I've been lurking a long time but I think I am now ready to publicly commit to starting my long-in-the-planning-stage project.

Many years ago, I passed on the opportunity to purchase a Holland and Holland Royal Grade dr in .577 NE for $11,500 due to my (then) wife's objections. (If I had invested in the gun rather than in my marriage, I would be much better for it today.) It was built during the golden age between the wars and looked to be in virtually unfired condition. Well, spilt milk. I have long wanted to correct that regretable decision but a direct replacement just hasn't been possible with prices being what they have been in recent years. Also, as a young man, I toted a .416 Rigby around East Africa and, though it was splendid tool of which I was very fond, I was always shyly envious of the dr's many of my friends possessed. So, about fifteen years ago, I came up with the "novel" idea of converting a shotgun and thus I searched for and found what I thought would be a good candidate for the conversion. I naively thought that no one else had ever considered the idea of converting a shotgun, much less acted upon it. In any case, I'm happy to see I was wrong and the road is well-traveled and easily (hopefully) followed. The gun I acquired back then is a Greener 10b fowler. As one can see from the pictures, it is a stoutly built boxlock with damascus barrels and simple engraving. It's relatively tight and I've shot it a few times in the marshes. I'm guessing it is a turn-of-the-century gun but I need to apply to Greener for its history. I had always planned to make it into .577 3" but recently have begun flirting with the idea of a .600 mainly due to their relative scarcity (compared to the .577) and because I think I have that rare cadidate meaty enough for what would be a pretty unique project. I recently revisited Taylor and found that Pondoro was very fond of his .600 and I think one can read into his comments that he prefered it slightly to the .577. Not that it matters, I doubt I will again be after dangerous game in Africa and this project will, in all liklihood, end up as a nostalgic wall hanger - but one never knows.

I solicit everyone's comments and advice plus I have a few specific questions:

1. Does the age of my gun, and by this I mean the prevailing metalurgy at the time of its manufacture, need to be considered when choosing the calibre/load?
2. I would like to replace the damascus barrels with modern nitro damacus. Does anyone have experience with Damastlauf barrels from Germany or know anything about rebarreling with damascus?
3. For Bramble and the other machinists out there: The current rib is very nice - it has the maker's name and its engraving matches that of the action. If I were to remove it, with the intention of re-using it later during reassembly, would this complicate the removal of the old barrels and the machining of the monobloc? Will I even be able to re-use it? Btw, In terms of stationary machinery, in my garage I have a South Bend heavy 10 with tapering attachment and collet closer and a Tree Journeyman 3, no dro. Am I OK there? I am an amateur machinist (owned a tool & die shop) but I've never done a major gunsmithing project.

Marrakai, having gone down a similar road with a similar gun, I'm particularly interested in your comments about the suitability of my "raw material".

Thanks in advance for everyone's comments and it's exciting to finally be a participant here.

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Hmmmm, no pics. This might take a while to figure out. Help .. anyone?

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Hmmmm #2 Reduced the file sizes to under 35k each and put them in a public folder to no avail. I'm stumped. I guess you'll just have to copy and paste to your browser if your interested.