(http://imgur.com/a/xk41t) Sorry for the bad quality; the writing reads "V.R Tower 1850". I was just wondering if it's real. Any other information about it would also be appreciated.
I can't comment on whether or not its real, but the barrel is too short for that gun to be a rifle. It looks rather more like a cavalry carbine. As for "VR Tower," I believe that just refers VR (Reign of Victoria) and Tower (Tower of London), suggesting this was for use by the British Military (as opposed to export).
Actually the more I think about it the more I feel like somebody cut off a few inches off the gun.