George Hyde

Who was George Hyde?

George J. Hyde Sr. was a German-born American machinist, gunsmith and gun designer best known for his submachine guns. He was born in Arpfingen, Germany on January 4, 1888. Already a skilled machinist, he emigrated to the United States in 1927. His family followed, the next year.

Before 1935 George J. Hyde was a machinist and shop foreman at Griffin & Howe. He quit Griffin & Howe and went on to become the co-owner of Leonard & Hyde in New York. He partnered with Samuel A. "Harry" Leonard, an expert shotgun and rifle stock maker, who had trained at James Purdey & Sons of London. Hyde also did contract gunsmithing work for Roberts and Kimball in Woburn, Massachusetts.