Help ID caplock pistol please.

[velocette]

Today, my brother gave me a box of old handguns. All of them late 1800s ~ early 20s. Mostly cheap cheap stuff.
BUT! There was one small double barrelled caplock pistol that is interesting.
On its right side is the mark JAP with the J and the P making the legs of the A just above where the trigger guard mounts.
On the left side directly below the cap nipple is an oval with E over LG and a star beneath the LG, all within the stamped oval.
Both barrels have parting marks just forward of the locks which may be where the barrels are unscrewed to load it. No ramrod or any provision for one. The barrels are rifled, like with V shaped rifling, 4 groove, approximately .39 ~ 40 caliber. The pistol is as found save for some light removal of loose surface rust. It is clearly handmade. It's another find from my grandfather's years of collecting old firearms in the 30's & 40s at auction sales & travels through the south.
Any ideas from the mavens of ancient arms?

Roger

 

[Jim K]

How about a picture of the muzzles. The gun is Belgian (the oval with E L G is a Belgian proof mark), so it is not hand made, though some Belgian "factories" were closer to workshops. Those guns were made from the mid-1800's up to modern times for sale in what we now call the "Third World". Good pics of the proof marks might help date the gun, but even if antique, it is not of great value; such guns usually run $100-200 as novelties.

The reason I asked for muzzle pictures is that I suspect what looks like deep rifling is really intended to take a special wrench to unscrew the barrels for reloading.

Jim

 

[velocette]

Thank you Jiim;
Here are the photos of the markings and the muzzles. It appears that you are correct about the "rifling".

Roger

 

[Jim K]

That proof mark would indicate manufacture between 1866 and 1893, so the gun is an antique. Yes, those cuts in the barrels are for a wrench. While that kind of wrench was used for single barrel guns, it the only kind that will work for a double barrel gun. (It would be impossible to use a wrench that went around the barrel with a double barrel configuration.)

In spite of its likely age, value is not high. Those guns were made in large quantities and are not rare, nor do they have any great collector interest. I would estimate that yours might bring $150 or so.

Jim

 

[Jim K]

Deleted - duplicate.