Summer project...

[Truckman]

Just to keep my idle hands out of mischief, I decided to document my guns with a new database and some photos...The database is an ongoing project since I've forgotten what little I ever knew about MS Access, and I'm relearning from scratch...I wanted to take the pictures in natural light so I bought a folding table for my back porch, and a couple of background fabrics...

It should keep me busy in my idle hours since there are currently 119 S&W's and a handful of Kimber .45's and a couple of long guns...Here is one from this afternoon, a Model 25-5 8 3/8" barrel with W/O R/R sights, target hammer, trigger and stocks...This one is with the box & papers...Shipped July 1979...More pics coming of this one......Ben

 

[Truckman]

A few more......Ben

 

[jmiles1960]

Excellent project! I have been cataloging my firearms in an excel spreadsheet; I should have used a database like Access, etc.

Nice pics! What camera setup are you using?

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[Truckman]

Nice pics! What camera setup are you using?

Thanks...I use an old Canon 5D (the original version) and a Canon 35mm 1:1.4......Ben

 

[Hawg Rider]

I document all of the firearms in my modest collection in Word (detailed descriptions with dates/prices), a couple of Excel spreadsheets (for quick reference of s/n's, manuf. dates, etc.), and also with photos on my desktop. I also try to keep up with and note the current values of my firearms. I do this for fun, for insurance purposes should something bad happen, and also for my family should I make an unexpected departure from this Earth. I'm certainly not a professional photographer, but I get some pretty good pics with my iPhone 12's camera. I started a Forum Thread a couple years back and got some great tips from our more proficient Forum members on lighting, backgrounds, etc. Good stuff! Looks like you've got a great start on your summer project. Enjoy!

 

[Truckman]

Here's another boxed, long tube - a 14-1, 4-screw, shipped March 1964...Target grips and trigger stop, but none of the other target goodies......Ben

 

[45Smashemflat]

I highly support/recommend this practice. I'll add one other "section" you might want to add to your records - "family stories", if they exist.

Brother shot his first deer
Dad lost this revolver in a poker game, then won it back
Mother bought as a birthday gift
Etc

Document these stories now before they are lost to the sands of time.

 

[swagmeister]

I've never had the financial ability (and probably will never have at age 71 now) and the privilege to have anywhere close to that many fine firearms at one time. But I am not complaining. I am always glad to see someone with so many excellent firearms to own. I have many shooting friends that probably have more than you. I've always been a trader more than a collector and have downsized considerably in the past few years down to presently 7 handguns and one shotgun. But it's been fun for 50+ years. Great collection you have and will look forward to seeing more. A good project. You know what they say about an idle mind!! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Truckman]

Document these stories now before they are lost to the sands of time.

There's only one story for all of mine:

He was too stupid to save for his old age, and didn't have a woman to spend what he did have...

Here's another so as not to leave out the smallbore fans...I'm down to two K-22 Outdoorsman guns, one from 1931, and this one from 1/21/1940...All numbers match on this one, Call brilliant bead on the Patridge blade, red box and lettered......Ben

[Glare is from the morning sun...]