Site Title

“A Celebration of Diversity”

as told by Ken Leonard

 

"Bright sunlight passes through the ripples of hand-made glass in the over-sized window of his small shop near Ellsworth, Ohio.  As he bends over gis workbench, engrossed in the mechanical workings of his latest creation, only the natural light illuminates the tiny parts and pieces before him.  His understanding of mechanics, his eye for artistry and his natural abilities,  as a craftsmanmake him a versatile master and innovator of the Ohio longrifle.  

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I confess to being intrigued by anything mechanical myself.  From the engine of a new car to the mechanics of an antique firearm, my appetite for understanding and capturing the moving parts in photographs is seldom satiated.  Like my Great-Great Grandfather before me, the workings of his unique guns grab my attention and hold my facination hostage.

 

David Leonard crafted a wide variety of exceptional firearms for well over 45 years.  My wife and I have been fortunate enough to have attained 14 of his original pieces, each one perfectly unique in design.  From a .25 caliber tip-up rifle tp a .38 caliber / 20 gauge swivel breech combo to a double-barrel shotgun, his abilities to create fine workings is rare and unequaled.  With each new acquisition, I continue to be astounded by this ginsmith's unique versatilityas a designer and craftsman.  I simply cannot fathom how this simple man was able to have single-handedly pieced together such fine workings, without resources like electricity, power tools, the internet and even YouTube!  We hope you enjoy our "celebration display" of this extraordinary gunsmith's diversity!

 

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