Cal was great to chat with. He helped me with a recent double purchase. Rest in peace!

The world is a poorer place for his passing, may he enjoy eternal use of his .600 in that great hunting ground in the sky and may the winds be ever favourable.

From a fellow .600 user

RIP,
You were one of us.

So Sorry to hear, was looking forward to hearing about his trip to Zim.

Such a shocker to loose an AR friend - he will be missed - RIP

So unexpected! Just talked to him a few days ago. RIP old friend.

Terrible news. Rest in peace, Cal.

Did not know Mr Pappas, but enjoyed his posts along with his knowledge of doubles. Always sad to lose a member of our community. RIP

JP

Wow..... definitely unexpected and sudden. That said Cal while an active and fit guy has long struggled with diabetes. I'd imagine he had a stroke or heart attack secondary to his diabetes.

Cal was a generous guy with his time and knowledge. I first visited Cal many years ago and he truly kindled my love for double rifles and especially English double rifles. I bought my first rifle shortly after that visit and I have bought and sold several more since. As a single guy (before kids and a wife when I had more free time) I spent many days at Cal's cabin shooting doubles and working on load development. What a special, unique, and generous person. As others have said, we are all poorer for his passing.

Sincerely,

Brett

Wow I am so sorry to hear about this. I have always enjoyed reading Cal's colorful posts over the years. May he rest in peace.

RIP... i enjoyed the conversations, and trades we'd made...

RIP. While I never interacted with him I always enjoyed reading his posts and absorbed a good bit of information on double rifles from his writings.

Cal, Mr. Pappas to me, was my high school weight training teacher at Dimond High. He was the teacher that sold candy in the hallway to raise funds to buy new equipment. I think a lot of students only knew him as the candy guy. Later, he was helpful with lots of advice on my first trip to Africa. He was really excited a former student had the same adventurous spirit as he did.

I first met Cal at a gun shop when I was there to pick up a new-to-me 8-bore double rifle. Needless to say we hit it off and were soon making hunting plans, shooting together, etc. It took a few years but we went on a trip to Australia with a few others from AR. He also helped a ton with my first trip to Africa and put a picture of my young son shooting his Daisy BB double rifle in the back of his bore rifle book, which I still think is awesome. RIP my friend, and cheers on a life well lived.

I never met Cal, but like many here, I read and enjoyed his posts. He was a retired school teacher, like me, so I felt a long distance kinship there.

I am not into double rifles, but anyone who enjoys rifles and hunting, is a brother to us all here.

I will miss his posts in AR. RIP, and enjoy hunting in Paradise Cal.

I met Cal once at SCI as visited with him via PM…often. He was a good guy always willing to help.

May God rest his soul and render comfort to his family.

One never knows when your ticket may be punched…very sorry to hear about Cal.

I'm gutted. Just gutted to hear.

Rest in peace Cal. You were a great one.

Very sorry to hear and wish his family well.

Life is so fragile…

I never got to know him but I wish I had been so lucky.

May God rest his soul.

RIP Cal

RIP Cal.

Sad to read this, condolences to family, friends and students. I read his posts in regards to another upcoming trip, nice that he had this to anticipate and look forward to, hopefully living and loving life up until the end.

Damn. That’s a gut punch for sure.

Cal, Rest In Peace!

I am totally floored to read of his passing. we have had numerous dealings in the past + all good. He will be missed. RIP Cal!

This hits me hard. Cal sold me my first double rifle. A 12 bore Rodda. We've enjoyed many a conversation. Im shocked at this.

Well this is very sad news. He was just talking about a school reunion on his FB page. Bunch of great photos with it.

Cal was a class act and a very enjoyable person.

Very sorry to hear. Sincere condolences to his family and friends. Cal, I hear heaven is full of hundred pounders. Keep the wind in your face.

This is very sad news, and Cal will be greatly missed. Always enjoyed reading his takes on things.

Wow. A fine gentleman.

We all have to go but I wish he could have stayed a bit longer....

RIP my friend.

Sad ----RIP

RIP Cal!

What a shock. Cal was a nice guy and very knowledgeable. Met him a few times at the Alaska double rifle shoots and would see him on occasions at local gun shows before I moved out of Alaska.
Recently we corresponded a little as he was thinking of moving out of Alaska and wanted to learn more about Tennessee.
Hope to see him again in the future.
God speed Cal.

RIP. He always was helpful and a seemed to be a very nice guy.

RIP Cal

RIP Cal!

Wow...completely unexpected news. Very sorry to hear it. We conversed many times over the last year related to his selling many of his collection moving on to other caretakers. When I lived in AK, I always enjoyed seeing Cal at the local gun shows. He was one of a kind and very knowledgeable and generous with his time.

Like many I didn't know and never met Cal however from his posts on AR and other forums to me he was a gentleman who was freely giving of his time and knowledge, at the same not beneath him to ask for advice and gratefully receive it from others. I don't think in any post I ever saw a cross word or niggly comment from Cal.
Had I ever met him I'm sure he would have been a great guy to spend time and chat with. Taken way too early and my sympathy to family, friends and other members who did know Cal and like me will be shocked at his sudden passing.
RIP Cal and go get 'em with those beloved doubles of yours.

He helped me in evaluation of my Wilkinson double I bought. Very kind. RIP

Cal was a great friend and a hell of a guy.

So. Wry sorry to hear this.

I'm sick. I thought of Cal as infrastructure, something you take for granted. And there is the error. I bought books from Cal and PM'ed him and he always seemed such a good, grounded human being. All I know about him is that he was a single schoolteacher, carefully saved his money, never went into debt, started very thoughtful collecting -- Winchesters, then double rifles, then back to Winchesters recently -- enjoyed many, many safaris and hosted the Alaska double rifle shoots. He sometimes said he had no heirs and I hope this means he did not lose heart. I would find this very hard to believe. He had plans and life ahead, and now the light has winked out, as it will for all of us.
I'm sick. He is in God's arms now.