Software Review by David R. Chicoine 5/26/03
GunTracker 2.3 software, full version, from Bangzoom.com. Retail price: $34.90
Gun folks have computers too and for those of you who do, here is a look at some software that can help you catalog and keep track of your weapons collection(s.) GunTracker software comes on a CD with its own installation program that starts automatically when you insert the CD into your disk drive. I elected not to use the installation program that came with the CD; instead, I used the Add/Remove option, which is accessible from the control panel in Windows XP Office. The program installed easily, without a hitch. When installed it occupied 78.55 MB of disk space, you are also offered the option of protecting your access to the software by using a password.
This software is an inventory system for your firearms collection and it uses the database of the 23rd Edition Blue Book of Gun Values to help you assign an updated value each firearm in the collection. To keep up with the times, yearly updates to the value database are available, for a fee, from the manufacturer. The software also lets you record the condition, serial number, date purchased and storage location of each piece. The software is based on the firearms covered in the Blue Book, but you also have the capability to catalog and value unique weapons that aren't listed in the Blue Book, although it is up to the user to determine the value of uncataloged weapons. Another nice feature is that Blue Book's data base is searchable by using either one attribute, or multiple attributes in your search. The Blue Book of Gun Values price guide itself is viewable as it appears in the printed book.
In addition, a feature has been added to the GunTracker 2.3 version that was missing from earlier versions of the software, with 2.3 you may now record multiple collections. This feature would be a help to gun dealers and firearms auctioneers and I have not yet discovered a limit (if there is one) to the size or number of collections the software will catalog. It is also possible to easily print out reports on your collection(s) and you have the option of sorting the order in which the data is displayed.
For this reviewer, the software was reasonably easy to learn to use. At first I thought it was a bit cumbersome and slow, however to be fair, once I began to get used to its operation, I realized that it is possible for a person to build themselves an accurate database of their collection quite rapidly. The multiple collection feature is definitely a big selling point because it makes the software more applicable to business use. If I had any criticism, it would be of the number of older, antique weapons that are not covered, or are only vaguely covered in the Blue Book database. A for-instance would be the excellent coverage provided for Parker Brother shotguns with fluid steel barrels compared to the vague coverage given to the same maker's guns with Damascus barrels. Again, if we look up Spencer, we find good coverage of the lever action, civil war era rifles and carbines, but no mention at all of the Spencer pump shotgun, before or after Spencer went bankrupt and was purchased by Bannerman. Not that this database is too small, quite the contrary, it is actually very extensive and if your collection tends toward the modern, the software will cover almost every firearm you might have.
In spite of lacking some data in the antique areas, the Blue Book database is a very good one. For helping a collector, firearms dealer or even a law enforcement organization keep track of their firearms, I would recommend this software. In a nutshell, I like it. GunTracker 2.3 works flawlessly, and does a great job of cataloging firearms.
I intend to continue to expand my use of this software and will report back with a follow-up in 6 months or so.