I said that maybe with 50+ year old wood you might need to be a little careful. But you said they "weren't designed" to handle 1 1/4 ounce loads and that's just not true. Again, show me the literature that says this about Smith guns. What guns do you think they were shooting those 1 1/4 ounce 3 3/4 dram shells in back in the late 20's and early 30's? They weren't just making them for pumps and autoloaders that's for certain. Guns of the day were made to shoot the shells of the day, a simple fact, and those shells were being made when Smiths were still in production. Do you think they went to the trouble of making the 3 inch Wildfowl model if it wouldn't handle the 3 inch shells of the day? If I had one I'd shoot 1 5/8 ounce Kent TM #5 cartridges out of it all day long, cause that's the modern day equivalent of the cartridge they were designed to fire.
And as far as that gun of mine goes, it was made in 1911 and lasted through a lot more duck shooting than I'll probably ever do with it. Just short of 100 years on the original stock firing heavy duck loads all the time I'd imagine. I doubt any of us will be duck shooting when we're 96 years old, broken headstock or not. It fired about 50 equivalent 1 1/4 ounce 3 3/4 dram cartridges on my recent Quebec trip and grumbled when I put it back in the case. With that fix that Dr. Bill did I said I'm good for a few more cases of ammunition Good Lord willing.
It's going with me Monday in my 30's vintage sneak boat. Just had word from the boys that the canvasback are starting to drift in from the north. I'm sure you'd say I shouldn't use that old wooden boat cause it wasn't designed to take my large size shot charge. But the old girl don't seem to mind, floats like a battleship.
Use the guns for what they were intended boys, life is short. And shoot the ammunition that's required to get the job done.
Destry the Stirrer of the Pot