Free software for tracking firearm collection?

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GunGeek

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Today I decided to reorginize my collection, the problem is last week I was going to the range and as I was packing to go I reliezed I had misplaced a handgun! I found it after 10 minutes of looking but I decided it was time to orginize things a bit.

I also thought about the fact if something ever got stolen I would have to dig through stacks of paperwork to give the police the serial# or any other info. I could simply list it in Excel but I wondered if their was any free software out thier to do this.

I've been searching for a while now and can't believe there arn't any free options out there. I found this thread, anything ever come of it Anapex?
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=67169

Thanks
 
Excel does nothing but put them in nice columns. Access is a database program. Very easy to use also. Run the wizard and you're on your way.
 
Don't know about you but Access isn't very easy to use at all in my book. You can use the wizard to create the DB and a form, but to get it to do anything usefull like searching/organizing/reporting... you need to know VB. I do Network Administration for a living and if I need something done in Access I get it done by someone trained to program.
 
can't think of anything specific to tracking firearm collections, but if free is the important part:
http://www.openoffice.org

if you already have Microsoft Office software (like Excel) then maybe thats not as helpful ... but they have a package of software that does everything MS Office does (including opening and editing Office files) but its free.
 
they have a package of software that does everything MS Office does (including opening and editing Office files) but its free.
Click to expand...

I run both Microsoft Office and Open Office actually since you brought it up. I get MS Office free through work but I would definitly recomend Open Office to anyone looking to save some cash.
 
I found this thread, anything ever come of it Anapex?
Click to expand...

Nothing yet that I'd even feel comfortable releasing. We'll see if that improves any this coming week. I have a week off at the beach and I'm not really a beach lover that much.
 
Unfortunately, I can't do HTML tables in this format, but here's a sample of what my Excel spreadsheet looks like:


Item.....|.....Type.....|.....Make.....|.....Model................|.....Detail.....|.....s/n ......|.....Notes

Firearm ..|.... Pistol ....|.... Kimber ...|... Custom Classic II ..|..... .45 ACP .|.... KO83481 |... Matte Stainless

...etc

I have all my firearms, stereo, computer, camera and other items expensive enough to make it worthwhile inventorying.
 
I know you asked for free solutions and someone mentioned Access, but I have another suggestion. (I don't like Access, either.)

I like FileMaker Pro. It's EASY to setup and use. It's relational and has a better interface to me than Access. (I work in the IT field, too and have to deal with Access, SQL, etc. and I still prefer FileMaker Pro. I don't like dealing with Access for several reasons beyond this thread.)

You can also drag and drop an Excel document onto FileMaker Pro and it will create a FileMaker database. If you already have a lot of data in Excel, it shortens data input time.

Just my $.02.
 
There's specific "gun tracker" software advertised in the Dillon Precision catalog. IIRC, it's $20 or $30. It's not free, but supports adding pictures and descriptions in addition to just basic DB stuff. I may bite the bullet and pay for it myself eventually.
 
Gun Geek, that's why you're the hardware guy.

You can very easily sort and sift Access with the icons on the toolbar.

In my case anyway, the uses are pretty simple. If I want to look up how many Smiths I own, I merely filter for Smiths in my form's brand name field. Same thing for calibers and model numbers. And while I am never one to rpint lots of things out, making a report with the wizard is easy too.
 
Don't like Access either.

I use Excel. Pretty simple. You can sort it any way you want too and also paste photos/images, links, crunch numbers, etc. Less work than Access too, IMO.
 
A little off topic, but guys/gals be sure you at least have your serial numbers SOMEWHERE. Recently, a guy I know lost(stolen) a 22 gun collection. He had a few of his guns listed, but most of them he hadn't bothered to write down. I keep a copy of mine at my office and at home. I've also given a copy to my brother, just in case something happens to me.
 
I use Excel. I have a sheet set up to mirror the format of the FFL bound book. Added a column for how much I paid for a particular example. I chose Excel b/c pretty much everybody has it. I have multiple copies stashed around (an encrypted on at CD at work, a CD in the truck, and an extra copy around the house). If something happens (fire, theft, natural disaster), I can document for insurance exactly what I had. Copies that are not in my immediate possession are encrypted b/c I don't want someone else nosing through my stuff (this has happened at work to other people so I'm not taking the chance).
 
I created a simple Excel file to list my firearms. You can basically build any number of cells you need for descriptions and even add a new cell in the middle if necessary. Maintaining the file is pretty much a manual keying process but if you sell a gun you can simply delete the entire line without any problem.

Another thing that you should ALWAYS do with a file created by any app you use even if it's a simple Excel, Word, or Access file, is to save a backup copy of the current file to a floppy disk or CD and store it in a secure location. A computer failure is a bad thing, but to have all of your sensitive and important data on the failed machine with no backup is beyond terrible. With the data on a floppy or CD, you can recover the data to a new machine or even go to another machine that has the same application software on it.
 
http://www.collectiblessoftware.com/wgk.html This one is not free but not expensive either. There is not much of a description but there is a shot of the screen for datat colelction. Looks like maybe you can add pictures.

Check out:
http://www.huntingnut.com/index.php...e=article&sid=3
The far right tab on the top titled "firearms database". The example doesn't show the database but it's on the downloaded version.
See if that's what you're looking for. Works pretty well. Best of all it's FREE!
Click to expand...
I checked out the one above but, all I saw was a ballistics data base. I didn't see any link to a firearms data base.

All the best,
Glenn B
 
Well, on this topic, what the heck would I do if my pre-1968 (no SN) Mossberg got stolen, besides cry?
 
I work with Excel doing finanacial reporting for my company's maintenance group. You can do a little or a lot with Excel. No reason to waste time trying to learn a database progran unless you already know it.

That is what I plan to use. An inventory has been on my To Do list. :)
 
I put together something that may interest you a while back.

In HTML the Basic Firearms Data Sheet is here and if you prefer it in Microsoft word format it is here in MS word format

This is a form for firearm owners to record the vital information about their weapons. Simply print it and fill out the boxes! Perfect for documentation of your collection if you need to keep records for insurance or in case of loss.

You can simply fill in the blanks and keep them as hardcopy after printing them out or as softcopy on a disk as you see fit.
 
CGofMP,

Nice format. I like it and may use it starting today. I alrady have an inventory, but not as nicely set up as this one. I don't really need anything fancy for an inventory, not all that many guns - so this should do fine by me. This one is even nice for my C&R firearms; the BATFE would probably be more tha satisfied with a format like that, in a bound form, if they ever audited my small collection of C&R firearms. Thanks

All the best,
Glenn B
 
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