I agree and concur with what's been offered in response to your question. IF the gun is still in proof, opening the chambers will take the gun out of proof, and, as stated already, reduce its value. Also, the Brits removed lots of metal in making great handling guns and it is not uncommon to have barrel walls be in proof and be much thinner than what you might find in an American gun of the same vintage. Opening chambers and, especially, forcing cones, could be disastrous.
Good things come to he who waits.
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"Doubtless the good Lord could have made a better game bird than bobwhite, and better country to hunt him in...but equally doubtless, he never did." -- Guy de la Valdene (from A Handful of Feathers )
"'I promise you,' he said, 'on my word of honor, I won't die on the opening of the bird season.'" -- Robert Ruark (from The Old Man and the Boy)
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