How do you measure value ?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I recently lost something that was priceless to me...
This had to do with a Traditional Archery "Relic" that I had hoped to pass on to my son.
I had to sell it.
The costs associated with this transaction go beyond mere dollars, but involve emotions, faith, trust, and hope.
I not only have had to part with this item, but lost my faith and trust in what I thought was friendship.
 I still am sorting through my emotions, but is a piece of wood really worth a friendship ?
 Is the money involved, no matter how small, a simple price to pay ?
 Are memories held dear because of who signed an arrow, made a bow, wrote a book ?
 Or is the value really in memories held dear, because of simple acts of kindness ?
 What motivates collectors of Archery antiquities to spend the amount of money on a broadhead, arrow, bow, photograph, etc ?
 Is it worth a personal connection to an item ?, a friendship lost ? memories faded ?
 How do you measure the value of a collectible ?
do you want your kids to sell it ?
Do you want future generations to see it ?
Or do you just care about the monetary value, and to heck with anything else ?

[d. ward]

I did not inherit any of this from my father I am only taking care of it for my children.Collectables what are they really ? investments no way collectables are things that take up space and are fun to look at ? in todays market and the way things are headed with our said collections hummmmmmmmm bd

[reddogge]

I'm having some trouble defining your dilemna exactly but as far as collectibles go I do have some experience. I have a modest classic bow collection but have extensive gun and antique decoy collections. Obviously the gun collection is most valuable, the decoys next and the bows last in terms of monetary value.

Since I retired over 4 years ago all aquiring ceased and a gradual sell off started but I haven't sold any decoys, waterfowl art prints, only some guns. Mostly guns I wasn't particurlarly attached to. I sold some bows, bought some more bows and now am gifting my adult son my favorite bow of all time with arrows, quiver, stringer, glove in hopes he will find more time to shoot with me. He shot this bow this year and loved it.

As far as the other collections go I am attached to these items and will have problems parting with them. My wife sees "lots of stuff" and I'm sure my children see "lots of money" but I see cherished items I still love to fondle and look at. I sense you have lost a cherished item in a deal gone south and feel like I would feel.

Just one man's viewpoint on collections.

[Migra Bill]

My children have no interest in my collections. I hope to enjoy them as long as I am here and then, although it sounds greedy, sell them and enjoy the money before I die. Now of course this plan involves me knowing when I am going to go; which probably wont happen. If I were to go suddenly my collections would probably only burden those that I left behind.
I have attempted to make a list identifying each thing I have collected and let them know an approximate value so thay they can get something out of it after I am gone.

[jrbows]

I measure value by what I can't put a price on, I have an old Barlow knife that my grandfather carried for years,the handle is split on one side and the brown plastic has faded and worn smooth, it may have cost 2 dollars when he bought it and it's been sharpened until the blade is half it's usual size,is it worth anything ? Not to anybody else but remembering him emptying his pockets at the end of the day and that knife always being among the contents is priceless to me.

[oldbohntr]

One man's trash is another's treasure.(ok, that's not an original thought.)  Stik, obviously, you assign a deeper meaning to these old things we all love so much, and it's not just $ to you.  I think most of us feel the same way.  Yeah, some people will disappoint you, especially the ones you thought were friends, who showed their true colors and stabbed you in the back.  As you imply from everything in your post, the $ value of "collectibles" is always changing and is determined by the whims of others. The greater value lies in all the things you referred to in your post.  Good friends, family, shared experiences, nostalgia for the past experiences of others we are following, etc, etc.  So long as most of us honor these higher values, our "stuff" will have a $ value as well.  To the extent that we let these principles escape us, the $ value will diminish as well.

[Blackhawk]

I am also somewhat confused by your dilema.  

To me, this is just "stuff" that I like to hold, look at, and play with...and then trade or sell so I can look at and play with more "stuff".  

As I get older, I realize more and more that I cannot take it with me (even though I told my wife I do want one bow, a quiver, and a set of arrows in the coffin.)

From most of the comments above, I can certainly agree with the sentiments.

Did you give something dear to you to someone who then turned around and sold it?

If you just got rid of a rare collectible, don't sweat it...another will most likely show up real soon.

[Larry m]

I have a modest collection of old Archery equipment, vintage Winchester's, and books of interest. I collect for personal enjoyment and derive great pleasure in useing these items as they bring back wonderful memories of my youth. Is my son interested? Perhaps a little but his greatest concerns are his new and growing family. I have made an effort on several occasions to point out items of value and records so when I pass on they can do as they please. No doubt they will keep a few items and spread some amongst the extended family and sell the rest. I believe Quality Friends you don't have to worry about and the rest are just an acquaintance!

[Pack animal]

Hello STIKNSTRINGBOW
I detect pain in your post?
Sounds partially from the realization that the given value all physical objects have has no connection with the sentiment we feel for the objects.  Hints also of sadness and a sense of betrayal from possibly learning another person attached nothing special to an object which was handed over to them and entrusted into their care.
Many questions… answers each person has to find for themselves…
I believe as collectors we try to capture the essence of an experience by grasping a physical object associated with the experience and attempting to delay the deterioration brought about by time. But, in the end an object is still just an object and another person may or may not attach any sentiment or monetary value to the object regardless of our thoughts and feeling.
And usually, in the end the quantity of objects resulting from the accumulation of our life just determines the size of the yard sale after we are gone.
I believe the measure of our lives is not the objects we surround ourselves with; but the wonderment and enjoyment we get from the experience of life and how we pass that experience on to future generations.

[Hit-or-Miss]

I'm unclear as to the specific connection between a sold or lost item and a lost friendship. Without the details of what happened, its hard to answer your question accurately. It sounds like you were low-balled on a item you thought was worth more, but needed the money...? If so, don't feel bad, most of us have been there at some point in our lives.
 
 To me, collecting Archery and hunting
memorabillia (Bows, guns, knives, sporting books, magazines, etc), is a personal thing. The item in question, at that given moment, is worth what I am willing to pay for it. I may pay more, or less than another person would, for a specific item. A special picture or fishing lure, that kindles a specific memory or emotion, is worth more to me than an item that doesn't. Ever hear an old song and remember a girl or state of mind from a certain time in your life decades ago? Ever catch a wiff of something or a taste, a flavor, and it sparks a childhood memory? I like red and black plaid wool jackets, as my Grandfather's wore them. The same goes for cigars and Apple pie. I don't just love the taste of the smoke and pie, and the feel of the wool; they are a link to my past, a past full of people who's death's I still mourn.

  I suspect for most of us, we aquire and collect items that serve as a connection to our past, and as a link to our future. As we grow older, we come to understand and accept that our days are numbered, but we still desire to cling on to positive experiences and emotions. We HOPE that our children will also cherish the same items and values, but once again, individual percerptions are just that... individual. I wrote an article a while back for TBM ("Remnants of the Hunt"), on this topic, after I purchased another bowhunter's mags and pictures on E-#%$. It can be a somber topic, a reminder of our own forthcoming demise.

[d. ward]

wow Mike sounds really bad and being that it involes trad bows and friends that really sucks.You should share a little more with us and maybe we can help guide you along the path ? bd

[d. ward]

you know I got to thinking about your ?'s Mikie and kind of thought I would measure value of a vintage bow as nothing no value at all.Once the worms eat your dead body what good is an old bow ? and sad but true well known fact is about 99% of our own children and grandchildren will NOT carry on the tradition.Good lord no one wishes more that they would then me.I've put my heart and sole into trad archery most of my life and guided or misguided a few in that short 60 years of life so far(huh Mike ?).But out the corner of my eye I see a couple of my own that would rather video game then shoot yes sad but oh so true.What will the future hold ? who knowns and really who cares ? let er buck and we'll see....... as for value of the friendship .. value in bucks you mean ? ai'nt enough dough to buy true friendship.But for someone that goes above and beyond to help out a friend in need ? now thats true friendship right there bro bd

[TonyW]

When the going gets tough - the tough get Zoloft.

Lighten up guys! We only have a few days left before the Mayan calendar goes kaput and the moon explodes.

Anyway, Don's body is soaked in Loctite, so it should outlast King Tut.

[hvyhitter]

Once Im dead my daughter isnt going to get anything near what I paid for all my "stuff". I have the bows,guns,knives,swords,books,art,cars,trucks and boats that "I" like. Others may like some of the same stuff and pay for it or maybe not. I get alot of my stuff from estate sales and get some good things cheap that was highly valued by someone else. When I'm dead, someone else will get the same deals but I wont care by then.........

[Steve95]

Try buying another item to replace the item you planned to pass down to your son. Your son is your true treasure. Value is always debatable and subject to human nature. You can always replace money and the stuff you can buy with it. Just spend some quality time with your son, say with archery.  

[d. ward]

so how was everyone's xmas bd

[d. ward]

man oh man I ate way to much.We went to the youngest daughter and her hubbie's place.Holybeegeeszus the whole fam-damnly showed up.Kids and grandkids by the car load let me tell ya.It seemed like everyone of them had a dish bowl roasting pan cake pie and or buckets of chicken.We deep fried turkey and roasted hams.Plus for those of them whom consume they rolled that chit in with a hand-truck stacked to the handles.
IT was outstanding and man oh man did I ever score.I got that sig bow off gbay last week for 182.00 plus 16.00 shipping yipee ...... just kidding no way better then that even.A brand new shop all new tools new heater new compresser new spray guns new paint both with a real live fan that works $25,000.00 dollars worth on Mrs bowdocs credit card and I don't gotta pay it back........ no even better yet.
Got the green light last week from the real Doctor that Mrs bd is better and going to be OK.No more of that setting in the waiting room all day everyday (now thats a big yipeeeeeeeee) on monday I can return to what I was born to do ... reserect them from the dead.
You wanta ask me the value of some old piece of wood ? I say neah neah neah old bows have very little value when it comes to the everyday real life bd

[OldSkoolArcher]

Doc, I am glad to hear your wife got a good report!!! That is awesome.

[copicasso]

Ok, After thinking about this for a couple of days I asked my wife and kids the question of if I was to die would any of them want any of my archery collection or gun collection. My wifes response was she would only keep the items that were my favorite and or the ones I hunted with and in a time of dire financial need would she sell those items. My daughter replied she would sort through and keep the items she would want and then keep the items that reminded her of me. My son said he would keep all of it if he could. My family likes to hunt, fish, and shoot together. If it ever came down to whether it meant my family having a roof over their heads or food on the table I would sell it all in a minutes notice. Yes I would feel bad but after looking at the big picture it is all just material possesions in the long run and family is all that matters.

[stickgunner]

Life is to short to chase collecting items that get in the way of family and friends. Really the item is only worth what it took to build or make it. We get to attached to things and not enough with Family and Friends. I have a collection of Arrows and broadheads that Damon Howatt made and were his personal hunting arrows. I really like them but if it came down to my Family or the arrows, my family wins hands down. My heart stopped once and when I came to, things didnt matter as much anymore. My wife and daughter and son did. Life is to short and you never know when its your turn. Damon would say sell the things. Any buyers? God is good.