Other than FFL or C&R, do you keep a record of personal arms?

[DMK]

Here in NC, we nearly got burdened with a law that required accountability for any and every firearm if stolen. The victim of the crime would have been charged with a crime for any arm stolen and not reported. Luckily, due to GRNC and folks standing up for their rights, we avoided that legal nightmare.

Still, it planted a seed in my head that it might not be a bad idea to keep a record. I have enough arms to conceivably forget one or two if some such crime or disaster happened. I certainly can't remember serial numbers. I keep receipts, but I don't have one for every gun.

Having a C&R, I got to thinking that the bound book format might be a good way to keep a record of my non-C&R arms as well (Keeping a separate book for non-C&Rs of course). I keep my C&R bound book in a computer spreadsheet, and make both electronic and paper backups. (Technically, between me and the ATF, it's an electronic backup to the physical bound book, then a backup of that file. But that's just semantics. It's three copies of the same data in three different physical locations).

Other than FFL requirements, do any of you keep a record? If so, any good ideas?

 

[Bruce333]

I do about the same as you. Electronic copy with an "official" paper C&R bound book, and another paper book for non-C&R firearms.
I use Gun Safe (it's freeware) for the electronic copy with photos, with both C&R and non-C&R entered. Whenever I update it I make a backup and also update the copy on my lap-top.

 

[Lashlarue]

I take photos with serial#s, not only arms but anything I own of value. Much easier to convince the insurance co. I had them in case of loss or theft, or tornado.I live in a mobile home and everyone knows God invented mobile homes so tornadoes would have a place to land!

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I have photos in the safe and at work. Of course I've got the safety certs on the handguns. I've not recorded the serial numbers yet, but intend to after reading the last thread similar to this one.

 

[oldfart]

I keep a list of serial numbers in case something gets stolen. I doubt it would help to return the piece but it might.

 

[Gator]

I keep the receipts, but thats it.

 

[peacemaker45]

List of make, model, and serial number in spreadsheet form. Backed up to hell and gone. One copy on my comp, one on my dad's, we each have a backup on flash drive, and paper copies in filing cabiniets at home, in his office, and one in my briefcase. Also a file full of receipts, for the ones we got receipts for.

~~~Mat

 

[glockman19]

I keep a written record in Microsoft Excel with the make, model, Caliber, Date of purchase, purchase price, serial number and photograph. one copy in the computer one copy in the safe one copy in the Safety Deposit Box.

 

[usmccpl]

I keep a few copies of what I have and being as paranoid as I am I will not tell anyone but my wife where it is written.

 

[Ala Dan]

I have two sets of hard copies [bound books, with receipts and digital pics]
that I keep for this very purpose. On any large collection, insurance agents
will want to see what's missing~!

 

[10 Ring Tao]

I use this nifty piece of freeware: http://www.somanyroads.org/gunsafe/

I also took detailed pictures of my guns, and made a video of me picking up each one, showing it to the camera and talking about its monetary value including accessories. All that put on a data DVD and put in the safe.

I should make a copy and put it in the fire safe with the documents.

 

[evan price]

There's one envelope in my document floor safe (with the passports, extra keys, credit cards, etc) holding 3x5 cards, each gun is described and listed by serial # on its own card along with accessories, magazines, sights, etc. plus where I got it and how much it was. Another envelope in the locked file cabinet that has receipts. I make duplicate copies of the 3x5 cards, the duplicate cards get taken to the safe deposit box along with the deeds and savings bonds etc. whenever I go to the bank. Did the same thing with tools, jewelry, etc. for insurance purposes.

A real paranoid guy might do this on flash paper..!

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Everything that could be papered and was purchased over the counter and C/R log. Serials of main-stay weapons are in my head also. If I have receipts they are saved, too.

Obligated reporting of theft makes it matter--State of IL is trying to pass an 'obliged to report theft/loss' law, too.

 

[Jubjub]

I photograph all my guns, including serial numbers and markings and anything else distinctive. The pics are archived in several places.

 

[mjrodney]

Every important record I have, including household inventory records and photographs, is first encrypted and then filed away on two password protected flash drives.

One of these flash drives is in a fire-resistant box that lives in a fire-resistant safe and the other is attached to my keys.

My middle initials should be A. R.

 

[fletcher]

I have a document with pictures of both sides of each firearm and the serial number, as well as all important information (manufacturer, model, caliber, etc.).

 

[CleverNickname]

For those of you who don't want to have a plain-text copy lying around, check out an encryption program like TrueCrypt. You can use it to make a virtual encrypted hard drive that resides on your real hard drive.

 

[RandyB]

Yes I keep an updated copy of were purchased, price, and serial numbers. I periodically send a copy of this on a CD (along with my kids pictures) to my dad and brother for safe keeping. I keep this record for insurance purposes as well as pics of owned firearms.

 

[DogBonz]

I Do

Ever since my previous residence was buggerized (Thankfully the thieves didn’t find any of my guns) I keep a copy (paper and on disk) of my firearms. Make, model and serial # along with any modifications or identifying marks that would distinguish them. I keep a scanned copy of receipts on file as well. I keep one in the safe, and one at work, just in case.

 

[hotpig]

You can find already made log books for your arms collection data.

http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/store.pl?ref=hotpig27&pd=295507

 

[PotatoJudge]

I made up two scraps of paper with the make, model, and SN of each gun is written on there. It's not exactly in code, but you'd have no idea what to make of it unless you already knew what it was about. I keep one in my wallet and one in a drawer with some unimportant stuff.

I trust paper and my "encoded" records over computers for this sort of thing.

 

[The-Fly]

i have an AES encrypted file with all the guns with serial #'s that I own. I keep that file on two different machines. I'd like to be able to give the police information if my guns get stolen, but also want to deny fascists in the future information as well. The encrypted file works both ways for me.

 

[evilelvis]

I've been meaning to getting around to doing this so I just created my PGP encrypted spreadsheet

One whole line but it's a start.

I feel better - and since it's encrypted that makes me feel even better that I can access it but nobody else.

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

I wrote make, model and serial number of all my guns on a 3x5 card and put it somewhere safe from fire and theft. That's all I'll say.

 

[def4pos8]

I keep a detailed record of the inventory for two reasons: insurance and survivors. My hardware is on a special rider to my homeowner's policy. Most homeowner's policies will only cover firearms to $500 per claim/event. The inventory also designates who receives what when I'm gone.