Also, remember that prior to 1887 the between bore sizes were not marked, bores were marked by whole gauge sizes only. Thus a bore marked 14 could have started life at anywhere from just accepting a 0.693 " plug gage to just not accepting a 13 @ 0.710".
I have a Birmingham proofed W Richards with bores marked 14 which has 12 gauge chambers Bores while heavily pitted now measure very close to that 0.710" diameter.
Have the bores been enlarged or the chambers re-cut, frankly I don't know. It was my Grandfathers & he was not a hunter. It was simply a utility gun. I have no idea at what time he bought in but my Father remembers him having it when he was a youth & he was born in 1910. I seriously doubt any modifications were made to it after my Granddad acquired it so is most likely as it left the factory. It is a side lever hammer gun with the lever on the left side. I wish it were in shootable condition, but unfortunately, it saw years of neglect before it came into my hands.
