Katie,

I am sorry for your loss. I lost my dad when I was 19 and miss him every day. I hope you find what you are looking for here, or maybe even something better. It's a great place.

Katie, your dad was a legend on this forum and the S&W Forum (where I'm not even a member, but frequently lurked to research S&W information, and regularly ended up reading his posts there because he was usually the ones with answer!). I didn't know him personally, and we didn't even interact directly much online...he probably wouldn't have even recognized my screenname...but I benefitted greatly from his knowledge and insight over the years.

The cool thing about the internet is that it creates almost a journal to be able to go back and see what was written, explored, and discussed in the past. I hope going through his posts brings you some comfort, and some insight into the knowledge that he had and the respect that people had for him in this forum and the broader online gun community.

Katie, I think it’s a great idea to connect with your dad by connecting with those who knew and appreciated him. You don’t need to be a gun expert to participate here. Maybe stick around and see what he liked about this place. We can be abrupt sometimes but we’re not a bad bunch. This community has been involved in some remarkably inspirational activities. We’ve all helped and been helped. Feel free to be friends with your dad’s friends.

A good man. I am so sorry.

Very sad news.

quote:

Originally posted by DanH:
I know this seems kind of craven, but has the family got a GoFundMe or anything like that or any interest in selling some of his gun collection?

I don’t know how to reply on here yet, but if I knew where my Dad’s guns were and was in charge of any of his possessions (he did not leave a will because his loss was unexpected so his widow has everything, I’m still trying to get back my childhood photographs and belongings) I would have happily given them away to y’all. He would have loved that they went to people who appreciated them. There’s been a lot of—I don’t want to say “drama” so I’ll say tension—around his estate. I was told by his widow that he sold his collection when he was still alive. I don’t believe that’s true, personally. My dad always had a collection that filled his closet for my entire life. Other family members believe she sold them. I have no proof that’s what happened but I do find it more believable than the other explanation. So, you might get your hands on some if you keep an eye out in North Carolina. Whenever I am in town again, I plan to stop by the gun store he worked at part time and I will update if the owner has seen them. Personally, I would have loved to keep the 1911 he taught me to shoot on.

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
Katie, I think it’s a great idea to connect with your dad by connecting with those who knew and appreciated him. You don’t need to be a gun expert to participate here. Maybe stick around and see what he liked about this place. We can be abrupt sometimes but we’re not a bad bunch. This community has been involved in some remarkably inspirational activities. We’ve all helped and been helped. Feel free to be friends with your dad’s friends.

Thank you! That means a lot. I was worried people wouldn’t appreciate me distracting from the gun discussion

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
Katie, your dad was a legend on this forum and the S&W Forum (where I'm not even a member, but frequently lurked to research S&W information, and regularly ended up reading his posts there because he was usually the ones with answer!). I didn't know him personally, and we didn't even interact directly much online...he probably wouldn't have even recognized my screenname...but I benefitted greatly from his knowledge and insight over the years.

The cool thing about the internet is that it creates almost a journal to be able to go back and see what was written, explored, and discussed in the past. I hope going through his posts brings you some comfort, and some insight into the knowledge that he had and the respect that people had for him in this forum and the broader online gun community.

Yes, exactly! It is like a journal. Guns were my dad’s favorite topic of discussion. We spent a lot of time at the range shooting together. So, getting to read his comments—especially the ones where his humor shines through—are kind of like getting a visit from him.

quote:

Originally posted by Loswsmith:
Katie,

I am sorry for your loss. I lost my dad when I was 19 and miss him every day. I hope you find what you are looking for here, or maybe even something better. It's a great place.

Thank you! I’m so sorry for your loss as well. Being 19 is hard enough. I was 26 when my dad passed—not really a kid anymore, but I sure did feel like one when it happened. It was really strange because I just didn’t expect that to happen until I was much older. I can’t imagine how you must have felt.

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot:
Greetings, Katie!!!

I know it's tough missing your dad. My dad passed away in 2008.

I conducted a simple search to look for any posts with the author "18DAI". Here is what I got...looks to be about 62 pages of data, depending on your browser settings:

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...Type=1&search=Search

Just click on that URL and it will bring up the search results page. From there, click any link to read what your dad wrote.

I hope that helps!! Be blessed!!!

Thank you so so much!!!! There really aren’t words for how much that means to me!!! I’m sorry you lost your dad as well.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
Hi Katie.

Sorry for your missing your dad.

Please find the link below to your dad's posts.

I hope this gives you some peace and a bit of "new things" about your dad, from a different perspective.

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...rtType=1&u=353104456

The latest posts are first, so starting at page 62 and working back to page one is chronological.

-sm

Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU! Really, I appreciate so much how kind y’all are. I wish there were stronger words!!

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Hi K, I don't that I recall. But we are are all family here and your dad was a well respected member of this family and is missed.

It is really great to have you here. I hope you will visit frequently. We are about a lot of different things and discuss all kinds of topics. And provide help with projects, decisions family matters, support etc.

I know you father is in a far better place and watches over you day and night.

Thank you for your kind words and for being so welcoming! I am going to try to check in a bit because I would really like to find his friends who commented on his obituary. I know they reached out to his widow but she didn’t put them in contact with me.

quote:

Originally posted by John’sDaughter:


I don’t know how to reply on here yet, but if I knew where my Dad’s guns were and was in charge of any of his possessions (he did not leave a will because his loss was unexpected so his widow has everything, I’m still trying to get back my childhood photographs and belongings)

Katie, if your dad died without a will, you are most likely entitled to a good portion of whatever assets and property he possessed at the time of his death. It does not automatically go to his wife.

I'm sorry for your loss, and sorry that there is "drama". Sadly this is not uncommon. I don't know the size of your dad's estate (basically all of his money and property), and maybe it's not worth the drama to you or the money to hire an attorney. I just wanted to make sure that you were aware that you most likely have a right to a portion of his estate.

I no longer practice law, and I'm not in North Carolina, but our forum has many practicing attorneys on it and I'm sure someone would be happy to talk to you if you'd like. I'd be happy to talk to you if you'd like, although I cannot technically give you legal advice.

Also, I'm not trying to insult your intelligence. It's just that I know from experience that a lot of people are uneducated about these matters and have no idea what rights they have.

Feel free to email me if you'd like; my email address is in my profile.

quote:

Originally posted by cslinger:
I've been on this forum for a long time. I don't post as much as others but have been here for the long haul.

In that time there has been birth, death, happy, sad, knowledge, humor, more than a few kerfluffles so to speak , KARMA's and most of all a bunch of diverse people making it all work as sort of a family.

The best thing I can say about your dad is he MATTERED. He had a great knowledge and was a great member of the family. I cannot provide any single point of wisdom or words or life lesson but rest assured your dad was a valued and missed member of a FAMILY here and that MATTERS and you should be proud of that and I am sure he loved you and would be tickled pink you would come here asking about him.

Hang in there and always remember the folks we lose are always in the better place and we are left with the burdon of grief. Take care and stay as long as you want even if you just want to BS about anything and everything just to keep that connection with your dad.

I am truly sorry for your loss.

Chris

What a lovely message! I greatly appreciate your kind words and warm welcome. If my dad was still alive I know he’d find me being on here hilarious. He would definitely tell me to read the threads to get better at identifying guns

Hi Katie, as you undoubtedly know, your dad was (and is still in spirit) a good part of what’s right in this world! He demonstrated gentlemanly character, helpfulness and honesty in all of his exchanges on this, and other forums, as I’m sure he did in real life! When folks who have never physically met him say that he is sorely missed; please know that they genuinely mean that!

About 7 years ago, your dad allowed me to buy my most treasured handgun from him, a beautiful Smith and Wesson revolver. I had long wanted this particular model, and your dad patiently assisted me in a sight unseen long-distance transfer. When I picked the gun up from my FFL, it exceeded his description and my expectations! As a matter of fact, it’s so nice that I can’t bring myself to shoot it! Instead, I’ve adorned it with a decorative set of wood grips, and only get it out on occasion to ooh and aah with friends and family. When I do, I always think of John fondly, and am grateful for having been able to “know him” in a small way.

I hope and pray that your journey to discover more of him through the records of his online presence brings you peace, comfort, and joy. Thank you for sharing your dad with us all of these years. God bless you Katie.

-Chris in Wisconsin

63! wow too young, RIP John.

Also in regards to you mentioning being unsure about him having sold off his guns; I looked back just now at the email exchanges we had during our transaction. In those emails, he did actually mention selling off many/most of his guns. This was in late 2016. I’m happy to forward those emails to you for your review, if that would be helpful. Just let me know - my email address is in my profile.

This is so cool! It’s an honor, Katie

quote:

Originally posted by honestlou:

quote:

Originally posted by John’sDaughter:


I don’t know how to reply on here yet, but if I knew where my Dad’s guns were and was in charge of any of his possessions (he did not leave a will because his loss was unexpected so his widow has everything, I’m still trying to get back my childhood photographs and belongings)

Katie, if your dad died without a will, you are most likely entitled to a good portion of whatever assets and property he possessed at the time of his death. It does not automatically go to his wife.

I'm sorry for your loss, and sorry that there is "drama". Sadly this is not uncommon. I don't know the size of your dad's estate (basically all of his money and property), and maybe it's not worth the drama to you or the money to hire an attorney. I just wanted to make sure that you were aware that you most likely have a right to a portion of his estate.

I no longer practice law, and I'm not in North Carolina, but our forum has many practicing attorneys on it and I'm sure someone would be happy to talk to you if you'd like. I'd be happy to talk to you if you'd like, although I cannot technically give you legal advice.

Also, I'm not trying to insult your intelligence. It's just that I know from experience that a lot of people are uneducated about these matters and have no idea what rights they have.

Feel free to email me if you'd like; my email address is in my profile.

You’re not insulting my intelligence at all! I honestly appreciate the advice and have considered it. I will email you! I have never dealt with anything like this so when his widow said there wasn’t anything for me, I just asked for my childhood photos back and she said she’d get them to me. At the time, I was really shocked and upset—as was his widow—so I kind of just thought I would give her time and go take my time. I left the country for a bit, got engaged, and before I knew it, almost two years have passed. I followed up with her a few times and she just said she’d call me back, but didn’t. I don’t want to make things harder on her than they already are or be a bother if she doesn’t want to speak to me. She won’t talk to the rest of our family either. There were some disagreements over his burial place that I stayed out of but may have caused some bad feelings. So, I haven’t really pursued it at all. For context, she’s not my mom. She was married to my dad for the last four or five years of his life. We didn’t have any bad blood or anything, but we weren’t super close either because I was an adult when we met (21) and I had moved away from my hometown for college. My dad wasn’t exorbitantly wealthy or anything and I don’t care about the money—I just would really like my pictures back.

Despite the circumstances surrounding this thread, it sure does my heart good to read the recent comments.

Katie, I'm glad you came onboard and hope you'll find all the comments your Dad made regarding everything. I think this is a great way to keep him in your heart.

Not to be a wet blanket, but take heed of what honestlou says. If you haven't already, it would be a good idea to talk to an attorney.

Welcome to the forum.