How do YOU archive your collection info ?

[Jeppo]

I don't know why she thinks I'm going out first.

'Cause she has the combination to your safe?

 

[vytoland]

i created an excel spreadsheet to capture firearm, range trip, cleaning and ammo information. its easy to produce and edit.

 

[Jeppo]

As bigwheelzip mentioned, I also track my ammo inventory on a separate sheet in the Excel file. Makes it very simple to see what I have, what I need and what I paid. I bring the empty boxes back from the range and adjust the inventory after each session.

 

[scoobysnacker]

lots of people suggesting Excel or similar... it's what that software is designed for.

I WOULD have a current, up-to-date hard copy printed out, because cloud or not, we know computers and electronics can go down, get hacked, files get corrupted and/or deleted, etc.

To be honest, I still have a book with the info handwritten into it. That book also has other personal stuff, like passwords etc.

 

[TTSH]

Sure, keep it on your computer, where any hacker can access the information. [Sarcasm].

I use good old manila file folders to record information about my guns.

Unfortunately, all of my former guns were lost in that tragic boating accident.

No tragic boating accident here yet... ... but my slightly more realistic worry (in regard to a major loss) would be a house fire... and without good records kept in a safe place, I'm betting that my firearms insurance company... no matter how good... is not going to be impressed with me reciting my entire collection from my half-senile old memory.

Hence less reliance on paper and even computer drives/sticks... and more reliance on "The Cloud"!

And yes, bank safe deposit boxes too, nuisance factor notwithstanding.

 

[Rayfan87]

I just have a basic list on my phone with a copy on my laptop and a backup thumb drive. I also keep the sales receipts in a folder inside a document safe. I've got to update my system.

 

[Targets Guy]

I use Excel spreadsheet. I back it up on a flash drive and the hard drive. I also print a hard copy. I also use MS Word and create a page for each weapon, a color photo, pertinent data and store that and produce a hard copy.

Finally I keep a hard file copy of every data piece on every weapon in a file cabinet. When and if I sell the gun a copy is made for the buyer if they so desire.

 

[kmyers]

We have all the information here on the Macs both in Apple Numbers and also Excel with multiple backups. The form that AJGunner has is very close to what we have set up showing brand, model, caliber, etc. For those who don't have IWork or MS Office and don't want to pay for Office or Excel there are very nice alternatives that are compatible like Open Office and Libre Office.

 

[chief38]

Call me old fashioned but nothing important and/or sensitive goes on my phone, computer or into the iCloud!

I keep all my info in a hard bound notebook and paste a photo next to it so unfamiliar people can identify a particular firearm. Computers can be stolen, hacked into, seized, whatever! A hand written notebook stored discretely makes more sense to me.

 

[Peak53]

I use Microsoft Access. You can import/export to and from Word and Excel, sort on anything, and create macros to manipulate information in any way you desire. There are no practical limits to what you can do with it.

Show off Obviously, a data base gives the utmost in flexibility, but not many of us have that expertise. Since Excel became so powerful, I neglected to keep up my skills with Access, because I didn't need to, or if I did, I asked some kid in the next office.

For the record (!) I keep a single spreadsheet with about 15 fields on each gun including a column for a clickable link to the photo. A copy of the file is regularly backed up and stored in safe locations. A mysterious slowdown has occurred, in that I actually did take pictures of all the guns (well, except the last few...), but no one has yet gone to the trouble of actually inserting the links in the spreadsheet. I hope to finish that project before I die or before I forget which photo belongs to which gun, whichever comes first. It seems like the photos would be really helpful for someone trying to make sense of the mess. Serial numbers rule of course, but photos can provide a quick reference.

 

[tndrfttom]

You might also want to take a look at "NM Collectors Software" [nmcollectorsoftware.com]. Its primarily developed for gun collections but can also handle coins, knives, jewelry, household inventory, etc. I've found it covers about all the data you care to record about your firearms including cost/value, accessories, notes, storage locations, photos, etc. plus you can add custom fields. It can also deal with your acqusition & disposal activies. You can extract information for customized reports for printing. I have it running on an external hard drive that I can take with me in an emergency.

I've inventoried a number of gun collections for an appraiser friend and only one had a somewhat up-to-date inventory that the heirs could locate. Hopefully my survivors will find my inventory useful in accounting for my small collection and getting fair sale prices for the items.

 

[Cornhusker]

I use one called Gun Safe.
A freeware program I picked up a few years ago, but I can't remember where.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I have it all up here (Pointing to that body part that houses the brain.) Wait, what are we, never mind! Use a computer. Really. I only have about 10 to 15 firearms plus one Crossman BB gun! All written on a piece of paper, or several, and in the cyberworld floating around in Os & 1s. Good luck. Peace, JLT PGH PA

 

[jeffrefrig]

To CORNHUSKER: Oh, by the way...you picked up a gun safe for free a few years ago? You are one bad mo fo to pick up a full sized gun safe by yourself! I heard the good ones are kinda heavy! Kuddos to you, my new friend!!! Here's to one of the best! Peace! Jeff...

 

[jeffrefrig]

I have it all up here (Pointing to that body part that houses the brain.) Wait, what are we, never mind! Use a computer. Really. I only have about 10 to 15 firearms plus one Crossman BB gun! All written on a piece of paper, or several, and in the cyberworld floating around in Os & 1s. Good luck. Peace, JLT PGH PA

 

[Andyd]

Excel table in landscape format, sorted in alphabetical order.

 

[Ματθιας]

In my safe, I have a folder with all of my hard copy paperwork, like receipts and such, and a ledger like list/index of all the stuff I have. I've been doing this since I bought my first firearm, it works for me and I have no reason to change. The real reason is that I'm too lazy to input all that info.

 

[Joed49]

Darn, you guys made me stop and think. I used Point Blank that I down loaded 10 years ago. Doesn't allow pictures but has load info and gun info.

But it's time to replace it after 10 years. I want something that will run on my Mac or Windows computer, nothing on a phone. I'll be watching this thread closely.

 

[dirty & hairy]

On my data drive, I have a folder named Gun Data. Inside this folder is a folder for each gun I own, with descriptive folder names such as S&W 686-4 (see attached picture). Each of these folders contain digital photographs of the gun, from all angles and including a close-up of the serial number. Also in the folder is a simple text file containing a description of the gun and the serial number typed out. If I remember where and when I purchased the gun, I'll include that information. I know, this is a simple way of doing it, nothing fancy to say the least, but this method serves me well for all kinds of applications. I can copy/backup/archive the info in any number of ways.

 

[jmace57]

Another vote for an excel spreadsheet that I keep in the cloud (and a periodic saved copy on a thumb drive).