Boyer rifle

Lore & Background

The 1800 variant of the Boyer rifle features two barrels that are rotated into firing position by releasing a hinged catch in front of the trigger guard. A single lock is used to fire whichever barrel is currently in position. The gun is of .45 caliber, with each barrel 36 inches long and the entire gun 52 inches in length.

Another known variant was created around the late 1840s, using a side-by-side barrel configuration and fired by a percussion cap mechanism rather than a flintlock. Although this gun was also called a Boyer rifle, the gunsmith was not the same as the earlier 1800 variant.

The 1800 variant was named after its creator Daniel Boyer of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, who used a D. BOYER inscription to identify his guns. The 1840 variant was named after its creator David Boyer, who also used a D. BOYER inscription. It is unknown whether these two men were related.

Reader's Guide

The Boyer rifle represents an early attempt to combine the functions of a rifle and a shotgun in a single firearm, predating more modern combination guns. Its over-and-under configuration with a rotating barrel system was a distinctive mechanical solution for the period. The 1800 variant's flintlock ignition and .45 caliber reflect the technology and standards of its time. The later 1840s variant, with its side-by-side barrels and percussion cap mechanism, shows an evolution in design and ignition systems, though it was made by a different gunsmith. The shared D. BOYER inscription on both variants has led to uncertainty about whether Daniel Boyer and David Boyer were related, a question that remains unresolved. The gun's legacy lies in its role as an early combination weapon, demonstrating the ingenuity of American gunsmiths in the early 19th century.

Did You Know?

• The 1800 variant has one smooth barrel and one rifled barrel, allowing it to function as either a rifle or a shotgun.
• A later variant from the late 1840s used a side-by-side barrel configuration and a percussion cap mechanism.
• It is unknown whether the creators of the two variants, Daniel Boyer and David Boyer, were related.