How to Inventory a Knife Collection

Select a spreadsheet program. If you have Microsoft Excel, you already have what you need. If not, you can download Openoffice free of charge and use the Calc spreadsheet, which is comparable to Excel. Either spreadsheet works the same way, and there is an inventory template available for both. Microsoft Works, which comes on many computers, also has a spreadsheet function.

Open your spreadsheet software. Go to the "File" menu and choose "New," then select the "Inventories" category and select the inventory list template. This is the simplest inventory spreadsheet, suitable for a general knife collection inventory. Take a look at the headings in the spreadsheet and delete any of the headings that don't fit your needs. Do this by right clicking and selecting "Delete" from the pop up menu. To insert a new heading, right click and choose "Insert," then double click the spreadsheet cell and type in your new heading.

Enter information about each of the knives in your collection. Suggested information includes make, model, number in stock, description, serial number and value. The more detailed the information you fill in, the better your inventory will come out when you run the program. Once you have entered all of the information about your knife collection, make a habit of updating it on a regular basis. Be sure to note any models that are discontinued.

Use the "Data" menu to sort and track your inventory. Do this with the "Sort" and "Subtotal" options. A dialogue box will pop up, allowing you to set the criteria for performing this function. You can sort by serial number, model number, number in stock, or by any other of the headings in your spreadsheet, letting you track your knife inventory efficiently.