I’m heartbroken - 18DAI has left the building

[gmiller0737]

He will definitely be missed He helped Me with Questions on A Shorty 45 MK2 prior to purchase May He RIP


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[RedCardinal]

I will miss John's straightforward and concise 3rd Gen reviews and comments. They were like a virtual beta test for a lot of potential purchases and sales in my S&W collection. His favorite 3rd Gens were also my favorites. A great friend and contributor to the forum. I will miss those phone calls and emails with him, but I have copies of his threads on my computer.

 

[Martya]

Shocked to hear of John's passing. For the past two years I've been mostly out of touch here due to health reasons. John and I, like many of you, had more than a few exchanges, and about 1,000 email exchanges, about our 3rd Gen enthusiasm.

So young! RIP brother!

 

[vigil617]

My experiences with John are similar to many of yours who have posted here, and I would have to say that of all the many fine folks on this Forum, John was at the top of my list of most read, most admired, and most appreciated. He also joins as an Absent Comrade a select few whose absences are still keenly felt, including timn8r and shouldazagged. John was a welcoming presence when I first joined back in 2012, and like it was with many of you, his guidance in well-written, authoritative posts about Third Generation Smith & Wesson Semi-Autos was responsible for several purchases I made over those years. As a fellow North Carolinian, I felt a special bond with him and appreciated his service to law enforcement and the courts in our state. But what I will always remember and treasure most about John was the way that he so quickly responded to posts and PMs, sharing freely his experience and opinions in a friendly, helpful, and respectful way. For someone with his level of knowledge and front-line background, John was extraordinarily patient and kind in offering his help when asked, even from newbies (as I was) who knew so little to start with. When I read here of the many people who carried on correspondence with him regularly, and remembering his many, many posts here, I realize that John was extraordinarily devoted to this Forum and its members. The time he spent here was offered with such humility and good-heartedness, and if there were any such thing as a Forum Hall of Fame, he would be more than worthy of membership. John, I still hold very fondly the memory of helping you find a particular Third Gen that you had been looking for and the thrill that I received by being able to "give back" in a small way for the help that you provided to me. I am grateful that our paths crossed here among other like-minded hobbyists and practitioners, and even though I am not active in posting here anymore, I am glad that our correspondence continued up until shortly before you so suddenly left us. I miss you, buddy, and I hope I'll see you again one day.

 

[kmyers]

Sad news, RIP.

 

[rainyknight]

Oh wow, I am just learning of this as I do not spend much time online. I am so very sorry to hear this. I have enjoyed his posts and knowledge for many years, and he is the main reason I tracked down and purchased a 4516. I did not interact with him much, but I will miss reading his posts. As many of you have said, I feel as if I have lost a friend. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

"Fair winds and following seas,
may forever you feel, upon your cheek, the salty breeze.
Your spirit lives on in many a heart,
your words captured,and never to depart.
May your loved ones have the comfort in knowing,
to heaven is where you are going.
For all that they have to do is look above,
and they will be reminded of your love."

 

[4T5GUY]

I hope that this thread will go on forever.

For whatever reason John took me "under his huge wings". I can't even begin to explain everything. I'm sure that I'm not the only one. He kinda "taught" me how to behave here. If you posted a question and got a great response you liked that response. Sometimes you liked every response just because. I'm not putting down those here who have never liked anything even though they were given great responses.

I thought it might be fun for some of us to show a few of the 3rd Gens that "18DAI" was instrumental with some of us getting. Maybe getting one of his or just giving us more info about ones we have.

I originally posted about the non-railed railed 4513TSW I wanted. John posted a picture of his, (upside down of course, too funny they were always upside down,) just to show that they existed.

Fast forward a couple of years, I got an email from him. He actually remembered. There was one being offered on GB. I'm pretty attentive but I didn't notice it. I actually was high bid at $550.00 and was blown away that I got it. I don't think it was ever issued.

John told me that they were LE special order and made in lots of 50. He knew of three orders but wasn't sure. Good enough for me.

I'm sure others here have a like personal experience as I'm not that special.

Jim

 

[Ben-Kenobi]

I too like Jeppo wondered why I hadn't seen him posting recently. I thought about messaging him but didn't want to bother him. This is a shock as he was such a great source of knowledge and was always happy to help when you had a question. He offered me to come shoot with him if I was in the area. I'm truly sad that I'll never get to meet John. We've lost one of the greats in the firearms and Smith and Wesson community.

 

[Rlg#17]

RIP! We lose the good ones way to soon.

Regards, and condolences, Rick Gibbs

 

[Fastbolt]

I just posted this in the Obituary Notice, and don't have any more words that suffice at the moment ...

I was shocked and greatly saddened to learn of the passing of John. We were never able to meet in-person, since we lived on opposite Coasts, but I've spoken with him by phone and exchanged thoughts for several years among a few of the online gun enthusiast forums. He was one of the handful of people I counted as friends to whom I could turn to discuss things important to both of us, and enjoy our shared experiences in some things. I haven't any other words to adequately lament the passing a man who has left us too soon.

I will always regret not having called him in recent weeks, having been preoccupied and busy with some health issues being experienced by my wife. I'm sorry I didn't have the chance to benefit one last time from hearing your down-to-Earth wisdom and wit, my friend.

 

[Hill_Country]

I think he loved all 3d Gens, but IIRC, a 457 was his EDC and favorite, as is mine. I have two and I've always thought of him when I see them as I learned so much from him.

RIP, friend.

 

[Hoosierville IRN]

RIP, sir. Your friends here on the S&W forum will certainly miss you...

 

[Trooper224]

One less reason to log on here. RIP John.

 

[gmiller0737]

I hope that this thread will go on forever.

For whatever reason John took me "under his huge wings". I can't even begin to explain everything. I'm sure that I'm not the only one. He kinda "taught" me how to behave here. If you posted a question and got a great response you liked that response. Sometimes you liked every response just because. I'm not putting down those here who have never liked anything even though they were given great responses.

I thought it might be fun for some of us to show a few of the 3rd Gens that "18DAI" was instrumental with some of us getting. Maybe getting one of his or just giving us more info about ones we have.

I originally posted about the non-railed railed 4513TSW I wanted. John posted a picture of his, (upside down of course, too funny they were always upside down,) just to show that they existed.

Fast forward a couple of years, I got an email from him. He actually remembered. There was one being offered on GB. I'm pretty attentive but I didn't notice it. I actually was high bid at $550.00 and was blown away that I got it. I don't think it was ever issued.

John told me that they were LE special order and made in lots of 50. He knew of three orders but wasn't sure. Good enough for me.

I'm sure others here have a like personal experience as I'm not that special.

Jim

18DAI helped with Questions on this Shorty 45 MK 2 I found on a Road Trip & ended up buying


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[quikdraw67]

I hope that this thread will go on forever.

Agreed. 18DAI's memory needs to live on.

When I 1st started getting into 3rd Generation pistols he was very helpful and his knowledge was great.

A huge loss for the Forum.

 

[Jeppo]

18DAI helped with Questions on this Shorty 45 MK 2 I found on a Road Trip & ended up buying

He certainly had experience with those. He eventually sold me his own example which is just a handful of serial numbers away from yours.

 

[Heymatt]

He was always willing to answer whatever question you had.
No matter how trivial or if it had been answered many times before.
Those of us that are new to the hobby appreciated his gracious answers and encouraging words.
He will be missed, but his posts will help the next round of third gen hobbyists.

 

[MattyD380]

Oh no! 18DAI was (and is) the soul of this forum, as far as I'm concerned. His love for 3rd gens--especially the .45s--was always refreshing and inspiring. Whenever I think of a 4506-1, I honestly think of him and his posts. So sorry to hear this.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Every time I come on this thread..... it makes me sad.

Another "friend" was selling off some stuff here .... and my first thought was.............

"is everything OK?"

 

[Grog]

I've been away for a while and come back to see this shocking news. Whenever I thought of a 3rd gen, I knew he'd have any information I could think to ask for.