A quick question to the registrars & firearms curators on the list.

I will soon be moving to a facility with a large antique firearms
collection. It has been some 20 years since I was a curator in charge of
such material, and I am wondering what current thought is about how to mark
them with catalog numbers. Many of the pieces apparently require
retrospective cataloging.

Back in the dark ages, we picked a uniform, out-of-the-way spot and applied
the old Indian ink and clear lacquer. Several enthusiasts I have talked to
now recoil in horror at this, especially since it can muck up the finish,
and a small difference in finish drastically affects the value and
originality of the weapons. Some have suggested hanging plastic tags, but
that would seem easy to remove by a dishonest individual and really makes
displays look like clothes with department store tags (shades of Minnie
Pearl!).

Any ideas and sources for special "hardware?"

Byron A. Johnson, Exec. Dir.
The Tampa Bay History Center
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after 2/26 @ The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum