Just to close the loop on this. I tried one more time to call, just in case someone was handling his affairs. The number is now disconnected. The website is still up though, and still says taking orders. I did notice the note this time at the bottom that his daughter designed the web site.
I didn't know him, but I will express my condolences nonetheless. Having made a few Kraghandgaurds from scratch myself, I appreciate his skill and service - well by that I mean I screwed it up twice before I found his website. He promptly responded to my inquiry that he was he was not making handguards anymore, and no he could not sell clips and rivets for me to do it myself. I succeeded on my 3rd attempt to make my own, clips rivets and all.