The subject of this page is an antique full stock percussion long rifle made by the gunsmith David Dunmyer (1825-1913) who lived near Sipesville in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
L. Dietle
Photos
The following image shows the initials "DD" that were incorporated on the barrel with a punch.
The following photo, although fuzzy, provides a length comparison of three rifles of the Dormayer School. The bottom rifle is the "DD" (David Dunmyer) marked rifle that is featured on this page. The top rifle is a "JD" (Jonathan Dormayer) marked rifle. The middle rifle is unsigned. On the "DD" marked rifle, the nose cap does not seem to be very long.
Explore the gunsmith project index for additional information on Somerset and Bedford County muzzleloaders and the men who created them.
Check out the home page for additional regional history subjects.
The first image below provides a nearly complete view of the right-hand side of the rifle, which is stocked in curly maple. On the stock, the transition between the wrist and the buttstock occurs at a carved shelf. The patch box clearly shares design similarities with the patch boxes incorporated on a typical rifle made by David's brother Jonathan Dormayer. Much of the belly of the buttstock is substantially straight. The front end of the comb has a noticeably convex shape. The tail of the stock panel for the lock appears to be raised well above the surface of the wrist. The hammer is made in the graceful Bedford County style, with a high spur incorporating a forward-facing concave profile. The percussion nipple is mounted on a drum. The back sight is located over or near the rear part of the ramrod entry pipe. The barrel is held in place with metal cross-pins, and one of the pins is visible between the entry pipe and the gun lock.
