Hello Lionheart.

(If I had invested in the gun rather than in my marriage, I would be much better for it today.)

Yeah got that T shirt

OK

If it is going to be mostly for the joy of owning it and not to hunt with then go for the .600. Personally I think it is too much gun for hunting in this day and age but a great thing to own.

I don't know your age or condition so forgive me if this seems rude I don't mean it so. Have you considered the number of rounds that will need to be fired to regulate this? Maybe 100 plus over a few days because you have no starting point for reference. That is a bastard with a .600. Not great with a .577 either. That is not to discourage you but it would be a damm shame to do all the hard work and have it hospitalize you. There is a standard 1850 fps load and that is the one I would regulate for, rather than the 2050 load.

The rib.
Can you post a pic of the extension for the crossbolt. from the pics it is not clear if it is made as part of the rib?
If it is the rib likley brazed on. That being so, in the shop one is likley to ruin the temper of the block getting it off.

I don't however think that this is the end of the world, for if I was doing the project, I would seriously look at making new lumps. either a monoblock, or better IMO a shoe lump. My reasons for doing this would be that it would be difficult to make a damascus monoblock cosmetically match up with CrMo barrels. I have no experience with modern damascus but the patterns would not match in any event.

If you are a carefull machinist you could do the work and find a company that specialises in vacum brazing and let them fit it together and do that part for a very reasonable fee. A shoe lump is not hard to make ( basic mills, woodruf cutter and a fly cutter with carefull measurment.. This would allow you to black down and fit easily and at the same time fit a new hinge pin if it is worn. And if necessary skim the action face which looks from the pics a little pitted. The pressure bearing parts would all then be modern materials.

From the look of it the firing pins will need to be bushed as they look quite large.

When you are done, come visit me in London and we will take it to the proof house to get the proper marks on it to seal the project.

Hope the above helps

Regards