Robert where lagopus lives in proof and out of proof are big deals. The law requires any gun sold in England to be "in proof". That is, not bored out beyond a certain diameter indicated by the bore size stamped on the water table, in this case 13/1. Apparently, back in the day, an English gunsmith was likely to have a bore gauge. So he could tell if a gun had been honed out by some unscrupulous person by measuring the bore diameter. So he would look at the watertable, see it said 13/1. His book would tell him bores should be between .720 and .729. If they measured .770 he would know it had been honed out beyond .729 He wouldn't know wall thicknesses but he would know it was out of proof. Now the gun might still be safe to shoot. And the gun can be sent back to the proof house and if it passes proof it would have new marks stamped on the water table. So maybe a "12" after reproof.
It can be safe to shoot a British gun that is out of proof but I always measure wall thicknesses breech face to muzzle on any old double gun before I buy it, much less shoot it.
And .032" wouldn't be enough wall thickness at the forward end of the chambers but it is plenty of wall thickness near the muzzle.
Hope this helps.
Best,
Mike
Last edited by AmarilloMike; 09/21/12 09:27 AM.
