VERY bad news: Dave Higginbotham

Niederlander · December 14, 2011, 05:37:52 PM

I received an e-mail today stating that Dave Higginbotham of Lone Star Rifle was killed by an accidental discharge of some kind. I don't have any details, but I would encourage prayers for his family. I'm sure more information will come out in the near future from people close to the situation.

Otter · December 14, 2011, 10:12:41 PM

That's just so sad, indeed. Never met, talked to or had any dealings with him, but I much admired his works. He will be sorely missed in the world of BPCR.

Condolences to his wife, family and his many, many friends.

WaddWatsonEllis · December 15, 2011, 01:09:59 AM

Hi Y'all,

When I was dealing with trying to learn about buffalo guns, I was sent to Mr Higginbotham. Even knowing that I was about to buy the VW of buffalo guns, his thoughts on sites and shooting were given in a gentlemanly and gracious manner.

I am hoping this email (I got one too ...) was just a hacker ... even tho' I am not fond of being taken, I would much rather have that happen than the obvious ....

If the news is indeed true, my heart goes out out to his family and loved ones ...

PJ Hardtack · December 15, 2011, 02:15:07 PM

Word on the Shiloh site is that Dave Higginbotham did in fact shoot himself accidentally with an AR-type rifle. Mike Venturino confirmed it.

Years ago I spoke to Dave on the phone re: a RB rifle. We discussed calibre and he recommended the 50-70 as best suiting my needs. Shortly thereafter, a Shiloh Military Rifle in 50-70 came my way and I never did order a Lone Star product.

But - he was right about the calibre. It's become my 'go-to' hunting rifle, taking two large bears and a couple of nice 4 pt Mule Deer bucks for me.

"From birth to the packing house, we travel between the two eternities ...." Robert Duval in Broken Trail

God rest, Dave .... ;>(

Buffalo Creek Law Dog · December 15, 2011, 07:54:45 PM

How do you shoot yourself accidentally?

Niederlander · December 15, 2011, 07:58:21 PM

I've seen it more than once, unfortunately.

PJ Hardtack · December 16, 2011, 09:46:42 AM

Law Dog

How does one shoot one's self accidentally ....?, you ask?

All it takes is a moment's distraction, an error in judgement or a series of poor choices leading to the incident. Familiarity can cause contempt. In this case, we may never know.
Anyone who hasn't had an unintentional discharge hasn't been shooting long enough. Most of us get the crap scared out of us and walk away.

I once read an article by the late Skeeter Skelton on ADs he and others had over the years. He was an ex-law man, gun writer and probably burned up more rounds in his life time than most. Fortunately, he never caused injury to himself or others, but the potential is always there.

"Ask not for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee ..." John Donne

Pitspitr · December 17, 2011, 07:58:40 AM

Anyone who handles a gun long enough will eventually have a gun accident. The secret to surviving them (and to those around you surviving it) is to always try to do everything right. This minimizes the effect of the (hopefully only) one mistake.

BTW both of mine were when I was trying to put the safety on. Once my finger was really cold and I thought it was on the safety of my Mini-14 when it was actually on the trigger. The other was putting an old shotgun on half cock and my thumb slipped off the hammer.

CRM · December 18, 2011, 09:39:08 AM

Was this the Guy just north of Houston that built Rolling Block Rifles?

Lewie Girardeau · December 18, 2011, 10:44:16 AM

Hello,

Having just returned from a deployment I would like to say that when you carry an AR type regulary you get comfortable and you also always know how or what can happen..
And that was with "non tuned" weapons.. But this is sad none the less.

Lewie

Blackpowder Burn · December 18, 2011, 03:04:27 PM

CRM,

Yes that is the person. I had a goal to have him build me a rifle. Guess that'll never happen now.

LoneStarJr · December 21, 2011, 06:23:24 PM

Hello All...

Dave Higginbotham is my father. Yes, my father made a mistake, and in the end it robbed the world of a truly good man. We don't know the details of why he picked up his AR-15 from the muzzle, but I suspect he was trying to cut his trips back and forth to the truck short. My father suffered daily with horrible arthritis. Some days the pain was manageable, others it was not. I believe he had his hands full and rather than make another trip back to the truck, he probably thought, "well, lemme just grab this real quick.."

My father worked on and around guns all his life, and if he had seen someone else do what he did, he'd been the first to pop them upside the head and call them a "Dadburn Idgit".

My father used to always tell me, "Son, a gun is like a snake... As long as you're safe and take all the right precautions handling them you'll be fine, but the first time you get careless, it's gonna bite ya."

Unfortunately as we all know when you work with something day in and day out over a period of years, you get complacent... too self assured.

Please always remember to practice what you preach... please.. in the end it could be just the thing that saves your life.

God Bless you all, and thank you all for the kind words you've spoken about my Dad.

<><

Pettifogger · December 21, 2011, 07:50:54 PM

Quote from: LoneStarJr on December 21, 2011, 06:23:24 PM
Hello All...

Dave Higginbotham is my father. Yes, my father made a mistake, and in the end it robbed the world of a truly good man. We don't know the details of why he picked up his AR-15 from the muzzle, but I suspect he was trying to cut his trips back and forth to the truck short. My father suffered daily with horrible arthritis. Some days the pain was manageable, others it was not. I believe he had his hands full and rather than make another trip back to the truck, he probably thought, "well, lemme just grab this real quick.."

My father worked on and around guns all his life, and if he had seen someone else do what he did, he'd been the first to pop them upside the head and call them a "Dadburn Idgit".

My father used to always tell me, "Son, a gun is like a snake... As long as you're safe and take all the right precautions handling them you'll be fine, but the first time you get careless, it's gonna bite ya."

Unfortunately as we all know when you work with something day in and day out over a period of years, you get complacent... too self assured.

Please always remember to practice what you preach... please.. in the end it could be just the thing that saves your life.

God Bless you all, and thank you all for the kind words you've spoken about my Dad.

<><

LonestarJr, thank you for the post and for being so candid. Everyone wishes you and your family the best.

WaddWatsonEllis · December 21, 2011, 09:40:16 PM

Lonestar Jr,

I have lost both my father and mother and miss then everyday ... I feel like somehow I have been orphaned.

Just know that there are many in here who have suffered a loss such as yours .... and although each is individual and hurts a certain way, we have walked down that road .... maybe at a different time and certainly at a different situation, but it still hurts.

I have been watching this post and wanted to say something .... perhaps it does not feel the way I wished it would have, but I needed to say something

We all feel your pain in one way or another .... take care of you and your family ...

Dusty Morningwood · January 12, 2012, 08:43:52 AM

Very sad. Dave was a stand-up guy. He worked on a couple of rifles for me over the years. We have lost a true craftsman.

Grogan · January 17, 2012, 12:32:52 AM

Lonestar Jr.

My deepest condolences to you over the tragic loss of your father.

The BPCR community has lost a great friend and gunsmith with his passing.

I'm fortunate to have a custom Roller that he built for me several years ago. I treasure it greatly.

LoneStarJr · March 01, 2012, 09:14:50 PM

Hey all...

Thank you all for your kind words. It's been a long hard road trying to get used to this world without my father in it. But you were all so kind, and I've healed at least enough to where I think I'm ready to show you guys the rifle my father made for me. Now, call me partial, but I believe this is one of his best ever. It's a one of a kind being the only one he made in a tapered octagon barrel. It's caliber is 30-30. Lot's of custom engraving, and the tiger stripped wood is phenomenal. Dad made me this caliber because he knew with a big family and not much space, I'd need to be able to buy ammo, rather than reload it.

Hope you all like it...

Major 2 · March 02, 2012, 05:26:14 AM

That is a beauty, true art....thanks for showing it...

I truly understand it's meaning to you as well....

Four-Eyed Buck · March 02, 2012, 07:21:21 AM

Treasure it, jr.

Two-Step · March 06, 2012, 03:31:13 PM

Quote from: LoneStarJr on December 21, 2011, 06:23:24 PM
Hello All...

Dave Higginbotham is my father. Yes, my father made a mistake, and in the end it robbed the world of a truly good man. We don't know the details of why he picked up his AR-15 from the muzzle, but I suspect he was trying to cut his trips back and forth to the truck short. My father suffered daily with horrible arthritis. Some days the pain was manageable, others it was not. I believe he had his hands full and rather than make another trip back to the truck, he probably thought, "well, lemme just grab this real quick.."

My father worked on and around guns all his life, and if he had seen someone else do what he did, he'd been the first to pop them upside the head and call them a "Dadburn Idgit".

My father used to always tell me, "Son, a gun is like a snake... As long as you're safe and take all the right precautions handling them you'll be fine, but the first time you get careless, it's gonna bite ya."

Unfortunately as we all know when you work with something day in and day out over a period of years, you get complacent... too self assured.

Please always remember to practice what you preach... please.. in the end it could be just the thing that saves your life.

God Bless you all, and thank you all for the kind words you've spoken about my Dad.

<><

Very sorry for your loss. God bless you and your family.

Accidents happen every day, some worse than others and unfortunately, this was a worst case situation.
A few years back, a friend of mine lost her husband in a hunting accident. He was shot by his best friend and deacon, during a hog hunting trip. He was in some thick brush, sitting next to his young daughter... it could have been much worse.

No matter how much a person is around firearms, there is always the potential for an accident, just as with many other things. From these lessons, we must learn to be more attentive and not lapse into complacency. Let us learn from the mistakes of others rather than from our own and pray that the price for that lesson is not to high.