East Texas Quarterly Magazine Summer 2013 | Page 5

because of the time it takes to do it right,” he explains.
“I concentrate on making a quality product and that
takes up most of my time these days.” What used to
take him a week to create, now takes more than a
month from start to finish.

In the confines of his Kirbyville shop, Miller is currently
working on a reproduction of another long rifle. The
stock is made of tiger-stripe maple and the finished
product will weigh about nine pounds. According to
Miller, the rifle costs about $600.00 to make. He could
sell the finished product
for as much as $2,000.00.
“I can’t make them as fast
as I could, but still I make
a quality product,” says
Miller. “My rifles and hand
guns are something that
a person can be proud to
own.”

Above: Bob Henry of Henry Brothers Knives, shows off the latest project by Leon Miller.
Below: The top rifle is one of Mr. Millers retoration projects. When he is done it
will look and shoot like new.

“Leon is not only a fine
gunsmith, but he is also a
walking book of military
knowledge,” says Bob Henry,
owner of Henry Brothers
Knives in Kirbyville. ”He
made me a pistol when
I graduated from high
school in 1968 and I have
treasured that gun ever
since.
“He is a real craftsman,”
says Henry.

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