Key Gun?

[MarkC]

Hi Guys,

It has been a while since I visited here and thought some of you might help me out with this item.

My Dad passed away last year and left a cluttered mess of guns and artifacts at his home, he was a bit of a "pack rat".

He collected civil war guns and also WWII items and anything he liked at gun shows.

When I was cleaning out a coffee can of old jailer keys I found this.

Does anyone know anything about them?

I noticed what I think is a British Black Powder proof on the item and I believe the trigger mechanism had been removed a long time ago.

Thoughts? Value? Not selling it but think I may get it professionally mounted in a frame with some detail to hang on the wall in my basement.

I believe the term "lock work" was coined by the original gunsmiths who made locks?

Mark