The 1 1/4 oz.1900 Proof Marks on Vagabond’s W. Richards, presumably indicating 2 3/4” chambers, encouraged me to get mine out to inspect the Proof Marks.
The current marks show it is Proofed with 65 mm chambers at 850 BAR and there is a 1998 Birmingham viewer’s date stamp.
Much of the earlier marks have been lost in re-jointing, but there are 2 1/2” marks that must be post 1925.
I cannot identify any sign of the original 1898 Proof Marks, but it has clearly been proved at least 3 times.
My gun with 30” Damascus barrels now weighs about 6 lb. 12 oz (on cheap kitchen scales). I am curious to know what Vagabond’s weighs, perhaps 7 1/2 pounds to match 1 1/4 oz.0f shot?
