Lowell,

I think you are way wrong- the English depended on a proof system and the Americans depended on each manufacturer to acheive proof- just a diference in infrastructure.

Many American damascus guns are viable to shoot- and some of them may need to go to proof to make sure they are safe. At the very least every gun should be looked at by a smith and the condition determined but backyard proof tests do not work and prove nothing but the gun fires that time.

al