Great Loss to the community

[edgarspencer]

Steve Barnett passed away last night.

[Stan Hoover]

Sad to hear this, thanks for posting this Edgar.

[charlie cleveland]

sad to hear this...may GOD be with the family....charlie

[Mike Koneski]

Sad news, prayers for the family.

[Bob Jurewicz]

What a terrible loss!!!
Bob Jurewicz

[Dean Romig]

What a terrible loss. Steve was a true gentleman among gentlemen. We will miss him and remember him for a very, very long time. RIP Steve.





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[Garry L Gordon]

Never met him in person, but purchased a gun from him. He was, as mentioned above, a courteous gentleman in our interactions. It's so sad to see the good ones go.

[Reggie Bishop]

Sorry to hear this. I have purchased several shotguns from Steve over the years. Prayers for those mourning this loss.

[Milt Fitterman]

Sorry to hear that! Nice man. Do we know the cause?

[Jim DiSpagno]

A loss for sure on all levels. Condolences and prayers to his family. He will be missed

[CraigThompson]

Condolences ����

[Phil Yearout]

Sad news. R.I.P. Steve.

[Bill Murphy]

What terrible news. I wore my Steve Barnett cap today to shoot sporting clays before I heard the news. I will try to dig out the photos of me dressing as Steve Barnett for the Southern Side by Side one year when he couldn't make it. Maybe someone else has those pictures.

[Robert Brooks]

Prayers sent for his family. Bobby

[Kevin McCormack]

Edgar, do you happen to know the cause of death?

[edgarspencer]

I was told in confidence some time ago and do not remember the specific cancer, but cancer nonetheless.

[keavin nelson]

Condolences to the family, and a great loss!

[Kevin McCormack]

I was told in confidence some time ago and do not remember the specific cancer, but cancer nonetheless.

Thank you Edgar.

[Michael Moffa]

Condolences to the family, great guy to do business with. Like all the super-knowledgeable Parker gentlemen, he will be missed.

[Randy G Roberts]

My condolences to the family.

[Rich Anderson]

I knew Steve for almost 20 years and LOTS of guns have exchanged hands between us. I never once felt like I got a bad deal or was mislead in any way. He was a true gentleman and a friend. I still have the first gun I ever bought from him a high condition DHE 20 with all the options.
I talked to him about two weeks ago and he was positive and upbeat. In fact he was more interested in how I was faring then he was about himself. He suffered from lung, liver and bone cancer.
Goodbye my friend you are missed already.

[Kevin McCormack]

I bought around 6 guns from Steve over the course of our dealings over many years. The two very best were a wonderful Darne V-15 grade 28 gauge and a truly spectacular pre-WWII FN Browning Funcken-engraved Grade 5 Superposed (I never saw a better one!). What I liked most about Steve was when making a price or a trade with him, he always asked me first, "What do YOU want to do?". I will definitely miss him.

[Reggie Bishop]

I bought several nice 20 gauge Superposed guns from Steve before I became interested in Parker Brothers. I still own a very sweet GHE Remington 20 that I got from him. I made him an offer and kind of braced myself for his retort, but he said “I can do that”.

[Frank Srebro]

I sold Steve many guns and five that came from him are here. He was a friend for over 10 years and early on I learned Steve was a good judge of character and had a lifetime of experience coupled with charisma. I always liked how he sealed our deals with a handshake. His loud shirts will never be filled. Prayers ongoing for Steve and for comfort and guidance to Joann and August. RIP my friend.

[Pat Boccuzzi]

Steve and I had some great times eating and Drinking which always led to great conversations about Guns and times that gone by and great times ahead. I’m gonna miss you Steve and see you on the other side bro....

My condolences and deepest sympathy to All of Steve Family.

[todd allen]

This is a pretty big hit to our community. RIP, Steve, and prayers for your family.

[Dave Suponski]

God speed Steve Condolences to the family

[steve bryan]

I bought 2 guns from Steve at the Southern a few years ago. Very pleasant to do business with, a nice guy, he will be missed.

[Victor Wasylyna]

As a child, I flipped through the Best Products catalogue and wished. I now flip/scroll through Steve Barnett’s website.

God speed!

- Victor

[Paul Ehlers]

Major loss to the collecting community for sure. Steve made his mark & will be remembered by all of those that had the pleasure of dealing with him.

God Speed Steve!!

[Bob Decker]

Steve's presence at the Southern and Northeast Side by Side events will surely be missed.

[Mills Morrison]

Sorry to hear the news . . . .

I heard he had cancer and it was not going to be long

[Shawn Wayment]

Oh man...that makes sense now. I left him a message weeks ago about a gun and he never returned my call. He was always very quick to respond. Bought a couple guns from him and was great to deal with. RIP Steve! You'll be dearly missed!

[Bill Murphy]

If it weren't for Steve, I would not have a closet full of Hawaiian shirts. I just love dressing up as Steve at the Northeast Shoot and the Southern.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Sad news indeed, another great gun dealer has passed, Did business with Steve many times always the gentleman! Several years ago at the Southern he called over to me as I walked by his end of the tent, Steve said come here I have something you would like to see, we walked over to one of his tables and under the table he pulled out a case and opened it and inside was a AA Hammer gun, I had to watch to keep from drooling on the piece, Steve said the gun was sold, Steve knew I had always wanted a AA Hammer gun, and I thank him for showing the gun to me, He said you will find one one of these days, Thank you Steve for being a gentleman, It was an honor to have known you, RIP ,Gary

[dwight pugh]

Great Guy.....Greater loss...RIP

[Dave Tercek]

Prayers to Steve's family. He and his displays were always the highlight of the Vintagers and other events I was lucky enough to attend. His presence will be missed.

[Eric Eis]

This is a great loss for all of us. You couldd not find a nicer guy and honest dealer I considered him a friend and I will miss him and the phone calls and texts that we traded back and forth. I will truelly miss him.

[Rich Anderson]

I always liked his displays. I was interested in a Stephan Grant hammer gun one year at the Southern. I had talked to him about the gun previously and he said it was sold but here it was. We talked a bit and I mentioned my interest again but had recently purchased something else. Steve's reply was "if you want it take it pay me when you can". This happened more than once with him. The last gun I bought from him was a Purdy 16ga two barrel set. I had some trade (some of which I bought from him and he ALWAYS credited me back what I had paid originally) and some cash but not enough. "Take the gun and send me $10,000 of M70's" was the reply.
RIP a class act if there ever was one.

[Bill Murphy]

At the last Northeast Shoot I attended, Steve wandered by my table several times over the weekend. Steve didn't "wander" a lot, so I thought I had him hooked with an underpriced Francotte 28 gauge. It was late on the last day. As I was packing up, Steve came by and dropped a check on my table. It was for my asking price and Steve had not made an offer on the gun the whole weekend. Class act, at least on that transaction.

[Mills Morrison]

At the Vintagers last year, he had a rifle with a tag on it that said "46". Harry went to him and said "is this $46?" Steve chuckled and said "nice try kid. $5000." We wound up buying some stuff off his bargain table which was a treasure trove in itself.

[Craig Larter]

Steve was a very nice man and a joy to do business with, it is a great loss and I will miss his display tables, it was like visiting a firearms museum.

[Larry Stauch]

My condolences to Steve's family and inner circle.

He was a gun guy's gun man and a great person.

[John Allen]

I met Steve in the late 70s when we were both selling A5s out of the back of our vehicles. We set up side x side at many shows. He came to visit us at Game Fair in the 90s and I bought floral shirts for the entire staff. When he walked in everyone was wearing a Steve Barnett trademark shirt. It really cracked him up. We were friends and competitors as the same time. I will miss him greatly.

[allen newell]

God bless him and for his having graced us with his presence these years.

[Rick Roemer]

Great guy, Great loss.

[Tom Wyraz]

I will miss Steve just like the rest of you guys. Enjoyed doing business with him "both ways". Will miss his laugh & sense of humor. Yes, a loss to the community.

[hugh rather]

Always a pleasure to deal with.I was lucky enough to live near the shop.I sent my wife to pick one up.She took our Boykin,Sassy.He welcomed my wife and Sassy into the shop.Sassy made friends and thoroughly enjoyed her visit.Steve will be missed ;we do not have many like him today.

[charlie cleveland]

I wonder if any of the family will try to keep the buseness open.....steve will be missed greatly....charlie

[Jay Gardner]

I wonder if any of the family will try to keep the buseness open.....steve will be missed greatly....charlie

I have been wondering the same thing. Does anyone know what the plan is?

[James Palmer]

His stepson August is going to run the business. Very nice young guy.

[Rich Anderson]

I doubt it, his stepson doesn't have the knowledge.

[James Palmer]

Well...he is going to try. They have put up new listings this past week.

[Rich Anderson]

I wish him all the best. He's facing an uphill battle.

[edgarspencer]

I doubt it, his stepson doesn't have the knowledge.

That wasn’t a very nice thing to say, Rich.

[Brett Hoop]

I wish August all the best. Nobody is going to replace Steve in many folks eyes. I don’t know their business model, but could only guess that the business owns some of the inventory and is acting as a sales agent for a number of guns across a huge range with many toward the upper end.
What I do know is that if they go away I will miss seeing their typical wonderful display at several events I try to attend every year. I also know how hard it is for most young people to break in and be accepted. Knowing a little bit about commission sales it isn’t just the agent that can be the hurdle on arriving at a price especially if the owner has an unrealistic price they are willing to accept. Good thing guns don’t require feeding.

We talk all the time about who is coming behind us. We look for rising stars that come from other respective fields, assistants that learned from knowledgeable superstars and sometimes they are second generation.

August doesn’t know me from a cake of soap, yes we have met, but I have had very minor dealings with he or Steve nonetheless I wish him the very best of luck and I think we all should.

[Rich Anderson]

At one time I asked Steve if his son would step into the business and he told me that.

[John Davis]

We all start somewhere. No one is born with knowledge. I took over a law practice from my father, who had taken it over from his father. Folks gave me chance to grow and prove myself.

[Frank Srebro]

Just a short note that I called SBFG today to ask questions on a gun in inventory, and while August was getting it we talked about Steve's passing, the biz transition and the upcoming '21 events. I'd casually chatted with him several times in the past while at the Southern and Hausmann's though I'm sure it's tough for him right now to put a name with a face since my past dealings were directly with Steve. August impressed the heck out of me today with his tech expertise and confidence while handling the gun at his end and answering my detailed questions. I have to say he made me feel like family and in that regard the deal felt as if I'd talked with Steve today.

[Mills Morrison]

That is great to hear

[Randy G Roberts]

Glad to hear that Frank. Hope it all goes well for the business and family.

[Frank Srebro]

Just a short note that I called SBFG today to ask questions on a gun in inventory, and while August was getting it we talked about Steve's passing, the biz transition and the upcoming '21 events. I'd casually chatted with him several times in the past while at the Southern and Hausmann's though I'm sure it's tough for him right now to put a name with a face since my past dealings were directly with Steve. August impressed the heck out of me today with his tech expertise and confidence while handling the gun at his end and answering my detailed questions. I have to say he made me feel like family and in that regard the deal felt as if I'd talked with Steve today.

Just to close the loop here. The gun arrived today, very well packed and exactly as described by August - technically and cosmetically. It was an absolutely seamless transaction and couldn’t have gone any better. :)

[Stan Hillis]

So glad to hear that, Frank. It's always tough for a son to step up to the plate at the passing of Dad, but if Dad prepared him well he will likely do alright. Sounds like Steve did.

SRH

[Garry L Gordon]

Sigh (of relief).