Need some help with old muzzloader info

[HUNTERROD]

Had a gent drop me off a sxs percussion
14g English muzzloader
Locks marked " Wharton and Evan's."
Its stub twist barrels, actually in gd
Cond, needs a little solder repair on top rib.
Although, rib is solid, barrels still
Chime when struck, bores are
Mildly pitted as per usual.
Ex walnut wood, gent got in a " pkg deal "
I'm told make an offer and
I own it, someone has replaced the nipples with brass ones ...looking for info on make, as I've not found references to them online ,except a single barrel Fowler
Listed at auction in England.
Pics available to email or cell.

Thanks

 

[tiriaq]

A separating rib can be a bit of an adventure to repair, if a repair actually is necessary.
There were thousands upon thousands of shotguns produced by the British gunmaking industry in the 19th century. The overwhelming majority were made for the trade in Birmingham, regardless of whose name is on the locks.
The brass nipples aren't a problem in and of themselves - nipples can be replaced. Let's hope that bubba didn't do anything to the threads in the breeches.
Value? Decent quality doubles in basically sound condition seem to sell in the $200-$300 range. I would expect superior guns in fine condition to go higher.
Email address sent by PM.
In the photo, the upper gun is a well used Belgian gun of average quality. Sound, but nothing special. I have fired it.
The lower gun is a better grade Birmingham product, in fine condition, with shiny bores. It is a fine shooter. It would sell higher than the above range.

 

[saskbooknut]

Brass coloured nipples may be Ampco nipples - a kind of bronze that are high quality.

Relaying a rib is no small gunsmithing task. The gun is very unlikely to be valuable enough to pay a professional to relay the rib.
Essentially the value is what you would pay for a "wall hanger" with this major issue.

 

[Stephen Nash]

Congratulations, you’ve come across yet another British gun for which almost nothing is known of the makers, other then Peter Wharton made guns circa 1850, with only a few surviving examples known (nothing is known of Evans). However, the antique market being what it is, the fact that it might literally be one of only a handful made by that maker, adds almost nothing to its value. A shame, really.