Thanks Mr. Murphy for taking an interest/note. I've been posting out loud and now I'll try to sum it up. I don't know if this is a statement or question. On Matska # 273 the dark "12" is a plug gauge stamp while the light "12" adjacent to the Lion rampant over gP is a vulgar fraction stamp. And the same applies to #123 but there isn't a plug gauge stamp, which were integer values and if the tubes were really in the rough the proofhouse would round down the bore number(say it measured 13 1/2 bore and really in the rough, then it would be marked "13") to show intent. The plug gauge numbers are of course from the plug gauge that would pass the whole length; whereas, the vulgar fraction values, 12, 12/1, etc., are diameters measured at 9" from the breech end. So you have a course/loose measure vs. a finite value with an interim period from 1875-1887 where if choked, the measurement ahead of the chamber as well as the muzzle end was taken/stamped. And I think if it wasn't choked, the most narrow point within the bore was the gauge. With the dates of 1883-1907 given for Matska, the earliest tubes would have been in the 1875-1887 period.
Kind Regards,
Raimey
rse
Last edited by ellenbr; 12/31/08 12:02 AM.
