Leonard Day Jr. Custom Muzzleloaders

Leonard Day Jr., now 84, has spent over 50 years recreating authentic black powder firearms with the craftsmanship of 17th and 18th century gunsmiths. Based near Westhampton, MA—an area historically rich with original muzzleloader designs—he's become known nationwide for producing historically accurate reproductions that serious muzzleloaders seek out.

Day's signature work is the swivel breech muzzleloader, a rare double-barrel design that gave shooters a second quick shot—an advantage for both hunting and defense. This design arrived in America with German gunsmiths around the 1710s and became part of American firearms legend. Hugh Mercer used one at the Plains of Abraham. Tim Murphy used one to kill British General Simon Frazier at Saratoga. Jim Bridger carried one during the fur trapping era.

Day produced his first swivel breech in 1971 in response to a challenge: could anyone make a quality one? His success led to a feature in Guns & Ammo (December 1983), and when he mailed owners asking for feedback, the response was so positive his own mail carrier ordered one.

• •Day First Model Swivel Breech — Reproduction of 1780-1825 design
• •Double 13/16" straight octagonal barrels, 32" long
• •Calibers .32 to .50, rifled or smooth bore

• •Day Pre-Hawken Style Swivel Breech — Reproduction of iron-mounted rifles from 1810 onward
• •Double 15/16" tapered barrels on six flats, 7/8" × 32" long
• •Calibers up to .58, smooth bore or rifled

All swivel breech actions, castings, and assemblies are produced using Day's own molds and fixtures.

Beyond swivel breeches, Day recreates other period firearms:

• •Dutch Trade Gun (.62 caliber smoothbore, 1625-1650 period) — Based on designs from the 100,000 trade guns the Dutch brought to America before 1680
• •Colonial era flintlock long rifles — Various styles from the 1750-1820 period
• •Enoch Bolton style fowlers (circa 1650-1660) — Wing-shooting rifles with counterbalance butts

"A man who stands out for his making of both quality reproductions of 17th and 18th century black powder firearms." — Past President, NMLRA

Day's work draws muzzleloading enthusiasts from across the country to Dixon's Gunmakers' Fair annually (held near Kempton, PA). At 84, he continues building—keeping alive a craft that has evolved over 35+ years through shared knowledge between generations of gunsmiths.