Walter Birdsong "Black T" has passed?

doc540 · July 17, 2009, 05:37 PM

just read it on another forum

If it's true, I'm very sorry to hear.

An incredible man an patriot.

MrClean · July 27, 2009, 05:15 PM

Yep.

I'm fortunate enough to be living within driving distance of his shop. Although I hadn't been visiting the shop near as frequently as I use to a few years back, I always looked forward to my visits with Walter and crew down there. He reminded me a great deal of my own father that passed away years ago. He was a very no-nonsense kinda guy. I will very much miss the talks with him over topics ranging from politics, military actions/presences, weapons, dogs, planes, and the list goes on.
Everytime I pick up one of my weapons with T-coat on it, I have fond memories and everytime I see a Hav-A-Tampa cigar I think of Ol' Bird....

I'll miss him.

Technosavant · July 27, 2009, 05:20 PM

That's a shame. I always heard he was a good guy; I had that treatment done to one of my 1911s (via the Springfield Custom Shop), and it wears well.

AaronCoady · December 13, 2009, 09:18 PM

Great guy, and hated to hear this. I had several firearms refinished by him, and he always picked up the phone personally and explained the process from A to Z.

bamaranger · December 15, 2009, 03:45 AM

I had always intended to have a M77 ruger finished there but have not.
Will the business remain operational

rbgsig226 · August 16, 2010, 07:12 PM

Walter's Sons are now running the Company, it is still in the same location and they now do advertise to the general public. I just sent off my Sig 226 and 4 Emerson Knives to be done. This is the Website www.black-t.com

**Bud Helms** · August 17, 2010, 04:09 AM

Thanks for the update. I wish them well.

ClydeFrog · August 19, 2010, 09:46 PM

I had the chance to talk to Birdsong at length about 12 years ago.
He was a fine gent,

. I'd heard the elite FBI HRT(Hostage Rescue Team) used Birdsong's Black T and later the Green T for the issue pistols & sniper rifles.
I'm not sure if today's FBI SWAT or HRT units still use Black T but Walter Birdsong told me other military/LE agencies also used it.

doc540 · August 20, 2010, 03:47 PM

Everyone who ever talked to Walter talked to him "at length".

And what a great storyteller he was.

He didn't know me from Adam and even though I'd never be a significant revenue generator for his company, he treated me like I was the comptroller for the Israeli army.

In fact, he treated me so well that after he passed I made certain his finish went on my Combat Commander. "Susan", I think, answers the phone now and is a great person to deal with just like Walter was.

They only charged me $96 shipped to finish my gun. Can NOT beat that with a stick!

ClydeFrog · August 23, 2010, 02:49 AM

That new, Black-T plated 1911a1 pistol looks great!

The $96 price is a sweet deal too. I looked into Black-T for my new in box LE surplus 96D Brigader model .40 in 2007. I could not find the website/contact details for Birdsong's shop.

I looked into www.APWcogan.com and Cerakote/NIC but chose Robar and NP3-Rogard. I had a older 96D in 1997-1999 that had NP3. It worked very well. I can't speak for the Black-T or Green-T formats but I was not very happy with Robar's black coating called Rogard. It nicks and mars with ease and did not seem to wear like the nickel based NP3. Robar has put out the newer NP3+ plate feature to customers and the website states it wears/works even better than NP3.

Depending on your budget, uses, weather factors, etc custom features like Black T or NP3+ may seem excessive or not worth the $$$ but I would suggest it for any serious, trained gun owner who carrys a firearm for duty or protection.

Clyde

rbgsig226 · August 26, 2010, 02:13 PM

Clyde,

Website www.black-t.com

W. E. Birdsong & Associates, INC.
1435 Monterey Road
Florence, MS 39073

Phone: 601 939-7448
Fax: 601 936-3081

Or, just fire us off an E-mail!
(click names below to send email)

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

ClydeFrog · August 27, 2010, 06:59 PM

Thanks, mucho.

You may want to roll over to some other popular forums like www.Gunsamerica.com www.glocktalk.com and www.thehighroad.us www.DickMarcinko.com www.Officer.com if you are not already aware of them and post this contact information too.
Other US gun owners, service members, sworn LE officers etc may not know how to get in touch with you or get the Black-T/Green-T service.

CF

rbgsig226 · September 28, 2010, 08:18 AM

Quick Pic of the 226 before, will have it back this week with Green-T and post new pics.

Along with the Wife's 239 with the Black-T and Green-T that was done in 2004.

rbgsig226 · October 2, 2010, 09:33 AM

Got my Sig226 & Emersons Back Friday from Birdsong's, I think they all look awesome. See before Pic a few posts back

Sig226 in Green-T w/Black-T Controls
Mags in Green-T

Emerson Combat Karambit - All Black-T
Emerson SOCFK - Green-T, Screws Black-T
Emerson Karambit Trainer - Battleship Gray-T
Emerson Commander Trainer - Battleship Gray-T

Dave Williams · October 7, 2010, 10:32 AM

Sweet collection of T'd weapons rgbsig226.

Dave Williams

July 17, 2009, 05:37 PM	#1
doc540 Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,430	Walter Birdsong "Black T" has passed? just read it on another forum If it's true, I'm very sorry to hear. An incredible man an patriot.

August 16, 2010, 07:12 PM	#6
rbgsig226 Junior Member Join Date: August 16, 2010 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 6	W.E. Birdsong Black-T Company still Operating & Website Walter's Sons are now running the Company, it is still in the same location and they now do advertise to the general public. I just sent off my Sig 226 and 4 Emerson Knives to be done. This is the Website www.black-t.com

August 19, 2010, 09:46 PM	#8
ClydeFrog Junior member Join Date: May 1, 2010 Posts: 5,797	Walter Birdsong, Black T... I had the chance to talk to Birdsong at length about 12 years ago. He was a fine gent, . I'd heard the elite FBI HRT(Hostage Rescue Team) used Birdsong's Black T and later the Green T for the issue pistols & sniper rifles. I'm not sure if today's FBI SWAT or HRT units still use Black T but Walter Birdsong told me other military/LE agencies also used it.

August 23, 2010, 02:49 AM	#10
ClydeFrog Junior member Join Date: May 1, 2010 Posts: 5,797	Black-T, Robar NP3+, Cerakote-NIC.... That new, Black-T plated 1911a1 pistol looks great! The $96 price is a sweet deal too. I looked into Black-T for my new in box LE surplus 96D Brigader model .40 in 2007. I could not find the website/contact details for Birdsong's shop. I looked into www.APWcogan.com and Cerakote/NIC but chose Robar and NP3-Rogard. I had a older 96D in 1997-1999 that had NP3. It worked very well. I can't speak for the Black-T or Green-T formats but I was not very happy with Robar's black coating called Rogard. It nicks and mars with ease and did not seem to wear like the nickel based NP3. Robar has put out the newer NP3+ plate feature to customers and the website states it wears/works even better than NP3. Depending on your budget, uses, weather factors, etc custom features like Black T or NP3+ may seem excessive or not worth the $$$ but I would suggest it for any serious, trained gun owner who carrys a firearm for duty or protection. Clyde

August 26, 2010, 02:13 PM	#11
rbgsig226 Junior Member Join Date: August 16, 2010 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 6	Contact Info and Website for W.E. Birdsong Black-T Clyde, Website www.black-t.com W. E. Birdsong & Associates, INC. 1435 Monterey Road Florence, MS 39073 Phone: 601 939-7448 Fax: 601 936-3081 Or, just fire us off an E-mail! (click names below to send email) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

July 27, 2009, 05:15 PM	#2
MrClean Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2008 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 336	Yep. I'm fortunate enough to be living within driving distance of his shop. Although I hadn't been visiting the shop near as frequently as I use to a few years back, I always looked forward to my visits with Walter and crew down there. He reminded me a great deal of my own father that passed away years ago. He was a very no-nonsense kinda guy. I will very much miss the talks with him over topics ranging from politics, military actions/presences, weapons, dogs, planes, and the list goes on. Everytime I pick up one of my weapons with T-coat on it, I have fond memories and everytime I see a Hav-A-Tampa cigar I think of Ol' Bird.... I'll miss him.

July 27, 2009, 05:20 PM	#3
Technosavant Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO area Posts: 4,040	That's a shame. I always heard he was a good guy; I had that treatment done to one of my 1911s (via the Springfield Custom Shop), and it wears well.

December 13, 2009, 09:18 PM	#4
AaronCoady Member Join Date: August 1, 2001 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 26	Great guy, and hated to hear this. I had several firearms refinished by him, and he always picked up the phone personally and explained the process from A to Z.

December 15, 2009, 03:45 AM	#5
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,799	I had always intended to have a M77 ruger finished there but have not. Will the business remain operational

August 17, 2010, 04:09 AM	#7
Bud Helms Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 1999 Location: Middle Georgia, USA Posts: 13,198	Thanks for the update. I wish them well.

August 20, 2010, 03:47 PM	#9
doc540 Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,430	Everyone who ever talked to Walter talked to him "at length". And what a great storyteller he was. He didn't know me from Adam and even though I'd never be a significant revenue generator for his company, he treated me like I was the comptroller for the Israeli army. In fact, he treated me so well that after he passed I made certain his finish went on my Combat Commander. "Susan", I think, answers the phone now and is a great person to deal with just like Walter was. They only charged me $96 shipped to finish my gun. Can NOT beat that with a stick!

August 27, 2010, 06:59 PM	#12
ClydeFrog Junior member Join Date: May 1, 2010 Posts: 5,797	Thanks! Thanks, mucho. You may want to roll over to some other popular forums like www.Gunsamerica.com www.glocktalk.com and www.thehighroad.us www.DickMarcinko.com www.Officer.com if you are not already aware of them and post this contact information too. Other US gun owners, service members, sworn LE officers etc may not know how to get in touch with you or get the Black-T/Green-T service. CF Last edited by ClydeFrog; August 28, 2010 at 01:02 AM.

September 28, 2010, 08:18 AM	#13
rbgsig226 Junior Member Join Date: August 16, 2010 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 6	226 Before & 239 with Black & Green T Quick Pic of the 226 before, will have it back this week with Green-T and post new pics. Along with the Wife's 239 with the Black-T and Green-T that was done in 2004.

October 2, 2010, 09:33 AM	#14
rbgsig226 Junior Member Join Date: August 16, 2010 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 6	Got my Sig226 & Emersons Back Friday from Birdsong's, I think they all look awesome. See before Pic a few posts back Sig226 in Green-T w/Black-T Controls Mags in Green-T Emerson Combat Karambit - All Black-T Emerson SOCFK - Green-T, Screws Black-T Emerson Karambit Trainer - Battleship Gray-T Emerson Commander Trainer - Battleship Gray-T

October 7, 2010, 10:32 AM	#15
Dave Williams Member Join Date: January 2, 1999 Posts: 79	Sweet collection of T'd weapons rgbsig226. Dave Williams