gumshoe Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 In the early 80's there was a group of gunsmiths that were at every national match. I have been out of the sport for years and just wondered if they are still around alive or dead, in or out of business. Charlie Kelsey of Devel, Steve Nastoff, Otto of Otto Comp fame, Austin Belhart, Dick Crawford. Does anyone know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Carter Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 As far as I know, Nastoff is still is business but doing consulting and contract work only, Austin Behlert is retired I think. Haven't heard about Crawford and Kelsey in years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 I haven't heard anthing about Kelsey since Devel folded, Behlert retired and his son sold the shop to someone else, don't know abotu the rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Nesbitt Posted June 17, 2003 Share Posted June 17, 2003 Austin Behlert is posting stories about the old days on www.pistolsmith.com Bill Nesbitt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted June 17, 2003 Share Posted June 17, 2003 Bill, I looked at that site and it is too cool. I knew Frank Behlert and shot with him a bit in the '80's, pretty good guy, but his dad is a great old man. Really knew his stuff. I have a chopped and melted Hi Power that he did for me back when and although it has many miles on it now, it is still 100 percent reliable. When I first got it, it was the zenith of pro pistolsmithing. Lots of other good stuff on that site also, especially liked the topics on big bore rifles. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FayettevilleFatKid Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 Don't know how true it is but I heard a rumor(NOTE: I SAID MYSELF I DON"T KNOW IF IT IS TRUE OR NOT) that Kelsey had recently passed away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Neill Posted October 4, 2003 Share Posted October 4, 2003 Charlie Kelsey died earlier this year. Foul play, apparently. Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAZZ Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 Crawford built a couple of guns for me about 8 or 9 years ago. He stopped, or at least cut back on, shooting a couple of years ago when the arthritis in his hands became too difficult. He still lives in the same small town in the Florida pan-handle, and by chance I happened to run into him at an Outback here in Tallahassee a few months ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Schwab Posted January 15, 2004 Share Posted January 15, 2004 Otto is still in business as a 'smith. In fact I've been trying to talk him into welding up a Caspian big stick for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncowboy Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 Austin Behlert sold the shop to is son in law Art Leckie who was a gunsmith himself. I am very sorry to say that Art and Austin Both passed away in 2005. J.Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huston in Austin Posted January 11, 2006 Share Posted January 11, 2006 Just found this, but I saw Richard Crawford just before New Years. He was on his way back home from visiting wife's family. He stopped in to visit the same person I was visiting. Didn't go into details but he's still building guns and still shooting some. Huston in Austin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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