doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Preserving Provenance & Records of Gun Collection

Provenance - The history of ownership of a valued object or work of art or literature

Museums typically keep an electronic record of artifacts within a searchable database. It holds basic information such as the accession or inventory number, nomenclature, description, category, which collection, location, measurements, images, how and when it was obtained or donor information.

There would also be a traditional, paper artifact record file holding the same information. These records are updated as needed or required.

I use the traditional paper artifact file for my personal firearms. It consists of the standard yellow envelope found at any store or Office Max. On the outside of this envelope, I list what type of firearm it is, rifle, shotgun, etc. Caliber or gauge, manufacturer and model, barrel length, and serial number. Sometimes year of manufacture.

Inside the file is any information such as original purchase receipt, when it was purchased, images, any work restoration or otherwise that was done to it, and a brief letter with a description, images of proof marks and what they mean, barrel length, etc. Why I purchased it, what it was used for, and what type of ammunition. For example, an antique or otherwise vintage shotgun, I specify not to use steel shot etc. Each letter is tailored to the specific firearm.

I do this simply to make life easier for my wife, or any of my sons or grandkids who wish to keep any of them or make it easier to get maximum value if they wish to move them on. These records are kept with other important papers such as insurance policies, etc.

While we all hope our firearms are passed down generation to generation, we also know that is not always the case. But if they are, they have the story behind them. Keep it simple but thorough.