I know they aren't good records. Even now I have my dad's 2 .22's and my dad is only 55 and in good shape. He gave 'em to me since he was overseas. I've had them ever since and they ARE NOT listed in his will. But beyond that, this work is a piece of crap. He kept 'tick' marks on Post It notes, claims sources that don't exist, can't remember if he used 30 sites looking up sources or one close to the University (I'd remember if I had to visit 30 libraries, wouldn't you?), and in reading other historians rip this work up, he even mis-quotes the Mass. Militia Act...the VERY Militia Act that the SCOTUS quotes in the anti-gunners favorite ruling 1939 Miller vs US. You'd think he could at least cite a law from 1792 correctly knowing it can be looked up. He also bad mouths citizen militias, yet in an earlier book he wrote, the Vermont/NH militia performed well.
There are ALL kinds of stuff this guy made up. Let me find two links and I'll post them. One is from the Northwestern study which rips his probate research, not only as dishonest, but when probate records are found, they find he can't count.
madison46
Just to add to what I said, a rifle passed through four generations in my family without appearing in a will. That rifle is since sold. Some even older powder horns and lead balls were passed down, probably from the revolutionary era or earlier without probate mention either.
He should examine some old ledgers from country stores. They will show lots of guns and ammo being sold.