Walter Birdsong "Black T" has passed?

Yep. :(
I'm fortunate enough to be living within driving distance of his shop. Although I hadn't been visiting the shop near as frequently as I use to a few years back, I always looked forward to my visits with Walter and crew down there. He reminded me a great deal of my own father that passed away years ago. He was a very no-nonsense kinda guy. I will very much miss the talks with him over topics ranging from politics, military actions/presences, weapons, dogs, planes, and the list goes on.
Everytime I pick up one of my weapons with T-coat on it, I have fond memories and everytime I see a Hav-A-Tampa cigar I think of Ol' Bird.... :D

I'll miss him.
 
That's a shame. I always heard he was a good guy; I had that treatment done to one of my 1911s (via the Springfield Custom Shop), and it wears well.
 
Great guy, and hated to hear this. I had several firearms refinished by him, and he always picked up the phone personally and explained the process from A to Z.
 
W.E. Birdsong Black-T Company still Operating & Website

Walter's Sons are now running the Company, it is still in the same location and they now do advertise to the general public. I just sent off my Sig 226 and 4 Emerson Knives to be done. This is the Website www.black-t.com
 
Walter Birdsong, Black T...

I had the chance to talk to Birdsong at length about 12 years ago.
He was a fine gent, ;). I'd heard the elite FBI HRT(Hostage Rescue Team) used Birdsong's Black T and later the Green T for the issue pistols & sniper rifles.
I'm not sure if today's FBI SWAT or HRT units still use Black T but Walter Birdsong told me other military/LE agencies also used it.
 
Everyone who ever talked to Walter talked to him "at length". :D

And what a great storyteller he was.

He didn't know me from Adam and even though I'd never be a significant revenue generator for his company, he treated me like I was the comptroller for the Israeli army.

In fact, he treated me so well that after he passed I made certain his finish went on my Combat Commander. "Susan", I think, answers the phone now and is a great person to deal with just like Walter was.

They only charged me $96 shipped to finish my gun. Can NOT beat that with a stick!


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Black-T, Robar NP3+, Cerakote-NIC....

That new, Black-T plated 1911a1 pistol looks great! :) The $96 price is a sweet deal too. I looked into Black-T for my new in box LE surplus 96D Brigader model .40 in 2007. I could not find the website/contact details for Birdsong's shop. :(
I looked into www.APWcogan.com and Cerakote/NIC but chose Robar and NP3-Rogard. I had a older 96D in 1997-1999 that had NP3. It worked very well. I can't speak for the Black-T or Green-T formats but I was not very happy with Robar's black coating called Rogard. It nicks and mars with ease and did not seem to wear like the nickel based NP3. Robar has put out the newer NP3+ plate feature to customers and the website states it wears/works even better than NP3. ;)
Depending on your budget, uses, weather factors, etc custom features like Black T or NP3+ may seem excessive or not worth the $$$ but I would suggest it for any serious, trained gun owner who carrys a firearm for duty or protection.

Clyde
 
226 Before & 239 with Black & Green T

Quick Pic of the 226 before, will have it back this week with Green-T and post new pics.

Along with the Wife's 239 with the Black-T and Green-T that was done in 2004.

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Got my Sig226 & Emersons Back Friday from Birdsong's, I think they all look awesome. See before Pic a few posts back

Sig226 in Green-T w/Black-T Controls
Mags in Green-T

Emerson Combat Karambit - All Black-T
Emerson SOCFK - Green-T, Screws Black-T
Emerson Karambit Trainer - Battleship Gray-T
Emerson Commander Trainer - Battleship Gray-T

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