Keeping track of your firearms...

Status
Not open for further replies.
DustyGmt

DustyGmt

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
4,011
Location
Green Mountains
I never have and regret not having done so up to now, but I think I'm going to try to keep a detailed log of firearms purchased, sold, serial numbers, purchase price, value, etc... I never really gave it much thought until fairly recently but it could come in handy in a number of ways. It's good to keep records of significant purchases, life events, etc but when it comes time to report a firearm theft I really doubt the police are going to go through the effort of running down your serial number to assist you with your claim so there is one reason. Not that the police can really do much with a serial number anyway, unless it falls into their lap or something, it would still be nice to be able to provide them with something more specific than the make/model.

Another good reason is just for your own records, for your wife or kids should something unexpected happen they know what you paid and an approximate value of the firearm. Also, in the event of a recall or whatever I could see knowing when you bought your firearm could come in handy even though they usually provide a range of Serial #, still good to know. If you're like me I can't even tell you when I bought or sold certain guns and have lost track of what guns I've even owned from all the wheeling and dealing over the years and I'm fairly young, I imagine some of you guys have guns going back to the Nixon era or before...

Do any of you guys (non FFL) keep a detailed ledger of every firearm that comes into your hands, for the purpose of keeping track of everything? I think it's a good idea, for me anyways. I wish I had been doing it all along.....
 
I have done something similar as well. You may want to consider taking photos too. If firearms are stolen then you can provided them to law enforcement and for insurance claims. I also include scopes as well.
 
I compose a page, two at the most, for each gun that I own, including a full color photo, serial number, estimated value as of (today), and print it out, and compile these pages in a folder on my bookshelf. If I stroke out unexpectedly, my heirs can grab the folder and deal appropriately with the collection. Easy.
 
DustyGmt said:
Another good reason is just for your own records, for your wife or kids should something unexpected happen they know what you paid and an approximate value of the firearm.
Click to expand...

This is especially true if you have a collection of old milsurp rifles. I have discovered that some of the greasy old guns I bought with my C&R back in the day for peanuts are now worth good money. Don't even get me started on CMP M1s and 1903s.

Tim
 
I use a spreadsheet. It’s fairly basic but works.
Make
Model
Caliber
Where purchased
Amount
Serial #
When it was made
General Notes.

I also started keeping track of the number of rounds fired for each gun on a separate tab. Once it’s all setup electronically it’s pretty easy to update after a range visit.
 
Absolutely, for very little (under $20) you can get a firearms record book from lots of places. That’s what I use.

Their are also several apps for your phone, if you trust the tech companies, which I don’t.


I even take pictures of my serial numbers, just in case I wright it down wrong or if need to prove possession for some reason.
Probably overkill but it easy and basically free.
 
DustyGmt said:
I never have and regret not having done so up to now, but I think I'm going to try to keep a detailed log of firearms purchased, sold, serial numbers, purchase price, value, etc... I never really gave it much thought until fairly recently but it could come in handy in a number of ways. It's good to keep records of significant purchases, life events, etc but when it comes time to report a firearm theft I really doubt the police are going to go through the effort of running down your serial number to assist you with your claim so there is one reason. Not that the police can really do much with a serial number anyway, unless it falls into their lap or something, it would still be nice to be able to provide them with something more specific than the make/model.

Another good reason is just for your own records, for your wife or kids should something unexpected happen they know what you paid and an approximate value of the firearm. Also, in the event of a recall or whatever I could see knowing when you bought your firearm could come in handy even though they usually provide a range of Serial #, still good to know. If you're like me I can't even tell you when I bought or sold certain guns and have lost track of what guns I've even owned from all the wheeling and dealing over the years and I'm fairly young, I imagine some of you guys have guns going back to the Nixon era or before...

Do any of you guys (non FFL) keep a detailed ledger of every firearm that comes into your hands, for the purpose of keeping track of everything? I think it's a good idea, for me anyways. I wish I had been doing it all along.....
Click to expand...
I use an app
 
Spreadsheet. I use spreadsheets extensively in my work so it’s my document of choice. Lots of columns and lots of rows with every conceivable bit of info about each firearm.

Kept on a usb thumb drive on my key ring with a backup on another usb/key ring set. No hard copies, no online copies, no hard drive copies.

the Dilbert comic once stated, “there’s nothing more dangerous than a boss with a spreadsheet.” I try to live up to that.
 
I have a file on my computer with a couple of hard copies with SN and a brief description.

Not that the police can really do much with a serial number anyway, unless it falls into their lap or something, it would still be nice to be able to provide them with something more specific than the make/model.
Click to expand...

I've had 2 pistols stolen. Both were recovered. One a month later in the next county to the south. The other in Baltimore 15 months later. The gun recovered in Baltimore was a Ruger LC9s that I paid about $220 for and it was worth less than $200 used. To get it back would have required a 700 mile drive each way and at least 1 night in a hotel. I told them to keep it.

The other was recovered as part of a drug bust in November 2013. The DA did not want to release the gun until after the trial. I got it back about 10 days ago. Seven years and 11 months after it was stolen.

When I filed the report I was told that only about 30% of people could provide a SN. Even if recovered it is hard to prove who owned it. Of the ones reported with a SN well over half are recovered eventually. It may take time. A friend of mine had one recovered 15 years after it was stolen.
 
I keep a sheet of paper for every arm when I buy it. Where, when ,what, how much, inventory of accessories, ammo, mags, and future plans. Example, my sks.

NORINCO SKS
11/16/2019 (date bought)
Wes. (Sellers name)
SN.
400$(Value bought)

Brief description, such as all matching, spike bayonet, original 20rnd internal mag and extra unserialized 10rnd internal mag.

Inventory: off memory, but something like this:
Chest rig.
40 x Stripper Clips.
3 x detachable , 20rnd mag.
1 x sling.

? x rounds (not sure how much ammo I have for it )
So on and so forth. Then I write an idea of what I'd like to make/buy for it. For example:

Leather wraps for butt stock and forward hand guard | polymer stock, for better length of pull |

So on and so forth. When I sell an arm, I include this sheet, but I do cut the last section out.
 
Good old-fashioned log-book. More of a small diary(X2), type, S/N, caliber, condition, cost, brief details, date and location of purchase.
Originally, it was for safe-keeping, against theft, and loss. However, over time, I find it has provided perspective, to my past and future gun purchases. I keep the two books in different safe locations, JIC.
 
Another hand written log book person here. Mostly for insurance purposes.

cc-hangfire said:
no online copies,
Click to expand...
FWIW - If your documents originate from a computer that is connected to the internet there is an online copy. If your computer is not connected to the internet there is a copy on your hard drive.
 
Yes, a list with all relevant info in pencil so I can change values as they appreciate. I also cross out guns sold so there will be no futile searches.

At the top of the page is the name and phone number of a friend who has agreed to dispose of them for me.

My heirs might simply call the the police to “please take these guns and dangerous ammunition” otherwise.
 
kidneyboy said:
If your documents originate from a computer that is connected to the internet there is an online copy. ...
Click to expand...
Only if someone manages to hack into your computer while it is online ... unless, o'course, you are practicing really rotten online security. ;)

Just adding this for the folks that may get spooked reading what you typed and misconstruing it to mean that their online computer is wide open to one & all on the internet. O'course, "spooked" isn't necessarily a bad thing if it causes folks to re-assess their online security. :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

P
  • Locked
Do you keep a paper or computer inventory of your firearms and accessories?
2 3
Replies
56
Views
2K
303tom
3
T
  • Locked
Do You Give Out Your Serial Number?
Replies
22
Views
960
Eyesac
E
S
  • Locked
  • Poll
Does anyone catalog their firearms?
2 3
Replies
63
Views
3K
MinnMooney
M
W
  • Locked
Firearm insurance
2
Replies
35
Views
2K
TexasRifleman
T
P
  • Locked
Your ammunition to firearms ratio?
2 3
Replies
50
Views
2K
exavid
E
Back
Top