I take a ballpoint and a recipe card and record all pertinent information on that. Brand, model, purchase price, where, when and who I bought from and any identifying marks and serial numbers. I also add any thoughts about why that particular firearm would be collectible or desirable. If I sell or trade anything, just remove the card from the pile. I keep them in my bank box so they would help my heirs with numbers, value and disposition.

I also take lots of pictures and download them to CDs. I like my computer, but after a couple hard drive crashes, I trust my ball point and recipe card system.

I am fortunate for the fact that my son is also a gun nut and pretty knowledgeable about what I have and it's value.