WC - "You can see that the maker was "forced" to put in the finishing date (1846) because Bernard put his date on the barrels at 1845."
We might have a problem. Leopold was born in 1832, and his father may have died the year of his birth. Not likely he was making barrels of that quality at age 13.
Quote from "Littlegun"
BERNARD Bertrand Germain Léopold - Manufacturer of barrels of rifles in Paris.
Brother of Albert and son of Nicolas. Is established in 1823 after having worked for Gastinne RENETTE. It manufactured the Damas barrel says Léopold BERNARD for shotgun in 1840. Exposure of Paris in 1839 (MB), 1844 (MA), 1849 (MA), 1855 (MH), 1867 (MA), 1878 (MO Widow L BERNARD), 1889 (manufactures barrels Léopold BERNARD SA 129 avenue of Versailles Paris). It had its factory of barrels with Passy of 1840 to 1855. The same house is found between 1870 and 1879, street of Villejust. Registration of trademarks on January 26, 1863 and 1877. - 22, street Marbeuf - Factory to the 12 then 49, street of Villejust - 129 avenue of Versailles.
Your LB birth date seems wrong. I'll dig for some more data.
Brother Albert was a gunmaker and not a Barrel maker. He was said to have failed because of "poor temper".
I have seen a picture of his trademark on a barrel set, which was very much copied on his brother's (or possibly the reverse).
WC-
