D BOYER PA 1771

[TFoley]

We were up in Stamford Lincolnshire, today for the annual Georgian Festival, and happened upon a reenactor showing off his wares. He is a dealer in our local town, specialising in importing the Indian-made replicas and, where necessary, fettling them into working firearms.

However, the Pennsylvania-style long rifle he was showing was not in this category. It bore the name on the .45cal octagonal barrel of D BOYER and the letters PA, and date 1771. It was most beautifully made in every respect - as befits the high price he paid for it. The lock is a perfect copy of a Durs Egg lock, with a roller frizzen and a roller on the ****, as well as most beautifully-crafted set trigger. Everything was a perfect fit, including the lsiding patchbox.

I know that it's a long shot, but does anybody here know who might have made it?

I have a number of photographs, but sadly, because my system and yours differ, I can't post them. I CAN post them in an email, if anybody is interested.

TIA.

tac

 

[ZUG]

This may help -- go here and read the "history" section. Boyertown PA was founded by two brothers one was named Daniel.

 

[TFoley]

Thanks, Zug, for the read. Very interesting stuff, too. However, Mr Boyer - the real one - wasn't born until the early part of the 19thC, and this rifle is clearly marked with a fictitious date - probably so that nobody could pass it off as the real thing.

Whoever made this piece knew exactly what they were at - it is a remarkable piece of gunmaking by any standard. The inletting on the butt and the setting of the tenon keys, let alone the style and shaping of the front and rear sights, serve to take it way out of the common kit gun one sees so often. I can post the pics to my dear old pal billinoregon, and see if he can put them up here. I'd just like to know who might have made this gun - long-shot though it undoubtedly is.

Best from East Anglia.

tac

 

[Zonie]

In AMERICAN FIREARMS MAKERS , A, Merwyn Carey, © 1953, there is a listing for Danial & Henry Boyer. 1790-1810 It says
"Flintlock Kentucky rifle makers at Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania."

This author lists the date they were known to be producing arms.

 

[TFoley]

Ah, Zoni, this gun I'm describing is known to be a replication. I'm just trying to ascertain who might have made it. Given the date on the barrel, it cannot possibly have been made by D Boyer. The 'PA' for Pennsylvania is also anachronistic in the extreme.

Best

tac

 

[Zonie]

Well.........
I might have made it but I didn't. :rotf:

 

[TFoley]

Hmmm, I'm way too polite to tell you how useful THAT was... :blah: , however, I've sent a bunch of images to some friends who also post here in the hope that one or other of them might be moved in pity to post the images so we can all see them.

It is extremely unlikely to have been made here in UK, where there is absolutely no history whatsoever of this style of rifle. Lacking any evidence of visible proof marks, I can't even say when it may have been made or even the country of origin, although there is no doubt in my mind that it came from the USA, and would therefore HAVE to have been proved here before it could be legally sold by ANY dealer.

I just found it to be an interesting footnote to an already fascinating day out, surrounded by people in Regency dress, especially the many different local regiments of soldiery to be found at that time.

BTW, I neglected to mention that it has a swamped barrel, and comes up like a best English shotgun in spite of the length of about 42 inches or so - a guess, BTW.

tac

 

[Wes/Tex]

Always remember that any rifle of that vintage may not be all original and perhaps could be a sum of it's parts. Some parts, particularly locks and barrels were salvaged and reused and at times really don't fit together time wise. I have no idea whether this may be true for the rifle you mention here but it's something to keep in mind. They can often be puzzling to figure out.

 

[Story]

Ask the folks at Dixon's, they host an annual gunmaker's faire and might recognize the piece in question. http://www.dixonmuzzleloading.com/

Note; Orwigsburg is all of 20 miles west of Kempton, PA. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Ke...667c98721b4b071!2m2!1d-76.1007713!2d40.654813