Leonard Percussion Target

Sharpshooter / Sniper Rifle [ 1860 ]

The Leonard Percussion Target Rifle was one of several long arms used in the American Civil War for sniping and sharpshooting.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 10/05/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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There were several major designs adopted for sharpshooters in the American Civil War (1861-1865) and the most famous of these was arguably the J.F. Brown rifle. Another competing design stemmed from Artemis Leonard and Leonard Percussion Target Rifle. Leonard arranged the Leonard & Sons gun-making firm our of Saxons River in Vermont and manufactured weapons from this location from the period spanning 1840 until 1860. With the arrival of war "between the states" in 1861, his precision weapon was in high demand.

The Leonard design was reminiscent of the J.F. Brown design. It featured a typical long gun form of the period with a long-running barrel and wooden stock. The forend was shortened under the barrel assembly which, itself, was oversized, octagonal in shape and of 31" length. The grip handle angled downward and contoured to the shoulder stock. The trigger unit was set in its usual place under the receiver. The key element of the Leonard gun was the optics set fitted over the gun and this ran over the length of the entire barrel assembly and action. The ramrod was set under the barrel, ahead of the forend, as it ran through a pair of channels securing it in place.

These guns were given a fine finish complete with engraving and some decoration, particularly the elegant shaping at the trigger guard. The action was of percussion cap with an exposed hammer and muzzle-loading of the .48 caliber bullet.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Service Year

1860

Origin

United States

Classification

Sharpshooter / Sniper Rifle

Leonard and Sons (Saxons River, Vermont) - USA

(View other Arms-Related Manufacturers)

United States

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Accuracy / Precision
Long-range accuracy / precision capable; suitable for sniping, particularly when equipped with sighting aids.

Overall Length

1,020 mm
40.16 in

Barrel Length

787 mm
30.98 in

Empty Wgt

30.86 lb
14.00 kg

Sights

Telescope assembly fitted over rifle.

Action

Percussion Cap; External Hammer; Muzzle-Loading; Single-Shot

Percussion Cap
Utilizes the percussion cap system of operation to actuate ignition of propellant; much like a child's cap gun, small explosive caps are set upon nipples and these are actuated by a falling hammer previously cocked.

(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)

Caliber(s)*

.48

Rounds / Feed

Single-Shot

*May not represent an exhuastive list; calibers are model-specific dependent, always consult official manufacturer sources.
**Graphics not to actual size; not all cartridges may be represented visually; graphics intended for general reference only.

Rate-of-Fire

5
rds/min

Leonard Percussion Target Rifle - Base Series Name.

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