Firearms are at the top of the list of desirable targets for thieves. I cannot display firearms or edged weapons in our Temporary Museum because we do not have adequate security. In our permanent quarters, a 1904 courthouse building that we are restoring, we will have hardened storage in one of the vault rooms originally used for the Clerk of Court's records storage. Since the 1960's, the military has built tough arms lockers with tight security procedures. Most of us do not require that level of protection, but a hardened storage room is certainly the best option. Gun safes are a possible solution if you must store in areas that are accessible to personnel or visitors. You will need more than one safe, however, as most gun safes only hold a few pieces. You should also insist on a humidity control device inside the safe. Because of the intensely attractive nature of the artifacts, even the use of a safe may not be enough defense. It is possible, with minimal planning, to pick up the entire safe and leave with it, to be opened later at leisure and with tools. The greatest concern may be personnel who have, or can acquire, access codes and permissions. I was speaking recently with the curator of another museum with a firearms collection, and he told me that his biggest losses had occurred from pilferage by a volunteer staff member. However your pieces are stored, you should take a complete and careful inventory, recording the make, model, serial number (if present), other identifying marks (such as carved initials) and condition, plus photographs of each piece from different sides and angles. Good records will assist law enforcement if anything turns up missing. Another issue for firearms is storage conditions. Because of the constant danger of rust and corrosion, humidity control is essential. Any handling should be done with white gloves to prevent attack by the moisture and acids in fingerprints. Metal surfaces should be treated with microporous wax or wiped down with a cloth impregnated with silicone or clear light machine oil. The bores should be cleaned and wiped with a patch coated with cosmoline or gun grease. Guns should NOT be stored in gun pouches, holsters or gun sleeves, as these can hold moisture and/or react chemically with metal or with wood finishes. Don Long Curator The Museum of Ashe County History, Inc. PO Box 301 Jefferson, NC 28640 336-846-1904 -----Original Message----- From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Julie Blood Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 12:45 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Gun Storage Hi Everyone, I'd like to get some suggestions regarding gun storage. Right now my museum has what I would call a metal utility cabinet that houses the rifles/shotguns in our gun collection that is secured with a padlock that has been added on. This cabinet holds about 40 guns, with the remainder of our handguns (not sure of how many at this point) in a locked storage room. I do not feel that these provide adequate storage/security as the cabinet is located in a hallway, that is supposed to be limited to staff only, but this isn't always the case. I'd like to get a more secured storage facility for these artifacts that would be fire proof and would also be able to store some of our valuable jewelry, coins, etc. I've been looking at gun safes online, but wondered if anybody has a vendor they've worked with, suggestions for types of safes, etc. Thanks, Julie Julie Blood Collections and Exhibits Manager San Joaquin County Historical Society & Museum P. O. Box 30, Lodi, CA 95241-0030 Lodi: (209) 331-2055 Stockton: (209) 953-3460 Fax: (209) 331-2057 [log in to unmask] www.sanjoaquinhistory.org ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).