Austin has passed away. Thanks to all on this board

[Ned Christiansen]

Now that we're into 06, I'm still thinking about Austin and how lucky I felt the day he showed up on Pistolsmith.com. I thought it was too good to be true and was sure it was somebody just using his name. We were so fortunate to have had some time with the real thing, eh folks? Austin,you are missed.

[Gordon Hulme]

For sure Austin is in heaven talking with Armand et al...

[FLRich]

I know this is an old post but I still feel compelled to reply out of respect and honor.

To the Behlert family I just wanted to take a moment and tell you a little story from long ago, hopefully you are still monitoring this thread. I was sad to find this post tonight when I first found this web site, it was the first thing I read and had to register to reply.

My name is Rich Garcia and I grew up in Northern NJ. My memory is a bit vague but I believe I was 9 or 10 years old at the time. I was a competitive rifle shooter with the Wayne PAL team and knew my triggers having owned a prestine Winchester 52D target rifle. Dad bought me a Ruger Mark II when they first came out, I got one of the first ones I remember since I had to wait a really long time since there were no more Mark I's and the Mark II's were just starting to ship. I think Dad bought it more as his first handgun than for me though. After shooting it the first time the trigger was horrible..even by a spoiled kid's standard and made of plastic I remember. I asked my coach Robert Lockwood who could work on my gun and he quickly replied that one of the best pistolsmiths in the country was Austin Behlert. I went off searching for this guru..well before the days of the internet and found him. I believe my search took me to Princeton Junction NJ, a bit of a drive from Northern NJ for a kid of my age but I would manage. I called and spoke to Mr. Behlert himself and told him I had a MK II Ruger with a horrible trigger, he said don't worry I can fix you up.

The next Saturday I think I was pulling Mom and Dad out of bed pre-dawn with the gun in it's case saying we need to get a early start and they took me down to a shop. Don't remember much other than what seemed a large tall room, maybe concrete and very plain with a long counter and a door going to another room in the back where "all the magic happened". It sure was a long drive down there and would be a long (in kids standards!) wait to go home and wait then drag the family back to pick it up..have no fear Austin was here!! I remember my parents taking me to Princeton I think to take a tour of the area having lunch then going back to the shop, the Ruger was completed with a fancy custom trigger and adjustible trigger stop. My first "custom" pistol at the age of 10!!! The trigger sure was sweet, just as good as my target tuned 52D and all in the matter of a couple of hours my brand new Ruger was blessed by someone I had no idea about...a legend in the industry took the time to give this kid a hand with his new toy!

Fast forward 32 years, it is now July 12 2009 that kid has been to Camp Perry, that kid was a Sheriff's Deputy, that kid has 2 boy's the first got a Cricket his first day of Kindergarten and so will my second son. The gun you worked on helped me teach my wife how to shoot, the same gun my 1st son used to shoot his first handgun. That kid (me) is now a NRA Certified Pistol Instructor and that pistol you worked on has been in the hands of many of my students shooting some of their first gunshots. That pistol still shoots just as good with the same crisp clean trigger that it had in your shop 32 years ago, that gun will go on to my children and great grandchildren and hopefully longer than that long after I am gone. Hopefully one or both of them will also go on to be NRA certified instructors someday and continue the cycle you helped create.

RIP Dad, RIP Mr. Behlert and probably RIP Mr. Lockwood where ever you are. You all started a cycle we ALL need to continue if this sport is to continue into all of our family's history.

Rich Garcia
York SC

[Ned Christiansen]

What a fine story, and really, all the better that it comes this long after Austin's passing. Kinda shows how the 'ripple effect' works.

He had an effect on you, me, and lots of others. We pass it on..... they pass it on..... so he lives on in our actions. Great stuff! Thanks for sharing it.