Tom Deeb, the founder of Hi-Point Firearms, passed away earlier this week. He was 66 years old. He will be missed by friends and family, many of whom will continue on his legacy at Hi-Point. The company will continue to be lead by Mike Strassell, who has been a business partner with Deeb for 30 years.
“Tom Deeb founded Beemiller, the manufacturer of Hi-Point Firearms. Tom delivered a revolutionary line of economical, robust, reliable and accurate firearms. More importantly, though, Tom was a great personal friend of our company and family for decades and will be greatly missed by us all.” said MKS Supply President Charles Brown.
Hi-Point manufactures simple pistols and carbines for people on a tight budget. The company has been a mainstay in the world of personal firearms, making gun ownership attainable for everyone regardless of their income.
Deeb was an active voice in the pro-gun community supporting hunters and the right to keep and bear arms. He served in the U.S. Air Force in Southeast Asia from 1972 to 1976. He was also involved with The Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners, or AFTE.
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The company will continue to manufacture Hi-Point firearms entirely in the U.S. and strive to keep “the fair practices and honest principles” set forth by Hi-Point over the years, said Hi-Point in a statement. “Tom had an unwavering desire to always do the right thing, and this principle will be continued.”
While there’s no doubting that there are prettier, more refined firearms on the market, few can compete with Hi-Point in terms of pure value. Thanks to Hi-Point, for the price of a grocery trip or two, anyone can become an armed American.
Their handguns are some of the most affordable in production today and their carbines are held in high regard and are also extremely economical. Both are popular options for self-defense and home protection on a budget.
Hi-Point manufactures a complete line of pistols and carbines in 9mm Luger, .40 S&W and .380 and .45 ACP with standard black and a variety of camo finishes.
Just found out he died. I was given an earlier version of Hi Point 45 cap from early 1990’s. Still have it. It’s easy to train a newcomer with this low recoil weapon. Never a jam. God bless.
Rest in peace, young man. May God hold you in the palm of his hand forever.
R.I.P. Tom. You have helped so many people become first time gun owners, that wouldn’t have been able to afford a gun, without you.
This was my first seimi auto pistol that I could afford thanks to Hi-points lower cost guns. Sorry for our country’s loss of the founder. Keep up the good job Hi-point,
I am saddened by the passing of Tom he was a great example of what this country needs more of. Tom developed the Hi Point carbine which has been a fine firearm with better than expected accuracy. If more American companies followed his lead and developed firearms that sold for a reasonable price and offered a lifetime guarantee this would allow more of us to enjoy the shooting sports. His company has shown that America can produce and compete in the world market on a competitive basis. On a personal basis I feel that the guns produced by Hi Point are undervalued and called cheap by many gun writers because they are owned by the larger more expensive gun makers or foriegn manufactures they need to get real and realize that there are still manufactures like Hi Point that make products in this country with pride. Tom will be missed and my condolences to his family and friends as well as the employees of MKS.
RIP Tom.
Thank you for providing a great reliable firearm for us owners starting out in life and on a budget.
Generally people either love or love to hate Hi-Point guns. But any honest American should like the concept…inexpensive, reliable, American-made firearms. R.I.P. Mr. Deeb.
Well stated Kris.
Very well stated Kris! You nailed it!
Well said Kris. It’s where I started with guns.