Gun Log? Do you keep one?

[carolinaman]

Hi there all,

With the holiday's upon us and the number of B&E's on the rise around here, I thought that it might be a good idea to start a log for all of my firearms, i.e. for police reports and homeowner's insurance.

Does anyone have a good template for the ole computer that I can use to create a log?

I need the type of firearm, purchase date, estimated value, serial number and what else?

Thanks,

Chris

[xring44]

Good idea,,I have mine hand writen on a legal pad,,,somewhere:)
I'll follow and learn..

[2k5Adam]

I created a really simple word spreadsheet that you guys can edit. :P

[Hawken50]

Point Blank free balistic software has one built in, but you should probably print it off. if they're gonna steal your guns they'll probably take your computer too.

[Ala Dan]

I keep a hand written one, in a lined notebook that is in a secure location.:D

[stealthmode]

I actually just made an inventory last night so if anything happens my family knows what i have and who gets what.

[Kharn]

I keep two bound books, one for C&Rs, one for the rest of my guns.

Kharn

[HSMITH]

I have mine burned on CD with pictures to represent condition and serial numbers. One is here in a secure location, another is about 20 miles away in another secure location. The one stored away from the guns is mostly for fire concerns......

[Rembrandt]

Picked these up at a gun show years ago, not sure if they are still available. Might give the address on the last page a try....good luck.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Img_3699.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Img_3697.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Img_3701.jpg

[TexasRifleman]

I have a CD ROM with a detailed spreadsheet and digital photos stored in the bank safe deposit box with my will and other important things. Mostly for insurance, but there are also some instructions for my wife on how to deal with the NFA stuff if something happens to me.

You DO have a will don't you?

[DSS]

I use the point blank software for my personal firearms and handload data. That is one nice program and best of all it is free!

I use the log book from the ATF for my guns in the shop.

[EddieCoyle]

I just did a search for Point Blank and found a page with dozens of downloads available including Point blank, reloading manuals, etc.

Here it is. (http://stevespages.com/page8b.htm)

[MCgunner]

I had all my gun's serial numbers in a data base file many years ago on an old Tandy Color three computer. :rolleyes: I haven't transfered to another file on a modern computer. Probably should do that. Wouldn't hurt to include a pic of each gun, both sides, too. I'd rather keep it all on a CD. I would say floppy, but this new computer doesn't have a floppy drive. Pictures are too big for floppies, anyway. I guess that's old tech, now. :rolleyes: As slow as improvements come in firearms, a 1911 design is still a viable combat weapon, if you have a friggin' computer and operating system more than six months old, you friggin' have to update!:fire: They should take a few clues from the firearms industry. :D

I keep a range log with chronograph data, notes on specific guns, etc. It's the only way I can keep up with all the friggin' guns I have, where they shoot with what load, now they shoot, etc, etc. I could include a print copy of the above info in that book. My guns are constantly changing, or anyway have in the past. I'm pretty settled on my collection now, though, and updating every time I go to a gun show is no longer really necessary, especially since I'm going through, shall we say, an income transition right now and can't buy squat. :rolleyes: But, at least I won't be ridding myself of anything. I like all the guns I have now, or most of 'em, for one reason or another. So a data base would probably remain pretty stable.

[jer1949]

For rembrant's book, go here.....

http://www.pfrb.biz/

[XLMiguel]

I keep one in Excel. One page for each gun with serial no., date purchased, price paid, from whom, caliber/capacity, picture, list of mods/accessories/upgrades, and log of rounds fired by brand and type. I also keep an ammo inventory. The first page is a list of all guns in the armory with a summary of rounds through. When a gun gets traded/sold, it's moved to the back of the book.

[22-rimfire]

I keep one as it becomes impossible to remember a lot of the little details. Key information is Model, Serial Number, Purchase Date, Caliber, Barrel Length, Finish, Source (where ya bought it), Purchase Price, Approximate value (yr), Box and Paperwork?, Accessories, Fed Form Completed?, "Other Info".

A notation is added if a firearm is sold or traded, and to whom if I have the information. Also the date sold is added.

The information is backed up on CD's and a printed hard copy is maintained just in case. I think its a good idea to maintain records. If you die, there is some information for those that follow after you.

[WT]

The authorities know what I have .............

[Working Man]

The authorities know what I have .............

Aint that the truth.

[Highland Ranger]

I create a file folder for evey gun. In that computer folder is:

- pictures of the gun

- scanned copy of pistol permit if applicable

- scanned copy of all receipts/other paoperwork

- if not in the above docs (usually is) tech specs on the gun; model, serial, caliber, barrel, etc. etc.

- PDF version of owners manual if available

- recently started including a breif movie of me in my home office giving a short narrative on the gun as well with most of the above info. Thought this might be better for insurance purposes but I don't know for sure; check with your agent

Like the rest of my data, this file folder is regularly backed up to tape with a copy stored offsite.

[Andrew S]

I keep a small notepad with Make, Model, Serial, Purchase Price, Purchase date, Source, and where and how it is stored.

[thorazine]

Gun Log? Do you keep one?

Yup. Everything in my collection (including accessories) are logged in an excell spreadsheet along with photos, scanned receipts, etc, of each item. I burned a couple copies on CD which I keep at my home, in my car and at the office.

[Onmilo]

If you decide to use a computer program to complete your log I would suggest at the very least that you password protect the data.
An encrypting program is even better.

I still use paper hard copy and a very good safe to keep this data on hand.

[Hkmp5sd]

Absolutely! I've been collecting guns for so long that I cannot remember where some of them came from without checking the log.

[wundudnee]

My system is archaic, but functional. I have a recipe card box and whenever I buy a firearm I record all the pertinet data on a recipe card. I include make, model, caliber, serial #, purchase price, any special features, who I bought it from and where, if it has special collector interest, condition and grade, and a heads up if it is an unusual or highly desireable piece. I also sometimes give a rough value estimate. If I dispose of a gun, I just remove the card. My card file never has a hard drive crash. I also take lots of pictures and burn them to CD. I figure if something should happen to me, my survivors should have a pretty good idea what they're dealing with. I am fortunate in the fact my son is interested in guns and could do justice in the disposal and dispersal of my stuff.

[Jbar4Ranch]

The authorities know what I have .............
But if your guns are ever stolen, they'll never disclose to you what you had.

I use both Excel and Access. Excel is a spreadsheet best used for calculations, but it works ok as a database, while Access is designed as a database. Both will hold data and pictures, so no problem there. I keep copies on inexpensive jump drives, and keep the drives in two different remote locations as well as one in my home. 32Mb jump drives can be had for under five bucks, and Wal-Mart has 128 Mb jump drives for about $13. My accumulection is *extensive* and the entire file system, with pictures of each side of each gun, is still only around 25Mb.

[migoi]

program on my PDA (thinkDB 2) and have set up a file to keep all my gun info on.

In the memo pad section I also keep logs of all rounds fired through the guns. Nothing elaborate, just date and number of rounds. At the end of the year I summarize for total rounds fired for that gun for the year.

Since I sync my PDA with both my home computer and my laptop (plus the file is regularly backed up on a flash drive) the information can be recovered from 4 different places. Of course this is additionally backed up by the paper file of gun registrations I get from HPD when I go down and do the mandatory gun registration (and further backed up by the copies of said registrations I keep in my range bag).

migoi

[ChickenHawk]

I take pictures of my guns from every angle (make sure the seial numbers are clear) and store these along with a lot of descriptive stuff in a program called 'Collection Master'.

Cheers,
ChickenHawk

[M2 Carbine]

I've got all the guns on a simple Excel spread sheet.
The guns are color grouped together by brand and all info is included.

I always have at least 3 or 4 copies on other computers and on floppies.
From time to time I'll get real security conscious and encrypt the files with Easy Crypto.
http://www.handybits.com/easycrypto.htm

I also take pictures of the guns including a close up of the serial number.

[Dienekes]

Started keeping folders on each firearm about 25 years ago. For older stuff I had to reconstruct some of the data (better late than never) and ideally each contains purchase documents, manuals, exploded views and takedown info, and a picture. I also use it for a running log of work done, zeroes, quirks, and anything that I might want to know later on. Also keep a brief list on a Word Perfect document on hard drive and printed copies in the fireproof safe. May start putting better pictures on digital when figure it out more.l

[hksw]

Like some, I use MS Excel. With the data entered into the cells you can find various stats like % Handguns/% Rifle/% Shotgun, total cost, country of origin, etc. with just simple equations and Excel functions. This database is on the first worksheet. For photos of guns, receipts, etc. and order info, I put those on other sheets and link to them from the first sheet.

[Remander]

Simple and fireproof: I keep a list of firearm model/description, vendor, purchase date, price paid, serial number, etc. on a Word document.

I e-mail the list to myself on an internet e-mail account after each update. That way, even if the PC and printed list go up in flames, I can access the list from the e-mail account from anywhere in the world.

Of course, the NSA is likely reading my list right now.

[George S.]

I also use an Excel spreadsheet. Simple to use and you can easily widen the cells and add rowsas needed to fit descriptions. I added a cell for the purchase price and used a totalizing formula at the bottom to show the total dollar amounts I had spent on the guns, but the numbers got too scary!!

I also have another spreadsheet that shows my ammo inventory and reloading supplies. Sometimes it's a PITA to do the updates, but at least I have an idea of what I have by caliber and that helps with resupply when necessary.

Keeping the data on your PC is a good way to track the inventory of guns and even ammo stock, but you should ALWAYS copy the file to a floppy disk or a re-writable CD and store it in a safe place (gun safe or lock box).

If you would ever have a hard drive failure or some other fatal problem with the PC, you could lose that data file. If you have ever gone thru this, you know how frustrating this can be. :cuss: Just remember to use the floppy or CD to save any updates as you do them!!

[Jeff Timm]

If you keep computerized records, consider the format. i.e. can you read old SuperCalc files off a 5.25" Floppy? Anybody remember Dataperfect?

Geoff
Who came across an old disk full of documents from a wordprocessor that went obsolete back in the 1980s. Sigh.

[George S.]

If you keep computerized records, consider the format. i.e. can you read old SuperCalc files off a 5.25" Floppy? Anybody remember Dataperfect?

Geoff
Who came across an old disk full of documents from a wordprocessor that went obsolete back in the 1980s. Sigh.

Who even has a 5 1/4" FD drive anymore??:what: Guess you could find one on eBay but finding diskettes could be a pain in addition to current systems maybe not having the ability to even recognize it once you get it installed.

The first PC I had at work (Zenith) was a dual 5 1/4" floppy system. Boot disk went into the 'A' drive (DOS 2.0 :eek: ) and used the 'B' drive for apps and saving data files.