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General Categories => General Firearm Discussion => Topic started by: metaldoc on February 02, 2014, 09:53:28 AM

Title: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: metaldoc on February 02, 2014, 09:53:28 AM
After unfy shared his experience of having his guns stolen, I was reminded it's time to be doing a better job of recording what I own.

Quite a few software applications are finally hitting the market, some expensive, some free, some simple and some with a ton of features.

So, as the title says, what are you doing to keep track of your personal firearm inventory?   How about sharing some ideas here.
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: gsd on February 02, 2014, 10:01:53 AM
I use a three tiered method. Computer spreadsheet with make model serial number and date purchased, paper copy of the same, and a photographic inventory of serial numbers, make, and any distinguishing characteristics.

All stored on separate hard drives/binders at different locations throughout my apartment.
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: bbauman on February 02, 2014, 10:33:31 AM
http://nmcollector.net/ (http://nmcollector.net/)

Been using it for years.
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: FarmerRick on February 02, 2014, 10:38:22 AM
A lot of guys on ARFCOM use this one: http://mygundb.com/ (http://mygundb.com/)

I have downloaded it, but have yet to start using it.
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: bullit on February 02, 2014, 11:31:30 AM
What inventory?
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: AJ_Engineer on February 02, 2014, 11:35:05 AM
Simple spreadsheet with serial numbers, stored in the cloud.
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: NE Bull on February 02, 2014, 11:39:05 AM
What inventory?

Like bullit, Davey Jones keeps track of what I have had.
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: Gary on February 02, 2014, 12:07:34 PM
What inventory?


Boat accident?  Boats sink faster, with guns and ammo aboard. 
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: Gary on February 02, 2014, 12:10:30 PM
Free app on Android.  Problem is, if you wear a tin foil hat, this lets the left hand know what the right hand is doing. 

Gun Tracker
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: metaldoc on February 02, 2014, 12:46:42 PM
My concerns about having a good record extends beyond theft.  If something happens to me, I want my children to have a complete list of what they should find when they clean up behind me.   The possibility of a tornado scattering my belongings or being destroyed by fire is probably more likely than theft.  (Yes, a good safe will help, but is not 100%.)   

Obviously for any insurance claims, good records are going to be needed. That extends to our other personal property as well, but that's not the focus of this thread.

I don't like the idea of storing it 'on the cloud' but that is a personal choice, much like the ap Gary mentioned.

Thanks for the ideas!   Any others?

Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: bkent on February 02, 2014, 12:59:12 PM
I use a Google Docs spreadsheet.
Kent
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: Dan W on February 02, 2014, 01:00:34 PM
I use a free program called GunSafe but it is not available any more.

Another thing I do is keep a copy of the receipt for my carry gun in my wallet.
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: NE Bull on February 02, 2014, 01:02:50 PM
Truthfully, I write everything down with an old fashioned piece of paper with one of them ink pen things.  This is kept in my firesafe along with other important documents.  I haven't done this yet, but a list saved onto a CD and stored in the freezer/ Fridge is on the to do list.
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: CitizenClark on February 02, 2014, 01:25:59 PM
I keep a spreadsheet of my inventory on Google Drive, and then I keep a physical copy of the list with my gun trust documents.
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: FarmerRick on February 02, 2014, 01:37:48 PM
I keep a spreadsheet of my inventory on Google Drive the NSA Database, and then I keep a physical copy of the list with my gun trust documents.


FIFY


 8)
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: deputygunner on February 02, 2014, 03:40:33 PM
I use a 3 ring binder with sheet protectors.  I print up a sheet on each firearm, with the info on the firearm. I also have a picture of each firearm on the sheet.  The sheet protectors also hold the receipts and the manuals for the firearm.  I also have it backed up on two zip drives, one stored in the safe, the other at another location.  The zip drives also have my home inventory with serial numbers as needed.

I have attached a copy of the general format I use.
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: Chris C on February 02, 2014, 04:41:59 PM
I have a hand written list with all firearms, scopes, spotting scopes, range finders, ect make, model, serial number.  I have pictures of the item both whole and serial numbers along with pics of the hand written list saved to duplicate CD's in a separate safe. 
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: ILoveCats on February 02, 2014, 05:06:05 PM
Another thing I do is keep a copy of the receipt for my carry gun in my wallet.

You've piqued my curiosity!  Why? 
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: NE Bull on February 02, 2014, 05:40:10 PM
I use a 3 ring binder with sheet protectors.  I print up a sheet on each firearm, with the info on the firearm. I also have a picture of each firearm on the sheet.  The sheet protectors also hold the receipts and the manuals for the firearm.  I also have it backed up on two zip drives, one stored in the safe, the other at another location.  The zip drives also have my home inventory with serial numbers as needed.

I have attached a copy of the general format I use.
I like this idea. Keeps all together, AND I have an abundance of three ring binders.  Thanx.
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: Dan W on February 02, 2014, 05:49:00 PM
You've piqued my curiosity!  Why? 


If you have a LEO play this game, and you have no way to prove you own your handgun, they may want to confiscate it and run the numbers through the system to see if it is stolen, and only return your property when you can prove it is yours.  Could be a big problem if you are traveling away from your home state

Or it may just  be a delaying tactic they might use while they wait for the K9 unit to sniff your junk.
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: jFader on February 02, 2014, 06:13:51 PM
Some great ideas on here...so far I just have a hand written list in my safe. I think I will make a copy or 2 & maybe get a safety deposit box & keep the other in a safe at a family memebers house... I am definitely on board with Not putting my list online for the Washington snoops....
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: ILoveCats on February 02, 2014, 08:40:22 PM
I went 100% digital a few years ago.  Got a Fujitsu "scansnap" scanner and went crazy turning everything into 600 dpi, color, searchable PDFs.  Then I backed that up, then backed up the backup, then backed it up a third time.  Then I shredded all the paper that wasn't a "keepsake" with sentimental value.  Every few weeks I scan any new items like receipts, tax documents, etc. and that would include all gun receipts.

One hard drive sits at home backing up my PC on a regular basis. A second one is in a fireproof safe at work which I swap with the home one every 3-4 months, and a third is a relative's house several hundred miles away which I swap every 9-12 months.  Hard drives fail, but I figure that's pretty safe.

My goal in life it to keep things as simple and uncluttered as possible, and I find that digitizing everything to a couple hard drives is way better than files of paper. 




 
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: AWick on February 02, 2014, 10:24:24 PM
I have a printed spreadsheet that I keep in my separate fire safe. It has both my own firearms list, as well as my dad's. He also keeps a secure list that contains my firearms information as well.
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: jestermx6 on February 03, 2014, 11:18:16 AM
Google keep sticky note.

google knows everything else about me, so i figure why not.
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: mott555 on February 03, 2014, 02:51:40 PM
Currently I just have a paper list with serial numbers and descriptions in my fireproof safe. I like some of the ideas here and will consider storing pictures (including serial numbers). I keep a USB flash drive in my safe as well, I can put them on there and I also have some other digital encrypted "safes" in other locations.

I never did keep receipts or other proofs of purchase because I never thought those would be needed for anything. That may change now that I'm in a stricter state.
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: bkoenig on February 03, 2014, 04:03:43 PM
Like Citizen Clark I'm also planning on putting everything into a spreadsheet on Google Drive.  That way it can be accessed from anywhere, even if my house burns down and takes my safe and computer with it.

I need to get my list updated with values in case anything happens to me, so my wife knows how much it's worth. 

Only problem is, then she'll know how much I spent on all of it  ;D
Title: Re: What is your Gun Inventory System?
Post by: abbafandr on February 03, 2014, 06:51:51 PM
Like Citizen Clark I'm also planning on putting everything into a spreadsheet on Google Drive.  That way it can be accessed from anywhere, even if my house burns down and takes my safe and computer with it.

I need to get my list updated with values in case anything happens to me, so my wife knows how much it's worth. 

Only problem is, then she'll know how much I spent on all of it  ;D

Just tell her how valuable they are, not what you paid for them  :laugh: