Lots of old shotguns used with black powder and corrosive primers have pitting. The fact that your gun's pitting is limited to a relatively short section forward of the chambers isn't necessarily bad news. Do not attempt to hone the pits out!!
I have 20's, 16's, 12's and 10's that have shallow pits and I shoot them all without hesitation. Minor pits will have zero effect on shot patterns if you shoot shells with plastic shot sleeves or wads with plastic shot collars.
This is not to say you shouldn't have them professionally checked but if your gunsmith is inherently afraid of Damascus barrels, he's not the guy to be asking.
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"I'm a Setter man.
Not because I think they're better than the other breeds,
but because I'm a romantic - stuck on tradition - and to me, a Setter just "belongs" in the grouse picture."
George King, "That's Ruff", 2010 - a timeless classic.
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