Samuel A. Leonard:
Thanks to Douglas Tate’s book Birmingham Gunmakers published by safari Press 1997 (ISBN 1-57157-005-1), the early years of Samuel Arthur Leonard are now known. The Leonard Family, with father Daniel and sons Harry, Daniel and Samuel, operated under the name of “D. Leonard & Sons”. It appears that their specialty was the manufacture of double rifles for the trade, notably for W.J. Jeffery. During WWI, Harry, Daniel and Samuel served as Armourers in England, all with the rank of sergeant. Tate also tells about how Samuel Leonard traveled to the United Sates and would advertise when he would be in various cities to carry out repairs. These tours may have been organized by W.J. Jeffrey & Company.
Since my 1998 article one Krag and one 1903 Springfield sporter surfaced; all marked with the same small “S.A. Leonard” stamp.
Roberts & Kimball:
Roberts & Kimball rifles, in both the sporting and varmint configuration, were in the hands of PS subscribers just waiting for me to write the article so they could tell me about them. The heavy barrel varmint rifle is marked on top of the barrel “Roberts Target Model Roberts & Kimball Woburn, Mass”. On the left side near the receiver is “257 Roberts” , on the right side is “No. 109”. The sporting rifle is marked “Kimball Mauser Roberts & Kimball Woburn, Mass.” On the top of the barrel. On the right side of the barrel near the receiver is “No. 116”, on the left side is “.257 Win. Roberts”.
It would appear that Roberts & Kimball started numbering at 100 so number 109 would have been the 9th and 116 the 16th rifle made. I would be surprised in any more than a couple dozen rifles were made before Roberts and Kimball went out of business.
