doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com barrel markings help

Can someone identify these markings, they are on a Birmingham made Robert Hughes cape gun, it has Birmingham proof marks, the crown you can see is also stamped on the inside of the locks, I know the old address and that he adopted the name universal fire arms works specializing in military and export.

The central mark, cursif BP under crown is the Provisional Birmingham Proof as applied to the rough tube, typically deeply impressed to prevent obliteration during striking.This form in use 1855-1904. The upper mark appears to be Birmingham final proof, crossed scepters with letters BCP interspersed although in this example aggressive striking coupled with an uneven stamp has resulted in the lower half of the mark being obliterated.
Lower mark is adjacent to significant pitting and may have lost clarity due to this but it is most likely Crown over V Birmingham View mark in use 1855-1887 when view mark was changed to Crossed Scepters with V in lower quadrant.
Hope this helps

thanks Hugh!! the barrels are in a rough state and look as if they have been struck off roughly at some stage this must have distorted them.