What info do you keep?

[Jax970]

This is way overdue, but I'm finally getting around to documenting my small but beloved collection of firearms. I have decided to make a nice form in MS Word (it was much easier than I thought) to keep up with info about each gun, purchase and value info, pictures, etc. I don't have an FFL or C&R license, so the only reason to keep up with it all is for insurance or in case of theft. Here are my questions: What stuff should I inventory? guns, ammo, accessories? What information should I track for each item? make, model, serial number, caliber? Also, I would like to hear how everyone else does this. Do you use paper, a database, spreadsheet? I plan on filling out the form in Word then printing each form and keeping them in a notebook.

[Guest bkelm18]

For firearms I record make, model, serial number, caliber, and when/where I bought it from.

[peejman]

For firearms I record make, model, serial number, caliber, and when/where I bought it from.

^ plus good quality photos to verify the condition of each.

I'd inventory anything of significant value. You get to define "significant".

[monkeylizard]

Make

Model

Caliber

Serial Number

Purchase Date

Purchase Price

I just keep them in a spreadsheet on GoogleDocs. No need to store yet another printed document. Spreadsheets work much better than a document for stuff like this.

Edited August 10, 2011 by monkeylizard

[Guest HvyMtl]

+1 Bkelm18, peejman, and monkeylizard.

I'll add to this:

1) Record of make, model, manufacturer, serial number, caliber, when purchased, store purchased / individual purchased from - including last known address

2) Clear pictures of top, bottom, left side, right side, and bore (last one is hard to do, but points to the quality of the firearm.) Picture of the serial number on the firearm.

3) Make multiple copies, digital AND hard copies of both the list and pictures

4) Multiple locations: Place in safe areas - Such as a home safe, Bank Lock Box, and other locations you know. At least 3 locations.

5) Check your home owner insurance. (Before asking the agent directly, make sure the company is NOT anti-gun.) See if any additional riders or safety measures are required for coverage of your firearms in case of damage or loss...

6) Prices you purchased the firearm for, and the most recent estimated value (record the date) to better deal with the insurance company, in case of damage or loss.

Edited August 10, 2011 by HvyMtl

[Guest Sgt. Joe]

For a minimum I think folks should keep the make, model and serial numbers of everything in a least two different places other than your main safe.

At the moment I still keep numerous 3x5 cards in all the little safes and fire boxes around the house with the serial number, make, model, caliber, born date and acquired date on the cards but I am out of room on the cards now. I have one pistol that was in my hands 8 days after it was made and another that was about two weeks. That info probably isnt important but I keep it anyway. IIRC the oldest gun that I have right now was made in Nov of 08....It has yet to be fired.

This info is also on a Word Doc in the machine. For the whole two that I have ever traded away the info of when I did it and to whom they went is also kept. I also keep a coded version of the cards in two of three vehicles, only I could understand those.

Since I finally did get another at least halfway decent camera I can now replace the cards for the most part, very soon I will be taking a photo of each weapon individually with a card that contains it's info on it in the pic. These pics will be stored on the machine. Then I will put the word doc and the pic info on a couple of cheap thumb drives and scatter them around to replace the 3x5 cards. I will also eventually print at least one copy of each photo and store those in a safe deposit box at the bank. I feel that redundant redundancy is a must where tornadoes frequent.

Reasons are just in case of an insurance need or Heaven Forbid a theft. I keep the cost info on the computer between my ears because as my wife will tell you all my guns have cost either 50 or 100 dollars and were all "too good to pass up" type killer deals.

The truth is pretty much everything I do have has been bought new at very close to dealers cost so I have about 50% equity in my small collection, even at "Sell Right Now" prices. In case of a theft that info wont matter except to the insurance company and they will set the value they want to the stuff anyway.

I do not claim to be smart so YMMV:)

[Guest bkelm18]

To add, I keep the info on my computer, on my emergency USB flash drive, and online so I can print it out anywhere.

[Pain103]

I have the make, model, caliber, serial numbers, color description, and any accessories. Saved one on computer and one saved elsewhere.

[vontar]

Make

Model

Caliber

Serial Number

Purchase Date

Purchase Price

I keep it in a excel spread sheet and digital pictures sent to my gmail account

Ones that were gifts from Dad that I don't have paper work on I just makes notes on best info that I remember, ones I brought I have the receipts in my safe. (meaning to take them to my safety desposit box and keep a copy at home)

[Guest Zombie-Hunter]

I even keep a record in MSword the amount and type of ammo I run though each firearm I own. Stupid I know, but I can tell you how many rounds each carry weapon will fire without cleaning before malfunctioning and what each one likes to eat.

[tnhawk]

I use "GunSafe28" to record model, serial number, purchase date and price, dealer information, photos and other information.

[Guest nicemac]

Whatever you record, use a spreadsheet. It will be MUCH easier to manage.

[Caster]

No records, no receipts, nothing. I know I should but I don't.

[Jax970]

Thanks for everyone's input. You have given me many good ideas.