AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: Dave Tercek on February 02, 2020, 07:59:45 PM

Title: Somerset County Dunmeyer rifle
Post by: Dave Tercek on February 02, 2020, 07:59:45 PM
I bought this little Jonathan Dunmeyer rifle that I saw at the Bushy Run show last week. I was surprised at its small size. It at first appears to be a boys or ladies rifle. I'm told that this was the standard size of his rifles.
Barrel length 35 1/4"
butt plate 3 5/8"
overall length 51 1/8"
It's kind of a slow Sunday morning, thought maybe a few pictures to look at would help.
(https://i.ibb.co/n8FCp1G/IMG-1299.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0Vxt597)

(https://i.ibb.co/VgLLxk4/IMG-1300.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PcrrMVH)

(https://i.ibb.co/xMN5qqP/IMG-1301.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WcLKvvq)

(https://i.ibb.co/cCb18r4/IMG-1302.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QC8fHKy)

(https://i.ibb.co/kGZ9Td3/IMG-1303.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3TKMbJf)

(https://i.ibb.co/qpB9pZ5/IMG-1304.jpg) (https://ibb.co/TtcRtCL)

(https://i.ibb.co/Lt1svfZ/IMG-1305.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6PFqN5W)

(https://i.ibb.co/L0S6LxB/IMG-1306.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vc1m73f)

(https://i.ibb.co/3hLk8hk/IMG-1307.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6sfNpsN)

(https://i.ibb.co/s9x6L5P/IMG-1309.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xq9fVms)

(https://i.ibb.co/FW8mjKW/IMG-1311.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PY1FfNY)
Title: Re: Somerset County Dunmeyer rifle
Post by: WESTbury on February 02, 2020, 09:16:47 PM
That is a great looking rifle.

Similar to Dunmeyer #140220-1 in the Miller Library, but with a longer barrel.

Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Somerset County Dunmeyer rifle
Post by: Shreckmeister on February 04, 2020, 03:51:11 PM
He made very appealing rifles and this is a very nice example. I got to see it at the show. Nice find.
Title: Re: Somerset County Dunmeyer rifle
Post by: Hurricane ( of Virginia) on February 05, 2020, 07:49:52 PM
Very fine gun. Having owned several Bedford rifles over the years ( None Dunmeyer) 35 inches seem quite short for an original, uncut barrel. Have seen original short barrels ( ~ 38 inches)  on neighboring Huntingdon makers
Hurricane
Title: Re: Somerset County Dunmeyer rifle
Post by: Bob D on February 06, 2020, 12:13:31 AM
Very nice rifle with all the features we look for on a Sumerset Dunmeyer.   Thanks for the really nice photos and the critical dimensions.  Noting the Mussel photo,do any of you out there know if the pattern on the mussel is just a decoration or is it marks that were left by some kind of tooling that was used in making the barrel?  I have seen the identical markings on the barrels of other Dunmeyer Somerset rifles.  Incidentally, a 36 inch barre (plus or minus an inch} is what is generally expected on a Somerset Dunmeyer; of the 50 that I have seen very few had longer barrels.  Peter Dunmeyer's, Bedford and Early Somerset rifles had barrels of about 42 inches.
Title: Re: Somerset County Dunmeyer rifle
Post by: Dietle on February 11, 2020, 03:36:42 AM
Very nice, Dave Tercek. Any chance I could have your permission to use your photos anonymously on my free Bedford/Somerset County rifle project web page? See https://korns.org/gunsmiths/gunsmith-index.html (https://korns.org/gunsmiths/gunsmith-index.html)

Regards,
Lannie Dietle
Title: Re: Somerset County Dunmeyer rifle
Post by: Dave Tercek on February 11, 2020, 03:49:31 AM
No problem at all. Thanks for asking. If you need additional photos or information, let me know.
Title: Re: Somerset County Dunmeyer rifle
Post by: Dietle on February 11, 2020, 03:53:24 AM
Thank you, David. These will be a nice complement to the photos of the nearly identical Charles Monroe Knupp rifles I have posted.
Regards,
Lannie Dietle
Title: Re: Somerset County Dunmeyer rifle
Post by: Dietle on February 11, 2020, 04:20:50 AM
Here's the nearly identical Knupp: https://korns.org/gunsmiths/Charles-Monroe-Knupp/Knupp-rifle-01-12-2020.html (https://korns.org/gunsmiths/Charles-Monroe-Knupp/Knupp-rifle-01-12-2020.html)