What do I have here?

[rusticbob]

Picked up this nice little percussion Fowler a few day ago. Can anyone help identify it?
Barrel is 20 gauge, 44” long. Percussion lock says W.H. Barnes. Single trigger, no wedding band, but some proof marks on the barrel. Has a tapered ramrod and looks like pewter or silver entry pipe. I bought it as a shooter, but it may be valuable.

 

[rusticbob]

I forgot to add, WH Barnes was from Boston.
Thanks

 

[Kansas Jake]

I did a google search on him and a fair number of auctions of his guns came up. He appears to have been somewhat prolific in producing shotguns in the middle of the 1800s.

 

[rusticbob]

I did a google search on him and a fair number of auctions of his guns came up. He appears to have been somewhat prolific in producing shotguns in the middle of the 1800s.

Well Jake, you are a much better searcher than I am. When I search W.H. Barnes in Boston all I come up with is links and history of a piano maker? I don’t think that is him?

 

[Kansas Jake]

I ran across three or four online auctions featuring guns makes like yours there may be a chance he was only a lock maker but most of the guns looked similar to yours with varying barrel lengths and gauges.

 

[rusticbob]

Thanks Jake, I found only one , but it was a target rifle, and very, very nice. Looks like this builder WHBarnes was in business from 1850-1870

 

[rusticbob]

The more I learn about this Fowler, the more I like it!
This is how it starts!