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Those barrels are real Damascus, and when they were made were probably the best that could be had. Greener did not cut corners; the differences between the top of the line and the utility grade were far more a matter of decoration than of inherent quality or durability.
And of course, all guns made in England were (and are) subject to stringent proof testing by the government.
But a problem with Damascus, and one that is inherent in the nature of the process, is that there are weak spots in the tiny gaps in the welds. Over the years, corrosive fouling has been driven into those gaps and has gradually eaten at the metal of the barrel. Whether that has weakened the barrel(s) enough to be dangerous cannot be known without a new proof test, which is really only proof that the barrel didn't blow on THAT shot.
But proof testing is not a non-destructive process; if the barrel fails, it is scrap and the gun is effectively destroyed, something those who talk blithely about "re-proving" don't like to mention.
Jim
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