Just received word that TB has passed away. Love him or hate him, he truly was one of the greatest 'smiths in gun history.

quote:

Originally posted by John S:
Just received word that TB has passed away. Love him or hate him, he truly was one of the greatest 'smiths in gun history.

What???? Where did you hear that?

Got an email from Darcy Echols.

That is sad news.

quote:

Originally posted by John S:
Got an email from Darcy Echols.

This is sad news! Our loss...

My condolences and prayers to his family.

I did not know Tom personally but loved to talk to him and read his replys on here.
The gunsmithing family and a lot of others will be at a great loss by his passing.

RIP, Tom.

James

R.I.P.

Tom was an amazing talent and didn't mind sharing his knowledge. He will be missed.

Terry

I'm very sorry to hear this. Had he been sick? I wish I hadn't delayed my trip to his shop....

Shane

Tom was as an absolute genius when it came to anything about guns, metalurgy, machining etc. He was a great talent there is a large void in the gun making industry at his parting.

We are all so much better for having known him.

R.I.P. Tom.

Tom was a talent of immense proportions. He was a man who never took a short cut. My condolences go out to his wife and family.

I'll always be grateful to Tom for the help he gave us on the Searcy Scholarship rifle. The last few years have been tough for Tom but he was very gracious in helping us on this project. Tom told me that his daughter was a teacher and he thought about her as he worked on our scholarship rifle.

Someone from the ACGG needs to get in contact with Mrs. Burgess at the appropriate time and arrange to archive Tom's notes and writings. He collected a treasure trove of his own notes on various technical aspects of guns, metalurgy, etc. It would be a travesty to let this knowledge slip away.

I considered Tom one of my dearest friends. Interesting considering I never met him face to face. I met him here, over the search for some enfield parts, and the last few years emailed and phoned him a good deal. He was generous beyond words and his breadth and depth of knowledge was staggering. I think there was hardly a time I called that we actually spoke of guns, almost always we rabbit trailed off onto some other fascinating topic. I have note pads all over my shop and office because I could never keep up and had to write things down when we'd talk. the news was a massive blow to me, speaking to him last week I thought he was on an upswing again.

the world is a slightly darker place today.

I would like to request of the moderators, since it would be easier from your end I'm sure, to assemble all the threads here containing postings by Tom, for posterity. I'm sure I'm not the only one that would like to have them.

Finally in the Lord Tom will have somebody that can keep up with him in a conversation, and he'll be able to get an answer to so many of those questions he had.

Red

I didn't know Tom Burgess, but I have always admired his work and read his posts on this forum with interest.

Forrest, you are right about his notes and writings. If there is enough material, they might even be converted into a book by a good editor.

That would be a fine legacy, if it can be done.

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
I didn't know Tom Burgess, but I have always admired his work and read his posts on this forum with interest.

Yes....exactly my thoughts!

One of gunsmithings' finest artists.

Definitely a loss, but he leaves behind a legacy most can never reach. Very sorry to hear of his passing.

Wow, that terrible news. I enjoyed reading his posts here.

Sad News, He was a wealth of Knowledge

I remember I had asked Tom for imfo about Remington m720s and m30 scope mounting and mag boxes and bottom metal several years ago.( I have a 720 that someone modified) I was suprized that he took the time to write me back several long private emails and sent me photos explaining how he built bottom metals for enfields. He wrote very elaberate instructions and kinda chewed out my ass abit about a couple things. Kinda funny.


Rick

Years ago, Howard Clarke made a tape on William Nittler Techniques for shotgun work and it is still a good seller with the ACGG. His next project was Tom Burgess...many starts...many sputters...many frustrations...Tom just couldn't stay on the subject. Howard gave up...too bad...the man was a genius..a lot of knowledge died with him. Maybe someone in the Guild can wade through this man's life and give him the legacy he richly deserves

As some of you know I make copies of his rings. He said some time ago--go ahead boy I'll never make any more. Try as I may mine will always be just copies of the MASTER of Metal. Thanks for all the wonderful works that you left behind. The standard for to look up to.

Well, none of us make it out of this alive.

It's always a sad day when an icon like Tom goes. He was always helpful to me when I needed. Truth be told, he was generally a mile over my head.

RIP Tom

Wish I could say that I knew him. Spoke to him on the phone a few times and learned more than I can recall. His work was to a standard that will be always be worth shooting for.
RIP

We traded e-mails three days ago. He was very sharp until the end. His son Chris told me that he died surrounded by his family and that he received Catholic "last rites" before he passed on. He and I talked about history, Catholicsm and metalurgy more than guns, but we talked plenty about guns still. I usually had Lois "warm him up" on the phone for an hour, then I would take over for the last two hours (until his bladder gave out). "Cheating" was the only way to "out talk" him.

Guess I'll catch up with him over the next hill.

LD

He died at 19:15 Mountain Time on the 6th. The funeral is on Monday morning in Kalispell at 11:00. Chris has the details at (406) 756-5765 or (406) 755-4110

I have been preparing to buy quality rifle components for a build.
I prefer to steer my money toward Toms wifes benefit, if possible.

There just never is a good time to loose a good man.

HBH

I recall with great fondness the time I stopped at Tom's shop to visit with him about 5 years ago. His shop and place were about 4 miles outside of Kalispell proper and were quite modest. I visited first with Mrs., who was tending garden. I then went down to the shop and knocked. Told him I knew his time was valuable and didn't want to take it up, but just wanted to meet him. He wouldn't let me get away, and I left about 5 hours later after hearing about his childhood in the catholic schools, all of his dealings with Jack O'Connor and others, metallurgy, the wars, machines, mauser actions, etc., etc.

When you first met him he seemed quite egotistical. But soon one could tell that he was just excited to visit with someone and share his knowledge

I couldn't leave the place without making an order for a set of his rings. I would have felt guilty taking all that time without buying something from him. Left a deposit, and a year later received a note saying they were done and I should send the rest of the money, which I did. The work was perfect, but alas I ended up selling them to someone who could use them better than I. Now I wish I Would have kept them.

I happened to have with my copy of The Gun Digest Review of Custom Guns edited by Ken Warner with me. On page 42 is a photo of an illustrious bunch of Gunnies taken at an NRA meeting. Tom happens to be in that photo. So I asked him to autograph it for me. He wrote " At Salt Lake NRA 1979 - Thomas Burgess - to 22WRF AR With Best Wishes - Help keep the forum on keel. TMB."

We corresponded by email quite a bit afer my visit. But after about a year and a half the emails started getting fewer and fewer. Tom advised me the computer was hurting his eyes and he wanted to save his eyes for his work.

I knew he wasn't feeling well because he told me so when I visited. It is very sad to see him go. He was a wonderful man once you got to know him.

May You rest in peace Thomas, and may perpetual light shine upon You.

"We are diminished...".

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

RIP Tom. I also wish I had not delayed my trip to his shop. It would have been a privelage to meet him.

RIP -- My your passing be quick and your way easy

What a loss!Tom did a lot of work for me during my first tour into custom rifles in 60s&70s all of it superb&he actually got it done.our loss.RIP Tom.

To hopefully save Chris a few phone calls, anyone interested:

Sunday- Viewing 12-3 PM, 7:30 Rosary

Monday- Funeral 11:00AM @ Buffalo Hills Funeral Home followed by Gravesite service and Military color guard

2PM ish food and gathering at Burgess residence
7:30 PM BBQ for family and close friends at Burgess residence

Donations to:
Grace Hospice
1117 S Main St
Kalispell, MT 59901 mention that it is in memory of Tom Burgess

I can't remember off hand, but I think he was 78 this year, he started gunsmithing when he was 14, yes, 14. He was attending Jesuit high school (where he wrote a paper on rust bluing and the chemical process if I remember correctly, he said they did "real chemistry" at that high school) in tandem he enrolled inthe local machinist's school, 2 years before usual age of admittance but they turned a blind eye. he began making parts for local gunsmiths to make money to pay for all that schooling.

I think especially considering his accomplishments he was a humble man. always willing to help somebody else. his writing was very technical, and on purpose, he believed that his writing could be understood by those good enough that they should be tackling the work. sadly that meant I couldn't understand most of it!!!

he had a huge heart and good sense of humor, and although he had tapered off in the last few years even since I knew him it was amazing what he would accomplish when he did get in the shop. He designed in the last few years a new action wrench and a new fixture for mounting and test firing barreled actions.

I had a set of his rifle sling mounts that have been copied by other outfits, I donated them to an ACGG auction a couple years ago figuring I could always get another set......

Red

Tom will certainly be missed and I’m sure he will not be forgotten.
Tom was always willing to share his time and knowledge with everyone.
I’m one of the lucky ones as I own two of his rifles.
For those wanting to send a card to his family Toms address is

180 Mc Mannamy Draw Rd.
Kalispell Mt. 59901-7116

That is terrible news. Kalispell used to be one of my favorite places on earth. The last time I was there for more than just a few hours(November 29-December 1, 1976) I had the pleasure of Lunch with Monte Kennedy, dinner with Jerry Fisher, a tour of the ongoing conversion of the Sharon (previously Buhmiller) barrel-making facility into a then-to-be new Sharps Rifle Company, and a long chat with Tom Burgess. Ended with a visit to Borchardt's home to buy a bunch of books which were very hard to get in Canada.

Now most everyone I knew there is hunting in the great hills of Valhalla, and I am still here waiting to hear the fetching call of the hunter's horn. Damn, this world is getting lonesome.....and America's tradition is disappearing.

Replacing people like Whelen, Crossman, O'Connor, Keith, Hagle, Nonte, Kennedy, Ackley, Buhmiller, Marquart, Jobson, and, yes, Burgess, is just not happening. Instead we are getting trash for politicians, whackos for educators, a world mad with political correctness, and rife with both religious & irreligious fanatics.

Luckily, the good guys will be waiting for most of us, to reintroduce us to the life of dedicated work, high skills, sportsmanship, deep thought, tradition, and honour. I only hope God will think I have earned the right to leave here to be one of their gunbearers.

Truly sad news. RIP Tom.

He will be missed.
RIP, Tom.

Have two rifles with his metalwork, Mauser .257 and HiWall 6.5'06, stocked by Bob Owen and Monte Kennedy respectively, treasures.

This is indeed sad news. Tom went out of his way to do 2 projects for me over the last couple years despite his illnesses just because they interested him. He knew more about Mausers than anyone I have ever talked to.

This is Tom’s youngest son Chris. On behalf of his family I would like to say thank you to all of you that have posted in this thread. I would also like to thank all of you who corresponded with my dad over the last few years, it is people like you that gave him a reason to get up in the afternoon (he was a night owl) even when his hands and eyes were failing him.

As mentioned earlier he was surrounded by family in his home when he died. Grace Hospice helped us keep him comfortable; he received the Sacrament of the Sick (“Last Rites†“Extreme Unction“) and all of his kids got to speak with him just prior. The last words he heard were from me “Well done sir, well doneâ€.

The funeral was NOT a sad somber event, but was instead a sung Requiem Mass. He was then given a proper Military Burial including a volley of fire performed by the VFW using M1s (very fitting for him), taps were played on a real Trumpet by his grandson David and the very sharp Color Guard was flown in from Missoula. After the blessing of the grave and the lowering of the coffin, his family put a layer earth on him, followed by scoops of chips from his shop (some of his last work), roses, an unspent M1 round, and three dollar bills (money due for an hour’s worth of work at his original price). To conclude the ceremony “As the Saints Come Marching In†was played by David, my dad always thought a jazz funeral was the way to go. The rest of the day was spent celebrating his life at the Burgess ranch with a Keg of his favorite beer “Kokaneeâ€, good food, target shooting, Blue Grass/Folk Music played by family and friends, and lots of stories and tall tales.

I believe everything went as it should and my dad would approve.

Chris,
Best wishes to you and your family. It sounds like you had a wonderful bittersweet day to remember your dad. There are many of us who wish we could have been there with you. Your dad truly was one of a kind. I feel fortunate for the little time I was able to share with him.

Forrest

That is very moving. We'll all be there someday but what a respectable way to be remembered and honored. Live life to its fullest.