Saving serial numbers

I keep a copy of the serial numbers in two of my computers as well as two additional hard copies in separate places.

Nice rifle.

Good for you!

This is a very wise practice. I not only keep a record of serial #'s but I take a pic of my guns too.

Had a gun stolen in October. Was advised by detectives that less than 1/2 of the folks who reported stolen guns could provide a SN. My gun was recovered in the next county 1 month later, but will not be returned until after the guy who had it goes to trial. I have a list stored in my computer as well as hard copies in the safe.

I keep an Excel spread-sheet with all pertinent info for every gun I have ever owned, or sold.

On two computers, on a back- up hard drive, and on a flash drive on my key ring.

Plus another copy emailed to my sons every time something changes.

I guess there is another backup copy on the ICloud now too since I got an iPad for Xmas.

It's foolish not too.

rc

I keep a hard copy of every make, model, caliber and serial number for all guns I currently have, and annotate when they were sold.

Great thread! It reminds me that I have a couple newer ones that I haven't recorded the SN's on yet. Thanks for the reminder!

Thanks for the reminder, I need to get those SN's written down. I've heard that multiple photos of each gun with SN and any distinguishing marks is important too. Time to break out the camera.

I have original copies and copies and hand written of my current and sold guns just for this reason. I hope I never need them but it's better to have and not need, than it is to need and not have. Kind of like a condom I guess

I keep my inventory on an Excel spreadsheet on my computer, laptop, phone, and a couple of hard copies in different places.

Keep at least one copy somewhere not in your house and not on a computer. Theft is only one way for a gun to come up missing.

And yes you would be shocked at those that don't know the SN# and that just leave them in the car....not locked. People are real stupid....but I guess that is why I have a job.

I too have all ways kept a list of all my firearms and their serial numbers on two separate documents thru out my home, definitely not on my computer though, basically because of hackers etc. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Most burglars are very quick in their entry and decease so therefore I do keep them hidden in my primary premises, most if not all burglars would not pay much if any attention to the papers.

As far as a fire is concerned I do have one hidden in a secure place where fire would not get to them. In regards to photos I do have some photos of my firearms but because I have so many it is not feasible to have a photo of each and every one.

Expand your records to include a household inventory. Mine simply includes the gun safe and all contents. I list everything by room, with links to pictures of everything. It's also good to have a video of the general house, as you walk through it.

Metropolitan police officer told me the best thing you could do was print out all your serial numbers of all you stuff (guns, electronics, etc) and stick it to your refrigerator with a magnet! Said "I am serious as a heart attack". Said burglars never look at stuff like that but they sure as heck will steal your computer.

I do like others and while I have it on my computer I also have a copy on paper locked into my desk at work, uploaded as an attachement and saved on two different email servers, etc.

I could get mine back even if a volcano swallowed up my house.

Expand your records to include a household inventory. Mine simply includes the gun safe and all contents. I list everything by room, with links to pictures of everything. It's also good to have a video of the general house, as you walk through it.

Click to expand...

This can be huge if you get robbed. A majority of the time, police are not even able to return stolen materials because they don't even know who the owners are. If you can provide the police with serial numbers for all of your big ticket items, the chances of recovery go up several hundred percent.

Fella's it is worth keeping your own records. I managed to get a M/27 S&W back to the Mayor of our city that'd been gone for over 14 years..........home burglary & the gun was recovered in S.C.!

On the downside, it looked like the devil with the grips bleached out and most all of the blue gone. Still, like nearly every old Smith I've seen it was still in time and functionally perfect.

All great ideas. I have taken pictures of the guns with serial# clearly visible on the pictures.

I have everything I own stored on an Excell spread sheet on our computers and back up copies on jump drives (USB drives).

Only thing that sucks is remebering to up date all the back up copies everytime I bring a new gun home.

I also keep seperate pages for my brothers and dads collections for them.
Will

Took pics of guns, pics of serial numbers and saved them to a thumb drive store at a trusted friends house as well as printed copies and on the pc . Remote backup.

Thanks for the reminder to update mine

This thread is a great reminder. I naively never considered "what if my guns get stolen" (they are in a locked safe bolted to the frame of the house, but certainly not impenetrable). Looks like a new project just got added to my todo list for the weekend.

SD card in the wallet, one in the garage and another in the safe deposit box. Excel spreadsheet format, but I also keep a log of each and every sale also, with a scanned copy of the bill of sale or buyers pertinent information. I had one stolen that the buyer failed to have this information, it was transferred to me and the Paris, TX police department contacted me when it was recovered, I subsequently got it returned to the rightful owner.

I wrore the S/Ns down, took a picture of the list amd emailed it to myself. I can access it anywhere on most any device. My insurance co.pany had the list amd my guns have a separate policy from my home.