For Serious Knife Collectors - The Collection Inventory: Who does it, To what extent?

Subterfuge7

Subterfuge7

Joined
Oct 27, 2010
Messages
231
I was just wondering how many of you fellas have taken the time to actually write down and categorize every blade you currently own to include initial cost, steel type, unique nomenclature, etc.

Initially I just wanted to show of my bad ass collection to my brother forumites but thought I would actually invest some time in this effort and along with a decent digital photo, write down as much technical information as I can so that I can use this for Insurance purposes should the need arise. If the shit hit the fan and my collection got robbed, I wonder how many details I could remember off the cuff. Plus I can fudge the amounts so I can tell my wife that BUSSE's are known as "economy" blades and are actually very frugal purchases. Hello satin SFNO.

Question to you all" What do your knife collection inventories look like?? Please share!

Sub

PS - I think I'm over 100 knives this month. Wow.
 
I created an excel spreadsheet just for that purpose- if enough people are interested I can upload a template. :)

My collection has never reached over 200 and fluctuates between 140-170 since I buy and trade a lot.
 
I just put some information on excel that includes the basics about each knife, when I purchased and the cost.
 
This is the list of headers I'm currently using.
Brand
Part#
Model (if the knife was named, if not it's the part#)
Description (steel, handle. General Info)
Description2 ( 1 of 50, autographed etc..)
Condition (new, used, beat to death)
W/Box
Quantity
Cost
Year Made (for this particular model)
Years Produced (1978-1983, 2006-pres)
MSRP (at time of purchase)
Current MSRP

I have a few.
 
You can attach photos to Excel, that's how I have mine inventoried with the particulars for each. I set down and get caught up every couple months.
 
I've thought of doing this for insurance purposes as well. Does anyone want to sahre a screenshot of what their DB looks like?
 
A spreadsheet can be a pretty simple and easy way to do an inventory. Has the benefit of being flexible. For most folks will be more that adequate.

Database software is probably the best way, BUT there is that nasty learning curve if you are new to DB software. Benefits are being very flexible and the abitlity to generate various reports. All in all probably more trouble than its worth for most of folks.

An alternative is an existing inventory programs. Not a lot to pick from if you google KNIFE INVENTORY SOFTWARE, but there are some things available.

The fairly serious collectors I know make a record card for every knife they acquire, recording the significant info.

At present, I have a directory on my pc where I keep info on each knife. Usually a text file and any pics available. Most are online purchases so I cut and paste the descriptions to a file and copy any photos available.

The downside to all these systems is there tends to be a lot of "OMG, I've got THAT many knives!" :D
 
I used MS Access DB software, and created a form to input data. It was really handy for running stats. I've kind of given up putting new knives into the software, but at some point perhaps I'll get it updated. Here are the fields and values I used. You'll notice there is also a photo field, which was really nice to match knives to the database.

Fields.jpg


- Mark
 
If you use a Mac then Bento is a great application for these types of things. Its also got an iPad/iPhone app that you can sync up to your Mac.
 
forcedestrike said:
I created an excel spreadsheet just for that purpose- if enough people are interested I can upload a template. :)

My collection has never reached over 200 and fluctuates between 140-170 since I buy and trade a lot.
Click to expand...

I would be very happy to see a template of what you keep on your knives.
 
Mark J said:
I used MS Access DB software, and created a form to input data. It was really handy for running stats. I've kind of given up putting new knives into the software, but at some point perhaps I'll get it updated. Here are the fields and values I used. You'll notice there is also a photo field, which was really nice to match knives to the database.

Fields.jpg



- Mark
Click to expand...

Not criticizing at all, but using MS access for a knife inventory is similar to driving finishing nails with a sledgehammer :D

It works, for sure, but excel does an excellent job for creating small to medium size databases...just my .02 :)
 
I basically went into notepad and just made an alphabetical list. It has the knife description only and what I paid for it. I found no need to go into further detail than that. Good enough for insurance purposes although I think I will take pics of the whole collection for proof. It's really there for my tally on what I've spent , which is quite a bit:)
 
I use the the knife inventory pages that A.G. Russell sells... not to spendy and makes record keeping very easy.

/dusty
 
I have a notebook that I keep updated with every knife I buy, a short description, purchase price and if I sell it, the price it sold for. Thats about all the information I personally need and has come in handy many times.
 
I recently created a spreadsheet for keeping track of my online gadget-related purchases. It includes knives, flashlights, packs, pens, various EDC gear, etc on one worksheet and camera gear on another.
I plan to add the rest of my gadget purchases to it eventually. I keep all my receipts so I just have to go through them some time.
My headers are:

edcinventoryscreenshot2.jpg
 
I wrote an Access DB for mine so I could pick from pull-down menus and have better reporting flexibility than a SS would offer. Worked fine until I lost it in a HD crash. I was too lazy to recreate it so I wrote an Excel version that allows me to do guns and knives, and then reports everything on a separate page so I can see running totals of current cost, total investment, current QTYs by brand, etc. I included "Acquired From" and "Disposition" as categories so I could record the people I've dealt with and what deal we did.

Don't use it much anymore since I've started downsizing and just keeping regular users.
 
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