I find this 1868 Reilly 12 bore, SN 16443, to be quite attractive. It was previously sold at Bonham's in 2004 and is now being auctioned this December by Holts: But wall thickness is 15 & 17.. ..and it is still in proof? Is this possible?
Of course it is possible. Just a few days ago, you were complaining about a little politics posted here, and said this:
Please stop this silliness. This sort of stuff is making us all look stupid and is going to destroy this board and what it means for gunsmiths, collectors, and shooters. To all: Please do not comment. (I realize I just did).
So what good is it to keep things 100% pure Double Gun, when you obviously haven't learned much from the double gun content posted here? Did you inquire where those thin spots are along the length of the barrels. By now you should know that those wall thicknesses could easily survive firing out near the muzzles, even with a proof load. But they would be the subject of another barrel blow-up Thread if they were just ahead of the chambers, where pressures are still near peak. I'd like to assume you know matchbook thin barrels are much more easily dented, but it appears that is assuming too much. The Preacher has posted pictures of various pressure curves hundreds of times... and it appears that wasn't enough times for it to sink into your head. Asking naive questions like this is not making us all look stupid... just you.
BTW, did you ever find any proof to support your sheer conjecture that E.M. Reilly actually employed over 300 gunmakers?
