Pawn Stars--a question

[Pacu]

So one of my favourite shows is Pawn Stars on the History Channel. One thing that bothers me is folks will have a historic piece of history and sell it for some chump change. Or they will have a Colt or Remington their great grandfather passed thru the generations only to be pawned or sold because they "have no use for it anymore". I can understand selling some stuff if your house is about to get repo'ed or your family member needs an operation but come on.

If i had a spoon hand made by Paul Revere or Ben Franklins letters i'm keeping them for d!mn sure. Guess i love heirlooms/historical artifacts more than money. Actually having a piece of history i can show family and friends...

what would you do if you had something like a moon rock,Leatherman's prototype, or a civil war sword? Sell it...keep it?

[jim guy]

depends on what it is, Ive sold old guns that had family ties before. I think most of pawn stars is staged. I mean come on, is all that old rare stuff that there is very few of all in nevada? And normal people off the street own them? Not likely, old rare items like that are in peoples collection that know what they have. And they sure aint taking them to a pawn shop. I do like the show alot though.

[sappyg]

i think pawn stars is staged to a degree as well. it helps the show move along. there's a new pawn store show lately that frankly sucks. can't think if the name ATM.
as far as selling a family heirloom civil war sword that would be tough. something like that would have passed through four generations to get to you. now a signature of george washington.... SOLD! better something of this significance be in a museum and enjoyed by others than in a desk drawer.

[Fisting_Chili]

It all depends on my current financial situation and obligations.   Boils down to "need vs want".   I would definitely sell a unique piece or family heirloom if the need was there and I had no deep attachment to it.   Matter of fact, when we were trying to raise funds for our adoption trial (had to raise $13,000 in 1.5 months!), I put a 22kt gold family heirloom Chinese dragon bracelet up for auction, but it didn't sell.  Thankfully we still made our deadline without it, but it had just sat in a box for 12+ years and will do so again for another 12, so if the need is great enough, I'd try sell it again.

If none of those people on pawn stars had any attachment to their things and had a real need for money, I can understand them selling them.......though they do let things go so damn cheap!  Some of them, I'm screaming at the screen for them to put it on ebay or something so they can quadruple their take.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Many things, especially old firearms, coins and other things that I have no daily use for I would consider offering on "extended loan" to local museums or heritage properties.  That way I still own them, they are safe, and others can enjoy them.  If I had a Leatherman prototype (and I do have two of them, although not Mr Crunches!) I would keep them on display in my house, where I can appreciate them.  Chances are, no one walking through a museum would know the difference between multitools or SAKs like the majority of us here do, so there's no real point in a public display for them.

As for selling things, I am a bit of a hoarder.  I have sold things, but I really don't like to.  Often anything that I don't have a regular use for ends up in a box or drawer and on a shelf in the garage.

Def

[specgrade]

 I watch Antiques Roadshow on PBS and a lot of the stuff I see I would sell in a heartbeat. $40,000 rug-SOLD, 150,000 Gibson Les Paul-SOLD, $500,000 jewelry-SOLD.
I don't care who owned it. Well, maybe not?

 I don't have cable/satellite TV, just whatever comes over the air   

[PyroJames]

I'm a bit of a hoarder myself but if I had something of immense value that someone desperately wanted - and would get more enjoyment from it than I would - I would definitely consider selling it.  For me, an antique item would just collect dust or sit in a safe deposit box so I'd rather sell it to someone who really wants it.  The money I pick up could then be used on other things that I would really enjoy.