David Boyer (1806-1883) of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, is well-known for his double barrel rifles and combination guns in a variety of configurations. One of his earlier swivel breech flintlocks are in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This would be one of his later rifles from c. 1860-1870. The patchbox design is the same as a rifle passed down through his family. This example features "D. BOYER" stamped on the left barrel which is smoothbore and "D B" signed in script on the right rifled barrel. They share a single set of dovetailed blade and notch sights with wide bases fit into dovetails on each barrel. Both are around .44 caliber. The locks are marked "Henry Parker/Warranted" and have some scroll and bird patterns. The gun is setup with double triggers, one for each barrel. The furniture is brass. The patchbox is the style associated with Reading, Pennsylvania, south of Orwigsburg. There is a silver oval inlay on the wrist and a silver hunter's star on the cheekpiece, and the figured maple stock is mostly plain aside from the double line border along the bottom of the butt and the coordinating double incised lines at the edge of the cheekpiece and has the distinctive "Roman-nose" profile of the butt seen on other rifles from the region.

Very good with dark brown patina on the locks and barrels, mild pitting concentrated at the breech, attractive aged patinas on the silver and brass, repaired hammer spurs, and general mild overall wear. The stock is also very good and has attractive figure, mild scratches and dings, some loss and dents at the breech, and small flakes. The locks hang-up but are functional.