ID for Muzzleloading shotgun

[iraqMP70]

My uncle has a muzzleloading "shotgun" that has been passed down in his family and was supposedly taken to California in 1851. The only markings on the entire gun are a small oval with the letters ELG inside. I believe that this indicates it is Belgian. I am trying to figure out it's age and also any other information that is available like it's value, maker, etc. thanks! Here are three images.

 

[TFoley]

Yessir - you are right. The ELG over crown stamp is the proofhouse of Liege mark from 1846 to 1924.

Sadly, though, at this time Belgium was making gazillions of simlar guns for export all over the world, and it is nothing extraordinary as far as rarity and value are concerned. However, as a family heirloom it is priceless, and if it were mine it would be as great a treasure as any Purdey or Churchill [or even Parker].

tac

 

[iraqMP70]

Thank you sir. You know how family stories are, but the story was that his great great grandfather took the shotgun to California during the goldrush in 1851 and died there. A friend returned the shotgun to his family in Missouri, where it has been passed down from father to son since. He asked me to look into it's background since I love firearms. I don't know much about muzzleloaders though and wasn't sure if it was actually that old. So, it seems it is possible after all. I know it is smoothbore, but is it actually a shotgun as he was told or just a smoothbore musket? As you said, it is priceless to his family, but do you have a clue as to actual value in case it should be insured?

 

Iraq,
The way that the ram rod enters the stock and the fact that there is no underrib suggests that your shotgun "may" have been a full stock fowler at one time. There were, as stated, a gazillion of these guns produced and value obviously relates primarily to condition. In this case the gun has more value based on family tradition than dollar value.
Mark