A few pics, it's raining here so inside is what I can do.

I have measured the barrels extensively, to the point their salesperson left, then the gunsmith left. They may have thought I was about to have a romantic encounter with the shotgun.

Jeff

If that was my gun, as nice as it is, if the barrels are too thin I'd have it sleeved. Too nice a gun not to bring up to shooting condition.

if those barrels mike out at 20 to 22 thousand i would not be affraid to shoot the gun...i have a gun with barrels of this thickness and i shoot it a lot...charlie

I would bet a lot of people bought these old guns before anyone started measuring them and shot the snot out of them. I shot a lot of them and never had a barrel measured. If Brad says their to thin I would probably take his word for it.

O S and Hussy
 

That gun is a beaut Merrington is the best sleever and that's what I would do. I had 28 ga inserts made by Briley for an Island lock 1873 Purdey hammergun and they worked nice but changes balance of gun. Gun was a 12 and did not have to have I just thought 28's would be fun. I had an Army Navy looked just like your gun was very lite 20ga, resurrect that fine little double. I had a .017 thin nitro proofed 12 ga Westley I shot a bunch and never had a problem used RST. They were thin. Found it hard to sell because of that.

Jeff,

Nice stick of wood on the gun and a nice gun. As I said, if the measurements are 20 thou towards the end of the muzzle, it should be ok with normal low pressure loads. You can always send it to Kirk Merrington and get his opinion on it being safe to shoot.

Ken

Jeff, did you take any measurements of the bore diameter? If so, could you post a picture of the barrel flats with the proof marks? We might be able to tell the original bore diameter and whether it is still "in proof". Sometimes a light game gun was made with fairly thin wall barrels so it might not have been honed too much, if at all.

Barrel Flats
 

Barrel Flats

Jeff,

The gun was reproved in 1993 (London). The chambers are 2.5" (65mm). The bore diameter is 16 mm = .625 inches. A nominal 20 gauge is .615. Did you measure the bore diameter?

Ken

I am guessing but the lack of explicit direct evidence and compelling circumstantial evidence, I'd say its probably a gun safe to shoot, at least I know I would, and I am pretty wary around old guns. If that gun was reproofed in 1993 and shot using modern powders and not touched since then, then probably okay. But I am not shooting it and I think you have a legitimate point and prudence to make sure. My Parker VH 16 has very thin barrels at the muzzle and I know it has not been honed or anything and I shoot 1 oz loads thru it without too much concern, but will probably start dropping down to RST loads.

BTW that is a very nice looking gun, would be proud addition to any arsenal. Obviously it looks like it came as part of a matched pair, is there any indication the 2nd is in proximity of this gun.