documenting your firearms

For everyone who is worried about the internet....

First... why are you on an internet forum?

Secondly, and much more seriously.... Do you realize that 99% of all "hacking" is because someone was stupid?

Question #3. With all of the companies out there worth billions of dollars, why do you think you would be targeted by a hacker? I'm not referring to the hundreds of phishing emails we all receive every week (only successful if someone is stupid), I am referring to a hacker taking the personal time to target you for a breach. You have nothing. You are small potatoes. You have nothing they are willing to steal that they do not already have.

For everyone who thinks "I don't do business online, I am safe." You are flat out lying to yourself. Your information is in so many computerized, digital databases, that you cannot even comprehend! And who knows how many of them have been breached (looking at you Equifax. Don't think for one second that just because you pay cash for everything you are safe).

I know this is not the thread for it, but I am in IT. This is my job. This is what I do when I am not looking for more Rugers.
  1. Use complex passwords for everything
    1. DO NOT KEEP PASSWORDS ON ANY DIGITAL OR PHYSICAL DOCUMENT!!!!!!!!! I would rather go through the "forgot password" rigor moral than write down a password ever.
    2. "Passkeys" which require facial recognition are safe also, as is "two-factor authentication" (even though I hate it too).
  2. Use a different password for EVERY financial account.
    1. I will not go so far to say use a different password for every online account, but every bank, doctor, or credit card, use a unique password.
  3. Don't be an idiot.
    1. Social engineering is a thing. Think about the security questions you have to create for most things. Now think about those "fun quizzes".
    2. You want to know what questions I will never answer online? "What is your favorite book?" "What was your first car?" Hell, if you are okay answering those, then please, tell me.... What was your mother's maiden name?
If the internet was really bad, none of this would be here (I hope we are smarter than that). It isn't. Yes, the cloud just means "someone else's computer". Trust me. It is both more vulnerable, and WAY more protected than your own.

The ATF is not an ogre out to get you (our your local FFL), it just employs some who are. Having helped my gunsmith with an ATF audit, I can tell you from personal experience, most of them want FFL's and gunowners to be safe.

Finally. Take off the tinfoil hat. You look like an idiot.

Nicotine withdrawal fueled rant over.
 
If things are as bad as some think (I don’t know that they are or aren’t) I suspect there’d be plants among forum members (on many forums) espousing philosophies that would attempt to sway other members to let their guard down.
 
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There is NO SECURITY in, or on, electronic devices....and certainly not in a CLOUD ...PERIOD.
Write your stuff on two pieces of paper and store them separately....Try not to forget where you stored them...

J.
 
I've taken photos of everything, multiple photos showing models and serial numbers.

I was going to build a database but Microsoft screwed me over with Access.

Back around the turn of the century I built a database for my wife's office. She worked for the county rec department and I built a database to teams registration. I was pretty slick, if I do say so.

So I thought, "I've already written a lot of the code that I want for my gun database.: Yes but the new version of Access wouldn't open the old files so the code was out of reach. At that point, I just used Excel to build a spreadsheet.
 
Yaworski said:
I've taken photos of everything, multiple photos showing models and serial numbers.

I was going to build a database but Microsoft screwed me over with Access.

Back around the turn of the century I built a database for my wife's office. She worked for the county rec department and I built a database to teams registration. I was pretty slick, if I do say so.

So I thought, "I've already written a lot of the code that I want for my gun database.: Yes but the new version of Access wouldn't open the old files so the code was out of reach. At that point, I just used Excel to build a spreadsheet.
Click to expand...
I have an older version of Access on one machine. Just for such situations.
 
This thread has me thinking a bit. I had a "list" years ago. Fairly detailed with all the modifications and by who. Heck I had boxes and boxes of packages some with OEM parts in them that were replaced. I've lost track in the last probably 20 years. The kids already have me buried and are arguing over who gets what gun.....I will soon have all the time in the world to myself being retired. I have a lot of tasks written down and in mind to accomplish with the time. It grows every day if not hour. I need to go through the safes and document everything again. No way I will remember everything smithed on them. Well over 100 pieces, very few bone stock. In fact I can only think of five that are factory bone stock no smithing. I have some work to do....
 
XUSNORDIE said:
This thread has me thinking a bit. I had a "list" years ago. Fairly detailed with all the modifications and by who. Heck I had boxes and boxes of packages some with OEM parts in them that were replaced. I've lost track in the last probably 20 years. The kids already have me buried and are arguing over who gets what gun.....I will soon have all the time in the world to myself being retired. I have a lot of tasks written down and in mind to accomplish with the time. It grows every day if not hour. I need to go through the safes and document everything again. No way I will remember everything smithed on them. Well over 100 pieces, very few bone stock. In fact I can only think of five that are factory bone stock no smithing. I have some work to do....
Click to expand...
Don't forget to account for nap time, and TV time, in your "free retirement time". p.s. I never got around to doing the stuff that I had on my 'retirement to-do list'.... so, I just threw it away and focus on doing NOTHING these days.

J.
 
i did firearms , blade collection and even my collector mags , i have some AK mags that are $250 - $300 that were dirt cheap in the 80's and 90's

does anyone have other insurance other than homeowners ? my homeowners only covers $5k , i have one firearm alone that eats that cap up and then some buy allot
 
HooPharted said:
i did firearms , blade collection and even my collector mags , i have some AK mags that are $250 - $300 that were dirt cheap in the 80's and 90's

does anyone have other insurance other than homeowners ? my homeowners only covers $5k , i have one firearm alone that eats that cap up and then some buy allot
Click to expand...
I have a collectors policy for my guns. My wife has a separate one for jewelry. Both are pretty inexpensive. My collectors policy only requires appraisals if a single gun, or a set is worth more than $25k. I only have to prove ownership if I file a claim, so no sending them serial numbers.

https://collectinsure.com/guns/
 
thinckley said:
I have a collectors policy for my guns. My wife has a separate one for jewelry. Both are pretty inexpensive. My collectors policy only requires appraisals if a single gun, or a set is worth more than $25k. I only have to prove ownership if I file a claim, so no sending them serial numbers.

https://collectinsure.com/guns/
Click to expand...
so when you say a set does that mean the whole collection? or say all Single Six pistols for instance , im going to call my agent to see if they offer something , thanks for the reply
 
HooPharted said:
so when you say a set does that mean the whole collection? or say all Single Six pistols for instance , im going to call my agent to see if they offer something , thanks for the reply
Click to expand...
A set would be sequential serials numbers, matching serial numbers, etc. Not a whole collection.

This Ruger 50th Anniversary pair would be a set:
1779156215195.png

Not worth $25k, but still a "set"
 
I'm confused?
I tried to retire and now all I do is work for my wife.
I wrote down the serial numbers, make, and model of my firearms in a spiral notebook, in pencil just in case I made an error.
Problem is, since I retired I can't remember where I put that spiral notebook. Asked the wife but she just sent me out to cut the backyard so her chiweenie doesn't come in with hitchhikers in it's fur. Guess that notebook is super secure, even I can't find it. 🤔
 
I used to keep documentation on my firearms. But wanted it somewhere else than my house in case my house caught on fire. I figured the car, but then it might get stolen. Then I came upon the brilliant idea to bury it in a coffee can in the backyard.

But the last time I buried something in a coffee can I forgot where I buried it after some joker moved the rock that was marking it. I borrowed a metal detector but it didn’t work because I do all my shooting out back and there’s brass all over.

What a conundrum !

Then it hit me. A boat ! A boat would be the perfect place to hide all that information on. I mean how many people rob boats ? And realistically how many boats actually catch on fire ? So I got a boat and stored all of the information about all my guns on the boat.

And then came that unfortunate boating accident…….
 
Mine are in an HTML document with spreadsheet like columns with pertinent details, links to pics and is not only on my PC but my phone nothing in the "cloud"
 
thinkley said they do not ask for a itemized list for his policy , only any that meet or exceed a certain criteria of $25k , my notes on what i have are for myself and for those that i leave behind when i pass so some gun shop doesnt tell them a $7k G43 is worth $400 , or a $400 WW2 knife is worth $25

just because they may be gun savvy in no way means they know what is what with a extensive collection that has taken me a lifetime to assemble , research and know , so this will save me from wearing out the bottom of my casket rolling over in my grave due to their ignorance in selling my collection for pennies on the dollar
 
HooPharted said:
thinkley said they do not ask for a itemized list for his policy , only any that meet or exceed a certain criteria of $25k , my notes on what i have are for myself and for those that i leave behind when i pass so some gun shop doesnt tell them a $7k G43 is worth $400 , or a $400 WW2 knife is worth $25
Click to expand...
100% this. Yes, it is also for insurance purposes, but only if I ever need to file a claim, and even then, only the information on the gun I am filing on. The main purpose of the documentation is so my heirs know exactly what they have.

Right now, it is only a word document on my computer, it has been changing too quickly to keep a hard copy. Once I get moved to Montana, then it will be printed, bound, and kept in my gun safe.
 
HooPharted said:
thinkley said they do not ask for a itemized list for his policy , only any that meet or exceed a certain criteria of $25k , my notes on what i have are for myself and for those that i leave behind when i pass so some gun shop doesnt tell them a $7k G43 is worth $400 , or a $400 WW2 knife is worth $25

just because they may be gun savvy in no way means they know what is what with a extensive collection that has taken me a lifetime to assemble , research and know , so this will save me from wearing out the bottom of my casket rolling over in my grave due to their ignorance in selling my collection for pennies on the dollar
Click to expand...
Hey, I see you said a WW2 knife is worth $400. I have the knife my Dad carried with him during the war but had no idea it might have that kind of value. Also have a photo with it on his belt in the Philippines. Now I know it is more than just my Dads knife. I’ll let my daughter know too. Thanks
 
Jennygirl said:
Hey, I see you said a WW2 knife is worth $400. I have the knife my Dad carried with him during the war but had no idea it might have that kind of value. Also have a photo with it on his belt in the Philippines. Now I know it is more than just my Dads knife. I’ll let my daughter know too. Thanks
Click to expand...
oh yea some are worth a lot some depending on condition not so much , the $400 one is a Italian Blackshirt dagger , USM3 knives are very collectable and can go for anywhere from $100 to $300 depending on condition and variation , military knives are like militaria crack once you start collecting very addictive as are bayonets

there was a shortage of knives during WW2 so some knives although not military per say were still theater knives because they were purchased privately before shipping out to ensure they had a blade and not depending on getting a issued one , so there are a lot of nuances to the WW2 stuff where knowledge is king

all the German stuff brings big bucks , i have a gravity knife thats worth $800 , and a pre WW1 Tiger that likely seen action in both world wars that oddly enough only values around $300

so your dads knife is definitely worth the trip down the rabbit hole to research which admittedly the research is a lot of what i find fun about them as well as collectable firearms and bayos , but regardless of what you determine the value the sentimental value is where the value is in your knife and should be a legacy piece passed down in the family , i have family members that will not get any of the important pieces of my collection because i will not even be in the ground and they will be selling it so i pick and choose who will be the best stewards
 
HooPharted said:
oh yea some are worth a lot some depending on condition not so much , the $400 one is a Italian Blackshirt dagger , USM3 knives are very collectable and can go for anywhere from $100 to $300 depending on condition and variation , military knives are like militaria crack once you start collecting very addictive as are bayonets

there was a shortage of knives during WW2 so some knives although not military per say were still theater knives because they were purchased privately before shipping out to ensure they had a blade and not depending on getting a issued one , so there are a lot of nuances to the WW2 stuff where knowledge is king

all the German stuff brings big bucks , i have a gravity knife thats worth $800 , and a pre WW1 Tiger that likely seen action in both world wars that oddly enough only values around $300

so your dads knife is definitely worth the trip down the rabbit hole to research which admittedly the research is a lot of what i find fun about them as well as collectable firearms and bayos , but regardless of what you determine the value the sentimental value is where the value is in your knife and should be a legacy piece passed down in the family , i have family members that will not get any of the important pieces of my collection because i will not even be in the ground and they will be selling it so i pick and choose who will be the best stewards
Click to expand...
Yes, absolutely! I won’t part with my Dad’s knife. Can you believe he also kept his sunglasses he wore and has on in the Philippine photo.
Thank you for your information.
 
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