Airgun Records

[longislandhunter]

For the past 2 days we've been getting constant rain and high winds from another Noreaster so I've been stuck inside the house going absolutely nuts.   Around noon today I just couldn't take it anymore and decided to tackle a task I've been putting off for quite some time, namely recording  the serial numbers of all the  air rifles in my  collection, taking digital pictures of each rifle and retrieving and filing all the sales receipts for each rifle to go along with the pictures and serial numbers.  It took me most of the afternoon to finish the task but I now have complete documentation for each rifle, complete with pictures, for insurance purposes.  I made 2 hard copies of my documentation, one will be placed in the house safe and the other will be placed in the safe deposit box.  I also put all the info in a secure file on my laptop and made 2 secure backup copies, one on disc and the other in a file on one of my memory sticks.  I guess all this might sound rather anal but the other day I got to thinking about how much I had spent on this hobby and it dawned on me that it had become a sizable investment that really needed to be documented properly for insurance reasons.  

I don't know how many of you guys/gals keep such records for your "toys" but 22 years of law enforcement work taught me well how important it is to have accurate serial numbers, descriptions and photographs of valuables in case you ever need to report them stolen.  I should have been keeping these records up to date as my collection of guns and gear grew but for some reason I just didn't.  I feel much better now that I've  gotten everything documented properly and I made a promise to myself to keep updating the records as the need arises.  

Anyway, I don't mean to sound like I'm lecturing anyone on how to safeguard your belongings,,, I just thought I'd make this post as a reminder to make sure you have accurate serial numbers and descriptive information for your shooters.  Hopefully you'll never need to use the information but then again if something was ever stolen having such info available for the police greatly increases your chances of getting the valuables back.   I'm sure most of you were already way ahead of me on this stuff but I just thought I'd make the post for those who perhaps never thought about at least keeping the serial numbers handy and secure.....

Jeff

[DougT]

Excellent advice.

I did the same thing about a year ago.  I had WadeS come over and we took photos of all my guns (PB and AR), wrote down the serial numbers and noted when they were bought and any accessories on them.  It took nearly two hours.  I have them saved on my computer hard drive and on a CD as well just in case of theft or house fire or ?.  I also have been doing the same with my other hobbies (MX bikes, off road bikes, RC airplanes/helicopters/cars).  

Hopefully none of us will ever need this informaton.

Doug

[Big_Bill]

That's GREAT advice Jeff,

But you had better check with your insurance company and be sure Firearms and Air Guns are covered on your policies !

When my collection of firearms became more expensive then I could afford to loose, I checked with my insurance agent to see what coverage I had on my guns ? He told me none !!!

That I would need a rider to my policy at extra money ! They also need the photos and serial numbers up front, and copies of the receipts.

So check with your agent and find out what in your home is covered under your policy.

Coin and stamp collections are also NOT covered on the home policy, as well as many "collections".

Also there are different policies, replacement and deductible. Replacement, replaces your losses. Deductible, gives you what they feel is the remaining use. They calculate that if you had a television that is six years old, and they estimate that the television will last 10 years, they will give you 40% of the value of the television. Check into it !

Bill

[longislandhunter]

Bill, already  had that conversation with my  agent a while back.    I do pay extra for the added coverage but it's worth it to me  

Jeff

[Big_Bill]

Likewise Jeff,

I thought that I would point it out, because I know how surprised I was when I asked !

There are so many normal homeitems that just are not covered !

Bill

[geewhiz380]

I have been doing that for quite some time .I have all my families birth certificate and social sercurity with i.d,s in a book bag for safe keeping or fire .also all purchases like stereo,tvs,furnitureand even timberlands i keep in order all my airrifles and serial numbers i keep safely thats how i recovered my airrifles last year.thats a good thing to do cause they come in handy ,they really do.another thing i do is get rid of excessive paper work with my name or families name on it cause anyone could use it for there own sick needs ...jorge

[North Pack]

As I posted awhile back, I'm in private security. Yesterday we had our annual "security briefing" by a couple of company guys, and an FBI agent. - Talk about "keeping things safe" - about the last place you want to visit/use are "social networking" sites, - and plastering your every move in-line. You might just as well put an ad in the paper or on-line advertising that you're looking for a problem. - It's unbelievable what some folks post, - when they're going on vacation & how long they'll be gone. Sending pictures back from where ever they are - hello!!! YOU AIN'T AT HOME!!! ... Might just as well leave the keys in the door, ...

[daveshoot]

I actually did add a rider on my homeowner's for my powder burners (although I wasn't real comfortable listing them all, hi Ms. Pelosi). I doubt that it would extend to my AGs since insurance covers whatever is not missing or broken, but I think I will ask. I have a review of such things next week.

I wish safes were more affordable. Another lesson to all, always buy a way bigger safe than you think you are going to need. You will end up wanting another one anyway.

[djmyers]

This is actually a very good idea. I had over $5000 in rifles stolen out of my basement in Atlanta when I was in Iraq. Including a 22 made by Mossberg and sons' that had been in my family since the 1930's. When I called the insurance company they could only cover up to $2000 on the guns because I did not have them specifically covered under a seperate policy. My DSArms SA-58 (FAL) cost me 1700!  So check your insurance and get the documantation before you learn the hard way which is waht happened to me.