How do you organize/document your collection? -- myArmoury.com

Andrew Winston

This topic came up on another forum, and I thought it would be interesting to the members here.

How do you organize/document your collection, if at all? I suspect this might be more germaine for those who collect antiques. However, given what I've read on this site, quite often replicas and reproductions (even if not based on a particular, individual, sword) require equal detail in documentation.

Historically, I've used a simple set of measurements, a brief description including any provenance provided by the seller (even if of dubious reliability), and some photographs, usually on a plain background.

Andrew Question

Andrew Winston · Posted: Tue 09 Dec, 2003 7:37 pm Post subject:

I meant to post this in the OT forum. Would a mod please move it?

A

Joe Fults · Posted: Tue 09 Dec, 2003 7:42 pm Post subject:

Don't have enough of a collection right now to bother organizing it.

Nathan Robinson · myArmoury Admin

Frankly, I created my Web site to catalog and document my collection. It gave me a reason to measure and photograph everything; and provided an outlet to share it. The Web site evolved into myArmoury.com, and there's certainly room here for others to share the same.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Wed 10 Dec, 2003 9:16 am Post subject:

I think research about and documentation of our replicas is a requirement for a "serious" collection. Moreover, I'm learning that even a very small or even nonexistant collection benefits from thought about organization. There are so many replicas I'd like to own that I've been haphazard in acquiring them. I mean, I'll get a 14th century falchion because I've heard good things about it and it's a bargain. I'd even go far out of my way to learn about falchions, but until recently wouldn't give much thought about how the acquisition relates to the other items in my collection or the other items I'm interested in. It's challenging to give more thought to organization, but I'm finding it more rewarding because it focuses my collecting interests and encourages me to think more about the history of arms and armor. Now I'll see something and think "that's a nice replica, and a bargain, but it doesn't logically fit with what I'm trying to do with my collection". I'm getting more selective. I noticed that Bjorn said he's hoping to have one good example of every major weapon type. That's a very clear personal goal, even if that collection will be one of several discrete collections he owns. I'm settling into a pattern of collecting 17th and 18th c. infantry swords. That's also a very clear personal goal. As soon as I was able to articulate that goal for myself, I found that my interest in some replicas dissipated very quickly even as I became much more interested in periods and weapons I hadn't really considered before (specifically, 18th c. military hangers and Confederate foot officers/field officers swords). I think my goal is open to the occaisional special piece, but the bulk of the collection remains organized around a single clear principle. Even if I should want to replace my basket hilt, I'll have to consider a replica that would in some way support the collection as a whole rather than be a stand-alone piece. My falchion, which I'm very fond of, fits the theme of the collection (plain or regular-issue infantry weapons) if not the core chronological criteria (17th/18th c.) Ditto for the confederate sword if I end up getting one. On the other hand, I've now ruled out a model 1796 light cav. saber, confederate cav. saber, etc. It remains to be seen if I can sustain this collecting discipline in spite of the growing number of nice replicas available for all periods, but the challenge is constructive and educational.

James Nordstrom

Organization wise, I bought a Rubber Maid garden tool rack (the rack you can stand up about 40 differnt tools by their handles) and put my swords in it. That is about as organized as I have gotten.

Documenting them, well that is a good idea, if for insurance reasons only.

Jim

Geoff Wood · Posted: Wed 10 Dec, 2003 12:46 pm Post subject:

Documentation: All specs are present on manufacturers websites if ever needed.
Organisation: I can just about count to four in four languages.
I think maybe I don't take this collection thing seriously enough. I have to be responsible/accountable/detailed at work. This sword stuff I do for fun.

Joe Fults · Posted: Wed 10 Dec, 2003 3:13 pm Post subject:

Jeremy V. Krause · Posted: Wed 10 Dec, 2003 5:02 pm Post subject:

I do some research into weapons and armour that helps me determine what I want next in my lowly collection, and then when that's done, and the money saved and spent, then I don't care to put forth any more effort. I mean I have a lot of paperwork as a social worker already. I don't want to think very hard about weapons-organizing hurts having weapons doesn't! I used up all of that in college and graduate school.

Andrew Winston · Posted: Wed 10 Dec, 2003 5:33 pm Post subject:

Nathan and Patrick's collections being noteable exceptions, it seems from the responses that most replica collectors don't really feel the need to painstakingly document and catalog their collections. Is it really more a function of collection size?

Does anyone collect antiques?

Patrick Kelly · Posted: Wed 10 Dec, 2003 10:16 pm Post subject:

Adam White · Posted: Sun 14 Dec, 2003 12:18 am Post subject:

Nathan Robinson · myArmoury Admin

[quote="Adam White"]