When you have a 100 year old gun with barrels that have been bored way past their best , the outsides struck off to remove pitting ect. How can you tell what it was like when it left the factory . Thats unless you have makers records that will give a barrel weight ,in its self a rarity ? Having been involved in sleeving for many years , I have sleeved 30" t0 26" , and vice versa . 16 to 20 bore . 10 to 12 bore . I have changed ribs and replaced ribs and only once have I had complaints about the change in handling .
By the same token I have through handling thousands of guns picked up original guns that seemed to want to leap on to your shoulder with others being as " lively as a plank of wood ( no offence to planks of wood intended ) .
