Thanks for that link, FITASC. I couldn't absorb it all, but there is a lot of good information there. I doubt many owners of those old guns will go to the trouble and cost of having their guns evaluated, though.
BTW, I ran into a similar thread on another site (of which I am not a member and couldn't comment) with a post to the effect that unlike American guns, British guns were all proof tested and so never had any problems. Another poster pointed out that a proof test done in 1900 might not guarantee against a burst today. FWIW, all good quality American guns were proof tested, usually to the same standards as British guns. That did not apply to $2.00 "white powder wonders", of course, or other cheap shotguns of the pre-WWII era.
Jim
BTW, I ran into a similar thread on another site (of which I am not a member and couldn't comment) with a post to the effect that unlike American guns, British guns were all proof tested and so never had any problems. Another poster pointed out that a proof test done in 1900 might not guarantee against a burst today. FWIW, all good quality American guns were proof tested, usually to the same standards as British guns. That did not apply to $2.00 "white powder wonders", of course, or other cheap shotguns of the pre-WWII era.
Jim