In addition to the many gunsmiths whose name is known to use the SS initials there are two men named Samuel Smith, essentially 19th century contemporaries. The one who ended up in IL started out in Western PA> I would not know how to determine whether a gun was made in PA of IL.
Samuel Smith (1802-1872). gunsmith. 1823-31, Redstone Township, Fayette County; 1850-72, Astoria, Fulton County, Illinois. He died on 4 September 1872. amuel Smith, agriculturist, was born in Pennsylvania in 1802. In his youth he learned the gunsmith’s trade. In his native State he was married to Miss Elizabeth McCormick, who became the mother of 8 children, 7 of whom are still living,---Harvey, who resides in Kansas; Alfred lives in Astoria tp.; A. J., who married Miss Brown, lives in this county; Samuel, jr., married Mary Coe and lives on the farm homestead, Phoebe A. married John M. Tingley, and lives in Missouri; Mary resides in Arkansas and is the wife of D. S. Schenck; Elizabeth, the wife of J. G. Shane, lives in Nebraska (History of Fulton County, 461; Curt Johnson; Census].
The other Sam Smith worked in the area of Huntingdon Co, PA>
Samuel Smith (1823- ). gunsmith. 1850, Barree Twp., Huntingdon County. Noted as a son of the elder Peter Smith.
The work of the two men can easily be distinguished by noting that Sam Smith of Huntingdon County made his guns in a style clearly identified with that county; the other man's work is rather plain and not necessarily identifiable as to region. We would note that, throughout the United States, gunsmiths bearing the Smith name are, as is to be expected, common. We have seen several very finely engraved, silver mounted rifles by Sam Smith made in the Huntingdon County style. He was certainly among the better late gunsmiths of this region.
