Johnathan Dunmeyer rifle ?

[jsprinkman]

Hi,

I am reserching a new rifle i have and found your website.It's filled with great stuff.Perhaps i can add to it.

My rifle i think is a Johnathan Dunmeyer alterd halfstock.In Kauffmans penn.kentucky rifle page 215 he shows a rifle that one of the Dunmeyer's made.He knows not which one made it.The patchbox on mine is almost identical.The style is very close also.

You seem to have some very knowledgeable people here.
Could i get some input on my guess.

Thanks

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

You have a fine Bedford/Somerset Co gun and likely Dunmeyer as you suggest. He is reported to have worked  from 1840-1885 consistent with the feature expected on the gun. Congratulations. Hope you will lets us add it to the Museum.
Hurricane

[jsprinkman]

thank you for looking and the comment.I can also add the rifle is 38 cal.and a barrel length of 37".
As for the museum,That would be great.I hope it can help others.

[Bob D]

Absolutely no question about it.  The rifle was made by the Dormayers (Who have come to be called Dunmeyers with many different spellings.
The initials on the lock plate are Jonathan's just as they appear in copies of his signature that I have from family and civil war records.  The lock is pure Dunmeyer with their typical engraving.  The patchbox is completely consistent with the vast majority of their Somerset rifles and so is the vine pattern on the cheek side.  The lock bolt plate and the trigger guard are also typical of the classic Dunmeyer Somerset rifles.  The half stock is like another Dunmeyer that I have a photo of.  The metal work at the front of the half stock is exactly like that on the photo I have of the other half stock rifle.  A very nice rifle.  Great find.

Bob D

[tallbear]

Just for your information the  top reasearcher in the country on rifles from this area(not me ) agrees with the Jonathan Dunmyer attribution.

Mitch