Gunsmith Brian Bilby passes...

MPower · December 8, 2000, 06:17 PM

It has been reported at 1911forum.com that gunsmith Brian Bilby has passed away. I am relative newcomer there, but Brian was always willing to share his knowledge and humor with the board. His name was, there as well as here, one of a short list of names given when anyone asked for a smith to "perfect" their 1911. I myself was just preparing to contact him, but waited as i knew he was booked until the new year. His work is and was something special, and that it apparent to me without having even handled one of his guns. He will be missed.

John

Ledbetter · December 8, 2000, 06:31 PM

http://www.1911forum.com/ubb/Forum8/HTML/000752.html

Stephen A. Camp · December 8, 2000, 06:37 PM

Hello all. Sincerest respects to the family. Best.

Jeff OTMG · December 8, 2000, 06:55 PM

That is terrible news. Brian was a top notch smith and a good guy. He will be missed.

12-34hom · December 8, 2000, 07:07 PM

We are diminished.. Rest in peace Brian Bilby. 12-34hom.

**4V50 Gary** · December 8, 2000, 08:44 PM

He is in good company as he joins the ranks of other great gunsmiths of yesteryear.

RWK · December 8, 2000, 11:10 PM

I am truly sorry to learn this. My sincere sympathy to his family and friends.

45automan · December 8, 2000, 11:33 PM

My prayers go out to his family.
45automan

Mikey · December 8, 2000, 11:52 PM

Brian lived and worked out of the family home where he lived with his Mom. His father passed when he was young. His Mother knows very little about his business and I'm sure will be asked to attempt to handle many impossible things beyond the loss of her son.

Being an independent businessman, Brian had no life insurance. During this Holiday season, please try to find a little extra as a gift to Brian's Mother. The address is posted in the referenced thread at 1911forum.com

Thank you

Mikey

bk40 · December 9, 2000, 01:40 AM

Truly saddened to hear of this. My thoughts and prayers to Brian's family and friends.

gunsdirect · December 9, 2000, 03:27 PM

Check out the beautiful work the fine man did on his web page http://www.1911custom.com . What a great loss this is for everyone.

Gravity · December 9, 2000, 04:57 PM

Brian was a hell of a guy. Like a lot of other people I only knew Brian through email and posts over at 1911Forum where I moderate.
He was definitely a person I would have liked to have met in person.
His death is a loss for our sport and field.

johnbt · December 9, 2000, 07:44 PM

My thoughts are with his family and friends. Although I spoke to him only once on the phone, I had long been impressed by his helpful, straightforward honesty and willingness to share what he knew. He will be sorely missed. John

Edmund Rowe · December 10, 2000, 05:50 PM

I just had an email conversation with Brian Bilby 2 weeks ago about 1911s. Good grief, I had no idea he was so near death.

I could tell he had a lot of experience with 1911s, and having known another 1911 pistolsmith-artist who passed away a few years ago (Edward K. Banks, rest in peace) I must say we are diminished. 1911 gunsmithing involves a large amount of art, and those who know how to 'smith one and make it truly sing are few and far between.

I wish a 1911 salute could be fired at Brian's funeral.

Edmund

December 10, 2000, 05:50 PM	#14
Edmund Rowe Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 1998 Location: Warner Robins, GA USA Posts: 351	We are diminished I just had an email conversation with Brian Bilby 2 weeks ago about 1911s. Good grief, I had no idea he was so near death. I could tell he had a lot of experience with 1911s, and having known another 1911 pistolsmith-artist who passed away a few years ago (Edward K. Banks, rest in peace) I must say we are diminished. 1911 gunsmithing involves a large amount of art, and those who know how to 'smith one and make it truly sing are few and far between. I wish a 1911 salute could be fired at Brian's funeral. Edmund

December 8, 2000, 06:17 PM	#1
MPower Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2000 Location: Hawaii Posts: 219	It has been reported at 1911forum.com that gunsmith Brian Bilby has passed away. I am relative newcomer there, but Brian was always willing to share his knowledge and humor with the board. His name was, there as well as here, one of a short list of names given when anyone asked for a smith to "perfect" their 1911. I myself was just preparing to contact him, but waited as i knew he was booked until the new year. His work is and was something special, and that it apparent to me without having even handled one of his guns. He will be missed. John

December 8, 2000, 06:31 PM	#2
Ledbetter Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2000 Location: California USA Posts: 4,536	http://www.1911forum.com/ubb/Forum8/HTML/000752.html

December 8, 2000, 06:37 PM	#3
Stephen A. Camp Staff In Memoriam Join Date: April 17, 1999 Posts: 2,570	Hello all. Sincerest respects to the family. Best.

December 8, 2000, 06:55 PM	#4
Jeff OTMG Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 1998 Location: OKC, OK & Austin, Tx Posts: 3,708	That is terrible news. Brian was a top notch smith and a good guy. He will be missed.

December 8, 2000, 07:07 PM	#5
12-34hom Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 1999 Location: Iowa - northeastern Posts: 1,793	We are diminished.. Rest in peace Brian Bilby. 12-34hom.

December 8, 2000, 08:44 PM	#6
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 15,546	He is in good company as he joins the ranks of other great gunsmiths of yesteryear.

December 8, 2000, 11:10 PM	#7
RWK Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 1999 Location: Occupied Virginia Posts: 2,777	I am truly sorry to learn this. My sincere sympathy to his family and friends.

December 8, 2000, 11:33 PM	#8
45automan Senior Member Join Date: June 29, 2000 Posts: 304	My prayers go out to his family. 45automan

December 8, 2000, 11:52 PM	#9
Mikey Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 1998 Location: Tennessee Posts: 885	Brian lived and worked out of the family home where he lived with his Mom. His father passed when he was young. His Mother knows very little about his business and I'm sure will be asked to attempt to handle many impossible things beyond the loss of her son. Being an independent businessman, Brian had no life insurance. During this Holiday season, please try to find a little extra as a gift to Brian's Mother. The address is posted in the referenced thread at 1911forum.com Thank you Mikey

December 9, 2000, 01:40 AM	#10
bk40 Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 1999 Location: Mississippi Posts: 1,004	Truly saddened to hear of this. My thoughts and prayers to Brian's family and friends.

December 9, 2000, 03:27 PM	#11
gunsdirect Junior member Join Date: November 30, 2000 Posts: 1	Check out the beautiful work the fine man did on his web page http://www.1911custom.com . What a great loss this is for everyone.

December 9, 2000, 04:57 PM	#12
Gravity Member Join Date: November 1, 2000 Posts: 71	Brian was a hell of a guy. Like a lot of other people I only knew Brian through email and posts over at 1911Forum where I moderate. He was definitely a person I would have liked to have met in person. His death is a loss for our sport and field.

December 9, 2000, 07:44 PM	#13
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,005	My thoughts are with his family and friends. Although I spoke to him only once on the phone, I had long been impressed by his helpful, straightforward honesty and willingness to share what he knew. He will be sorely missed. John