Some unfortunate luck....question

tdwarburton · #1 12-30-2008

Fellas we had some very unfortunate luck over the weekend. We had a large fire destroy our home and most of our belongings. The question that I have is that my guns were in one of those cheap "tin" gun lockers....like the ones at crappy tire. They were at the opposite end of the house but are black as black can be but look to be ok. I would imagine the best plan is to take them to a gunsmith after they have been cleaned to ensure they have not been damaged or are unsafe. But will my optics be ok? Should they be replaced? Could the smoke get into the tube?

RUM · #2 12-30-2008

I am sorry to hear about your home, hopefully everyone involved is alright. My neighbors house burned down on the 22nd and his wife unfortunately did not make it out. Best of luck to you and your family in the new year.

huntinstuff · #3 12-30-2008

If they guns have no special meaning to you, let insurance have them.

If they are family heirlooms, take them in for repair/cleaning.

High heat destroys scopes. Yes, there are some that by fluke survive, most don't. Claim them on insurance and get rid of them.

Springs are greatly affected by heat. If you save a gun, replace any springs.

I assisted with an insurance appraisal for a CGN'er last year who lost everything in a fire. The heat causes a lot of unseen damage. That is what insurance is for. Save the stuff that has meaning if you can, get a payout for the rest.

Im truly sorry for your loss.

Homesteader · #4 12-30-2008

Sounds like Huntinstuff has the right idea.

Duk Dog · #5 12-30-2008

I don't have any input other than I hope everyone is ok and that in time you are able to get things sorted out.

sbtennex · #6 12-30-2008

Jeez, man......my sympathies. That sucks, and I agree that's what you pay insurance for. Get your guns to a good smith once the appraiser has seen them and go from there. It'll all depend on how high the temperature got of course, but as posted they need to be basically re-certified as shootable then replaced or repaired. All the best and good luck. Keep us posted.

TriggerFinger · #7 12-30-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntinstuff

"If the guns have no special meaning to you, let insurance have them . . . High heat destroys scopes . . . Claim them on insurance and get rid of them."

" . . . The heat causes a lot of unseen damage. That is what insurance is for. Save the stuff that has meaning if you can, get a payout for the rest . . . "

Huntinstuff offers some 'excellent' advice ^. Although I'm no longer in the business (moved on to better things), I worked in Insurance for a number of years, as both an Underwriter and a Claims Adjuster.

Because of the high heat and dense smoke involved in a house fire, I would strongly suggest you do nothing with any of the contents (rifles, scopes, etc.) in that tin gun locker . . . don't even bother taking them to a Smith. Claim all the locker contents on your insurance and write them off as 'fire loss'.

My condolences to you and your family.

Dick284 · #8 12-30-2008

Tough to hear about your loss.

As for the guns, the heat treating of the recievers is un doubtably been compromised, consider the lot as written off.

tough break

roger · #9 12-30-2008

wow, not a good way to end the year, at least your still here.
any gun can be replaced sentimental or not

Albertadiver · #10 12-30-2008

A good friend lost his home in Invermere to fire just a few days ago. Important thing is that they all got out ok. Hope the same for you and your family.

Is there anything that you and your family could use? I'm sure there are folks here on the board with stuff hanging around that could be put to good use.

Snort · #11 12-31-2008

I would think that if the tin safe was not warped from the heat, the guns should not have been affected too badly. Insurance has a way of not paying out what things are truly worth so I would try to find out the pay out amounts before committing to taking said pay out.

sbtennex · #12 12-31-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snort

I would think that if the tin safe was not warped from the heat, the guns should not have been affected too badly. Insurance has a way of not paying out what things are truly worth so I would try to find out the pay out amounts before committing to taking said pay out.

Couple of XMas's ago a very good friend of ours had his home broken into and I think it was 11 rifles stolen, a couple classics like an 1895 .405. Insurance was very good with the claim. RCMP recovered all but a couple within 3 months but they'd been beat to hell. They were all taken to Corlane's and redone, scopes and stocks replaced as needed in the smiths' opinions and generally came back in very nice shape. Don't know who the insurance company is, but they were very good with the claim and helped out a lot.
The guns were no doubt affected - takes a good gunsmith to figure it out.