OK, I am going to go out on a limb here. Firstly, I believe that the marks on your barrel are Birmingham proof marks. With confidence, I will state that the gun was made prior to 1856. If it were made in 1856 or later, it would have a "crown over scripted BP" Birmingham provisional proof mark.
The "crossed swords with crown over V" is a Brummie inspection mark, and the "crossed swords with a crown over BPC" is the Birmingham definitive proof. These marks differ from others I have seen in minute ways - the ends of the crossed swords should be a curve and not a loop, and the crown on the definitive proof mark should be closed at the top. However, these small differences do not detract from the fact that no other proof marks (from London, Belgium, or any other country) even remotely resemble the Birmingham marks. Perhaps those details changed when the provisional proof mark was implemented.
Since the Birmingham Proof House was established in 1813, the marks cannot predate that era.
I should point out that Douglas Tate's book "Birmingham Gunmakers" contains a copy of an ad warning consumers about counterfeit proof marks. The ad is dated 1854. The proof marks in question were faked London marks, however, and if you were going to falsify proof marks, why would you choose Birmingham? I believe the proof marks on your gun are genuine. If they are fake they would be very valuable.
The look and general design of your gun suggest to me that it was built in the second quarter of the 19th century. The shape of the lock and the hammer have changed from the flintlock era, as has the flash guard. Much earlier than 1825 and those features would still resemble a flintlock gun.
So, we have Birmingham marks, can't be older than 1813. The lack of the provisional proof mark means the gun predates 1856. Then we have Thomas Tipping, gunmaker in Birmingham from 1820 to 1877. The readable markings on the top of your rifle barrel do look like Tipp... and a search of the IGC's database shows only Tipping as possible gunmakers names starting with those letters.
None of this could be described as scientific proof, but it is pretty compelling evidence. Here are the notes from the Internet Gun Club regarding Mr. Tipping:
Thomas Tipping established his business in 1820 in Legge Street, Birmingham; in 1827 he moved to 40 Constitution Hill. Between 1835 and 1837 he retired or died.
It would appear that Thomas Tipping had a daughter (perhaps his niece) who married a Lawden. When Thomas retired or died, his firm was taken over by his grandsons (or nephews) Caleb and Thomas Tipping Lawden.
In 1837 Caleb and Thomas opened a shop in Cheapside, London. In 1842 the shop moved to 18 Pancras Lane, and in 1843 to 9 Dyers Buildings, Holborn. In 1844 it moved to 20 Bartlett's Buildings, and in 1851 it moved to 26 Bartlett's Buildings.
In 1852 the factory in Birmingham was enlarged to occupy 41 as well as 40 Constitution Hill
In 1854 the London shop moved yet again, to 17 Woodstock Street.
In 1860 the firm took on additional premises at 18 Buckingham Street.
On 13 February 1861 Lawden and T Jones registered patent no. 368 for a percussion and pin-fire breech-loader mechanism.
On 31 May 1862 Lawden patented a drop-down barrel breech-loader and a cane gun.
The firm were known for the four barrelled rim-fire pocket pistol (patent no. 207 of 22 January) which they made from 1860 under licence from C Sharps & Co of Philadelphia, USA. They also made rim-fire rifled carbines under Sharp's patent no. ???.
Percussion revolvers were made for Deane & Son of London under William Harding's patent No.669 of 29 March 1858 and 1159 of 24 May 1858, these carried an "L" suffix to their serial numbers, and centre-fire self-extracting revolvers for J Thomas under his patent no.779 of 13 March 1869.
The firm was taken over by P Webley & Son in 1877. The London shop may have stayed open up to 1888 when Webley opened at 60 Queen Victoria Street.
Richard Tipping of Great Hampton Street, Birmingham may have been Thomas Tipping's brother.
Congratulations on your find. Please heed the advice of others and do not take steel wool to it. Restore it and shoot it, but please do not damage it.
Are there any proof marks on the shotgun barrel?
Sharptail
