I currently keep all my records on my collection in a 3x5 card index file. Works fine but have been thinking about puting it on the computer for several reasons. Anybody tried a program they like?

As a school computer tech, I fervently second what Waterman says about backups..

The likelihood of a hard drive dying is directly related to how much ireplaceable stuff is on it.   
Work with computers long enough, and you WILL have a hard drive fail on you, or have the operating system of your choice "eat" files you really needed (happens more to my Windows using friends and colleagues, but it happens to us Mac users once in a while too).

That being said;
Writing a database for this sort of collection is relatively easy... assuming you know a bit, and want to spend a bit of time doing it. I've written basic databases in a couple of hours with FileMaker Pro, and the new consumer level database program called Bento from FileMaker Inc would probably be even faster and may even have a "home inventory" template you can modify for your collection.

I KNOW there are commercially available databases for gun collections also, but unfortunately I don't know their names or vendors.

Hope this helps a bit...
Paul F.

I am still looking for a commercial or free software program. I know you can do this with a spreadsheet but this is beyond what I want to do computer wise. This will be used as a back up for my paper card file and I will back it up appropriately. The records are used to fulfill legal rquirements,(federal law requires individuals to keep personal records for 10 years). It is also good to know who you bought a gun for if it ever shows up as having been stolen. Son-in-law and two best friends know locatio  of records and keys to locked cabinets. Wife does not know and has no interest in gun collection. She does know they have a monitary value, just no idea how much. She has instructions on disposal in the event of my death. At that time she may remember that I told her she would not be unhappy with my hobby after my death. She is out of the loop due to the potential problems if a divorce ever happened. Got burnt once, and even after 30+ years anything is possible. 
I have a C&R liscense and a bound book for those records. They are duplicated in the card file just in case. I am not in business, this is a hobby. This is one of many details in my life that I am trying to keep orginized so that those who are left after my death do not have a mess to deal with.

Got the memory stick for my financial records. Still looking for a software program. Anybody familiar with Gunsafe. It is a free program. Anyone using it?

How secure is your online e-mail account?  Would you really want the contents of your gun collection, etc., listed there?  The memory stick is a far, far better choice.  You can keep it in your gun safe.

But who has access to your on-line e-mail account?  You have no way of knowing. (And neither do I.) But I know that you can buy lists of passwords, etc.  Why would anyone want those?  The coyotes are always watching and waiting.

I have been using NM Guncollector ( (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)) and it works well. Agree with backups. Not a case of if it will fail, but when. I have mine on CD (in my safe deposit box), thumb drive (for updates and to show off to friends), and hard copy printout (in fire safe).