Please help I.D. this Percussion Rifle

[cdnskier]

Hello everyone,

I have an opportunity to purchase this percussion cap rifle. The seller claims it is 16 gauge?? and of English origin with no manufacturer markings or any kind.

He said it was valued at $300-$500 and is looking to get around $400, I could probably talk him down to $300-$350. Is this a good buy to flip for a small profit?

Thanks in advance.

http://imgur.com/a/0p8y9

http://imgur.com/a/Eprel

http://imgur.com/ERQpImo

http://imgur.com/dessrls

 

[tacfoley]

Run.

Away.

If that was ever anywhere near England, then I'll eat the first volume of the London telephone directory with the sauce of your choice.

tac

 

[tiriaq]

It is not a rifle. It is a single shot 16 gauge shotgun of a type sold in large numbers in the mid-1800s.

If you got it for $125, you might be able to flip it for $175.

The barrel will have proof marks which will identify its country of origin.

 

[mooncoon]

out here on the west coast I would expect to get $250 to $300 if the bore is in good condition but shotguns are a tough sell

cheers mooncoon

 

[tacfoley]

In the absence of any visible proof marks, you'll need to remove the stock and take a close look at the area around the underside of the breech. You'll likely see some kind of a cartouche with the letters ELG in it, and a crown, either on top or underneath, indicative of a Belgian-made gun, one of hundreds of thousands. That will help us date it.

However, IMO, it is a wall-hanger at best.

tac

 

[jethunter]

Run.

Away.

If that was ever anywhere near England, then I'll eat the first volume of the London telephone directory with the sauce of your choice.

tac

It likely was close to England at least once, as it was riding on the boat from Belgium to North America. But you don't need to eat the directory

 

[tacfoley]

Thanks for that. I have it on good authority that the only thing that tastes worse is crow pie.

tac

 

[jethunter]

Thanks for that. I have it on good authority that the only thing that tastes worse is crow pie.

tac

Can't hardly get a directory here any more, everyone just uses the net. Probably easier to eat the electronic version, anyway. I can't think of anything less appetizing than eating either kind for crow.

 

[David Henry]

Part of me wants to stamp that piece with a Birmingham proof, and start making a sauce for the challenger. All in good fun. D.H.

 

[saskbooknut]

There is no profit to be made on that fowler, but if the bore is good, it could be a good shooter. It looks somewhat better made than the usual Belgian smoothbore that I see in gun shows, but not a high grade gun.
We are all waiting for the images of proofmarks with the gun out of the stock.
Assuming safe condition, I would love to shoot Black Powder trap with it.