Austin has passed away. Thanks to all on this board

[Austin Behlert]

It is with deep sorrow that I have to report the passing of my Dad, Austin. He lived to a very fullfilled 87 years. I particularly want to thank those on this board who were so kind to him, put up with his bad typing and spelling, but who gave him renewed energy on a daily basis. Pistolsmith.com became a passion in life, and helped him renew acquaintences with long lost friends. He also felt invigorated by passing on tips to others. Funeral arrangements in Pipersville PA are being arranged.

Posted by his son, Bill.

Those interested can contact Frank at
www.coltscards.com

[6285108]

RIP Mr. Behlert you'll be missed. As kind and helpful person as I've corresponded with, a true Gentleman.

[eerw]

My family's prayers for Mr. Behlert and his family

[Brian D.]

I'm very sorry. It was really neat to see him staying up with the times like he did. Not too many of his contemporaries would've jumped into an Internet forum like that. I got a kick out of seeing him here!

[Dave Berryhill]

To Bill and the rest of Austin's family -

I'm sorry to hear of Austin's passing. I looked forward to reading his stories and gunsmithing tips, bad typing and all. He will be missed by us all.

[JCM298]

My condolances to you and your family.

Mr. Behlert was a great guy. His threads were always interesting and it was fun to exchange comments about the NY/NJ area of the `50's,

John

[Bill Caldwell]

Mr Behlert might not have known it. . . But. . . his kind won't come again. The Austin Behlerts, the Jim Clark Srs, Bill Jordan, Bo Shaw. . . all the WWII veterans. They are a special breed.

Pistolsmith.com was blessed to have Austin. His passing leaves a hole that will never be filled. God's got a heaven waiting.

Thanks
Bill Caldwell
Wild Bill Caldwell Custom Weaponry

[Witherspoon]

My prayers and condolences go out to the family. He will certainly be missed here.

[supercomp9]

I only knew of him from his articles in the magizines and some catalogs
He was a inspiration to many , He will be missed and thought of
every time I look at or touch a Hi power.. & yes the 1911 to which he made his mark...

Thoughts be with the Behlert Families..

Jerry Kee

[Ned Christiansen]

Austin, you will be sorely missed by many. Thank you for your contributions here and to the pages of so many magazines, and to us as a group of enthusiasts. Your work was my first and strongest influence in gunsmithing and I am grateful for that.

Ned

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. Sincere respect and sympathy to his family and friends.

Best.

[bluemustang]

I would like to add to my brother-in-law's post regarding Austin. He was an awesome man who led a terrific life. He will be remembered with love and will be deeply missed. As the song says: "You had the the time of your life"

Please email replies to: coltssports@comcast.net

:cry:

[jmichael]

I first met Mr. Behlert when I shot bullseye competition at the Franklin NJ Rifle and Pistol Club back in the late '60's. He would attend our match each year and setup shop to fix guns and sell his wares. Those were truely the old, good old days for me.

I became re-associated with Mr. Behlert, son Frank, Art (before he was a son-in-law) and Steve who worked for them back in the late '70's when they had the shop in Union, NJ. Frank and Steve introduced me to the "new game" of IPSC back then. Steve and I are still best of friends today.

I had a couple of guns built by Austin and more than a few mods done to others.

It was always an enlightening pleasure to speak with Austin. He was a man who could capture your attention and hold it when he spoke of what he had done with guns. He was a true gentleman with a wealth of knowledge.

My condolences to the Behlert family in this very sad, trying time.

[dfariswheel]

I'm very sorry to hear this.

Mr. Behlert was of a stature, that if word got out that he was in his back yard with some rubber strips and a tree fork, and was making a sling shot, a lot of shooters would be standing in line, money in hand to buy it.

Most of my generation of gunsmiths got our inspiration from men like him.
Which is a polite way of saying that we slavishly and shamelessly stole and copied his original ideas.

Another Giant has gone West.

[Louis F. Alessi]

This is very sad news indeed. Austin was a true pioneer in the custom pistol world. He will be sorely missed, and fondly remembered.
My condolances to his family.
Lou

[Mute]

My prayers and condolences to you and your family. Your father left a wonderful legacy and his presence here was very much appreciated.

[Bob Reed]

Farewell Mr. Behlert, May You Rest In Peace Sir.

Bob Reed

[eclipse1]

my condolences and many thanks to you mr behlert

[Pinduck]

My condolences to you and your family, Austin will be sorely missed. I purchased a set of his sear and hammer sets for my HP just this past year and enjoyed corresponding with him.
Glen

[Jack H]

Mr Behlert was mentioned kindly by my mentor and coach in the 70's. Lately my 41 has been aided by Mr Behlert's generous advice. I am in his debt.
Mr Behlert will be missed. RIP

Jack H

[williamlayton]

It is always sad and trying when a loved one passes.
I enjoyed the reads Mr. Behlert passed on, a history, and well, just good fireside reading.
To his family I offer my compassion and condolences and wish all of you the best in this time.
Blessings

[Chris Peters]

So very sorry to hear of the passing of Mr. Behlert. He had a wonderful carreer in the 1911 industry and shared much info. on this board. He will be missed. The passing of a great legend is very sad indeed.

My sympathy to his family in this difficult time. A big thanks to Austin for all that he has done for our industry. I am sorry to have never met him personnally. God bless.

[Erich]

I had the pleasure of seeing some of Mr. Behlert's work when I managed a gun store years back. My prayers go out for his family, who must miss him terribly.

[Shane1911]

I was out of town all weekend and just heard....

I am very sorry. Best wishes and condolences to all his family and many friends.

RIP Mr. Behlert.

[1096369fred]

It is a sad duty to report the passing of the last members of the great generation, while I did not know Austin well, I can say that he was thoughtful, and patient, and always had a smile, and a story, on the few times we did cross paths! I have very much, enjoyed his wit, style, and advice. I can only say that he was a man as any other.... with his own strengths, and weaknesses, but above all, I found him to be a man of dignity.

Condolences to Frank and Bill.

with great regard,

Fred Williamson
New Hope, PA

[emgun]

My name is Joe Rosenberg and I had the extreme fortune of knowing this man, not only as a customer but as a friend. I met Austin and his son Frank when they had thier shop in Union, NJ in the late 1970's. It was there that Frank took me under his wing and showed me the ropes of IPSC compitition. I bought my guns through his shop.

Austin would take the time to show you how things were done, if you were interested. And boy, was I. I loved to see how things worked and he would show what it takes to do the tasks to make a function piece of steel into an artform. To this day he says the action on my Colt 1911 is one of the best he had ever don, a CRISP 3 lb.....to this day!!!!

I traveled with him and Frank to the Yorktown IPSC Nations twice. I helped him in his stand. The best was listening him talk and his stories of hunting, Camp Perry and other shooting destinations was facinating.

He gave freely of his time, especially when I had questions about why things worked as they did. He enjoyed showing his home with the duck decoy collection that rivals anything I have seen.

I brought Austin a challenge. I had an old 8 gague breach load signal cannon that was brought out on the 4th of July. Problem was 8 gauge brass, smooth diameter is not made. So I had a primer remover for the Berdan primers. It was not working well and the brass was getting kind of beat. I gave it to Austin to take a look at. He smiled and looked at me and asked where did I get these. He hadn't seen anything like it on like 45 years. He asked me if I wanted to sell it. I said no. He then gave me the story of the old punt guns and the punt boats that this kind of shotgun shell was used. More like a blunderbuss to hunt duck with. Anyway, he did fix the tool, but he knew of no source for the brass.

He was always busy. Always had something going, that mind was like a steel trap with the precision of a swiss watch. I visited him last year and he showed me what he was up to. Gad to have free time to do what you love, even in retirement.

God's speed Austin. I will miss you. To the Behlert family, my sincere condolences.

Joe Rosenberg

[rscalzo]

I had the pleasure of meeting Austin years and years ago at a small pistol club in New Jersey where he would work out of his VW van. When a great person who will be missed.

[Dane Burns]

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Austin's family. God bless him.

I'll try to post a few pictures of artifacts Austin sent me from his long career.

We were pretty lucky Austin adopted this forum and shared some of his full life with us.

Here is a picture of one of the latter pieces from his shop in detail. Sad a piece of our history and the stories are gone.
Austin, Bill Jordan, Armand Swenson, Elmer Keith and more....all peas from the same pod. We owe them all a lot.

[bluemustang]

We have been reading the posts regarding Austin and we cannot tell you how comforting they are to us all.

They do help ease the pain a little bit. We will miss him deeply but the wonderful legacy he left behind will keep us going.

Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers.

Vickie

[silver]

As a Parts customer my Hi-power and I will observe a time of morning.

[ZigZag]

Austin, you were a gentleman. You just recently repaired two extractors for me so they would work in my M41. You didn't even charge me anything or expect anything in return. You did it because you wanted me to enjoy my gun. May your reward in heaven be great. Thank you for showing me kindness.
Tom

[BackDraft]

My prayers go out to the family. I met Mr.Behlert back in the early 80s and it was an honor.

[Stealth]

While I did not post to this forum, I read Mr. Behlert's stories and comments with delight. It was an education to read his historical prespectives.

I'm sure his old friends and cronies were waiting to welcome him to the next life.

Stealth

[jbalshone]

Dear Bill:

My deepest condolences on the passing of your father. He custom tuned my 2.5" Mdl 19 almost 20 years ago.

Humorous story there. I was at the OGCA (Ohio Gun Collectors Assoc.) show in Columbus, Ohio. I had just dropped off a Browning High Power with Wayne Novak for some work, and anew sight he had just patented, and was trying to license to Smith and Wesson. I was talkng to your father, and he chuckled and said he too had a sight he had recently patented to use on Colts and Smiths. Being aware of his reputation as a Master Colt and Smith pistol tuner, I went down 2 or 3 tables and bought a S&W Mdl 19 2.5" on the spot and ran back to your Father's table. <g>

He had my gun back to me 2 weeks before Wayne as well. <chuckle> That revolver sits in my safe to this day, complete w his orginal patented sight. I take it out a number of times a year too shoot as well. A sweeter trigger, and clearer sight picture one could not ask for. However, it is only as I have grown older, and my vision has begun to deteriorate that I have truly enjoyed the genius behind his innovation.

My thoughts are with you, and your family.

Joe Balshone

[Parusky]

Dear Behlert Family,

My condolences on the loss of your father/husband/ and friend. From seeing all of you working together at different times over the years, it was quite obvious that he was well loved and will be sorely missed.

Austin, as a man and gunsmith, was truly was one of a kind, the first of his kind, and sadly now the last of his era. Fortunately for us all, his knowledge and understanding of his craft lives on in the many people he freely taught, shared, and explained. He lives on in all of the people he touched in this way. He will always be an icon of the "early" days of pistolsmithing.

Sadly,

Dave Tarasevich

[BigBlue]

I only heard of Austin's passing today, and I'm truly saddened by it. Austin was a legend and like all legends his memory will carry on far and long after him. I first had the pleasure of meeting Austin in his old shop in Union, N.J. before he moved it to Pipersville, PA. I had some work done to one of my .45's and had also attended some of the IPSC competitions with his son in Middletow, N.J. I am glad we have had this chance to know and learn from him. Thanks to the administrators of Pistolsmith.Com for allowing us the chance to spend a bit more time with him.
Don

[Gordon Hulme]

I'm remembering those hero's who went before me this day, from Jesus on down. Austin and I have been in touch via e-mail these last 2 years. We liked to share about NY and NJ in the 50's and 60's. I hadn't heard from him since Sept.He broke new ground in so many things, and was such a GIVING person I humbly say THANKS for being you-Austin!
Adios Sir, till we meet again!
Merry Christmas to those still here!

[rscalzo]

He was one of the fond memories from my early days as a kid shooting down at the Big-T in Secaucus amny,many years ago. Sadly, the range is now gone. I really wish I had some photos from those days. Many good people passed through that way. :P

[joedel]

Very sorry to hear of Mr. Behlert's passing. My first custom 1911 was done by Behlert Precision.

[riptidenj]

Belated condolences to the Behlert and Leckie families on the loss of
their loved ones. I have fond memories of both these craftsmen.