoy the great outdoors for any length of time as city slickers with families.
By the way, as a recently discharged Viet Nam vet, I wasn't keen on keeping any extra guns other than duty weapons in my law enforcement job, during the time that my father passed on. The same as your brother. But as time progressed and I rediscovered the joy of shooting for fun and then took up reloading, I wished that I had kept Dad's guns. Once gone always gone.
If I were forced to keep two, however, I would keep the great ol' engraved 33wcf and the 45-90 - two cool and unique calibers that you don't easily find these days in the true old guns. Like the memories you carry of your dad, these speak by themselves of great times gone by. Even if one or more of the other firearms might fetch more money, the difference is insignificant compared to the "cool" uniqueness of the first two, from where I stand.
45-90 - just too cool to lose.