Just curious if anyone uses any software to inventory their gun collections?

Does anyone use the Blue Book of Guns Inventory Software? Do you like it? Pros/Cons

Just curious if anyone uses any software to inventory their gun collections?

Does anyone use the Blue Book of Guns Inventory Software? Do you like it? Pros/Cons

Hi Spudnik

I have not used the program that you mentioned, however I found this free download program a few months back, and have not used it yet. If you would like to give it a shot, here is the link: http://www.somanyroads.org/gunsafe/index.html

It is freeware, so it might be what your looking for and the price can't be beat.

I just made up a simple excel spreadsheet. Columns for make, model, serial number, purchase price and date. We have a print out in our safe deposit box.

Of course, I don't have to take off my shoes to count my gun collection.

Ken, I'm older so I had a head start and take off one shoe to count :)
I have Greg Mushials RCBS Load and the Lee Shooters program. I prefer the Lee inventory program. I use an excel spreadsheet as a back up.
I like excel because I can sort the columns and hunt for scopes, mounts, sights etc. All I have to do is keep the spreadsheet updated as I move stuff around.
I prefer the Lee program for looking at individual guns as it has places for prices paid and compresses the information onto one page in a very readable format. The Lee program will also sort guns by caliber, mfr etc.
My problem with RCBS Load is the inventory program is for “deep thinkers” and there are quite a few entries which should be made to keep a complete record. It is a project for a winter’s night. While off topic I collect S&W I & J frame revolvers and the RCBS Load program is a little better from the collector’s point of view. I can record small variations in hammer checkering, finish etc in an easier viewed format than when using a spread sheet.

It is important to keep photographs of your firearms for insurance.

It is important to keep photographs of your firearms for insurance.

good point...as well as backing up software programs and if possible, keeping a copy in a safe place like a safe deposit box.

I use Access. It is a relational database program that is part of Microsoft Office, though fewer people are familiar with it than with Excel.

I've been using Guntracker since 2004
Works really well.

Allows you to store detailed info, as well as pictures. You can even track your last cleanings and usage if you wish.

I've wondered about the wisdom (except for businesses) of keeping a gun inventory or list of other valuables on a computer. In the case of a burglary, the computer is likely to be stolen and the thieves now have a list of guns (or other valuables) to look for next time. Or might spy-ware provide the information to those who should not have the information. I can understand having a computerized data base kept on a removal memory (that can be locked away separately), but I am hesitant to keep that type of information on a computer. Am I being too paranoid?

I encrypt all my important info using a free program called Truecrypt. For the truly paranoid it allows you to encrypt your encryption.

Am I being too paranoid?


No, but I like the idea of encrypting the encryption!

A flash drive is the way to go for us software challenged :confused: types.

I just put everything in a Word document. You guys have given me some additional information ideas though. I just put the make, model, serial number, date acquired, used or new, I also have a few guns of my dads so I made sure to include contact information in the event that something happens to me.

I think I will add the cost (that kinda scares me!) and my optics too, since I am gathering quite a few of those recently.

Irv,

The magic word is one most computer owners live to regret not having learned sooner. It is "Backup". I used to backup to disks, which is a nuisance, even though blank DVD isn't that expensive anymore, it still takes about 6 of them to hold complete image of my hard drive, and a number of hours to write them all. I finally wised up and got a USB hard drive. The are under $1 a gigabyte now if you shop around. I'm using Norton Ghost, but Acronis True Image and other backup utilities would likely do just as well. I plug it in once a day, when I am working on something important and once a week when I am not. About an hour and a half the first time around, and 15 minutes or so to refresh after that. Lock it up in the fireproof safe afterward.

Safer still, would be an off-site on-line backup, but those are expensive, being designed for business. It would cost me around $4K/year to keep my disk image that way, though you can get Zip drive sized quantity of storage, 100 Mb, for $3.25/mo, which might not be a bad thing for a few critical files, like ther Quicken backup. The more reasonable and economic approach, in my view, is a second USB drive kept in a bank box and retrieved and written to about once a month.


Spud,

Thanks for the encryption program name. Now that PGP isn't universally free in its newer incarnations, it is good to see that someone is trying to serve that market. I wonder if Phil Zimmerman has looked at it? I still use an old version of PGP.


William,

Flash drives are vulnerable to cosmic rays. Like any EPROM, they can spontaneously loose data or corrupt a file for no apparent reason. They are just not as reliable as a hard drive yet. Plus, for me at least, 30 Gb hasn't hit my local store yet. I do use them to duplicate critical files all the time, though.

FYI -

If you have a Fry's in the area, they have been running sales on Maxstore branded 160GB external hard drives for $49.99 or so. Even the usual full price of $69.99 or whatever isn't bad.

For multiple computers in the house, step up to the next level, and use one that can be plugged into the network (router) and all computers can back up to it like a server.

Let me add a few more cautions about backing up. Hard drives have a finite life and it would be foolish to rely on them more than about 5 years for a desktop, less than that for a laptop. For my business customers I replace them by age 5 by copying the entire contents of the drive with a program like Ghost. Any decent computer repair shop should be able to handle this for a decent price; say $75 - $100 for the new drive and about that much on labor. Not expensive considering the cost of a crash AND the rest of the computer typically will run another 3-5 years, sometimes much longer, saving the cost of replacement. Plus you DON'T want a new computer with Vista. Trust me!

I'll second Nick's caution to not rely 100% on the USB flash drives. They don't like getting bent - ask me how I know that :)

What firearms information I have on the computer, is mostly in Excel.

Like some of you, I use an Excel file. I have all the relevant info, plus photos. I created a master sheet that has condenses the info onto one page, then individual worksheets for each firearm.

I save the workbook to a CD, then delete the file from my computer. I keep a copy in the gun safe, and safety deposit box. The only time I need it is when I buy or sell a firearm.

Here's a sample file with one rifle entered into it if anyone wants to play with it.

http://personal.swayzee.com/jayb/Gunstuffsample.xls

Hi Spudnik

I have not used the program that you mentioned, however I found this free download program a few months back, and have not used it yet. If you would like to give it a shot, here is the link: http://www.somanyroads.org/gunsafe/index.html

It is freeware, so it might be what your looking for and the price can't be beat.

I just downloaded and installed GunSafe. After looking at the demo screens, I think this really useful. It records most details of the firearm, plus photos. And, it's small enough that you could brun the entire program plus data onto a CD/DVD and store that in a safe deposit box.

In the event I were to fall under a bus, it would sure be nice for my widow to be able to know what my guns are worth - because she'd certainly get rid of them. If all she has to do is plug in the CD and print the list off, she'd be far ahead. Come to think of it, it might be a good idea to record my safe combo in there somewhere, too! So she can get TO them!

William,
Flash drives are vulnerable to cosmic rays. Like any EPROM, they can spontaneously loose data or corrupt a file for no apparent reason. .

I didnt know that but figured it was the case. I lost all of my .32 Magnum and .38Spl/.357 Mag/.357 Maximum data when I lost a pair of floppy discs.
I was thinking of jusy the inventory on the flashdrive as being handy.

Say Merc,
Thanks for the program!
Greg

You could bundle the photos and files in with a large lot of other photos and email them to yourselfas an attachment. Store the email in the archive section of your email account. At yahoo the first gig is free. Don't have that account in your own name. If case of your death the IRS will have your safe deopsit box sealed to make sure they get their cut. You do need to make sure that your heirs know how to get into your account.
It is a good place to keep business records also.

If you haven't yet cataloged your collection, read the sticky re: insurance (http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=29204), or one of the thousand articles written about Katrina and loss or seizures.

jonas