At first blush, I really like the idea of the shoe lump as it would allow me to keep the barrel profile in the section around the chambers stout in order to concentrate weight in that area and avoid the shotgun style taper that using a monobloc would yield. However, upon examination of the extant lump system one can see how fine the shoe would have to be. Along their centerlines, the barrels are nearly flush with the surface of what would be the shoe and, at its outer edges, the shoe would only be about 1/8" thick max. Not nearly as beefy as that shown in the previously posted Heym pic. All of this is shown in the pic below. Do you think such a "fine" shoe would be serviceable?

If so, That is the direction I would like to take. I understand I could mill flats into the barrels in order to beef up the shoe section. To a point, I can always take away from one to give to the other.

Well, I believe I need to decide about this before I order the barrels, which I further believe is the first concrete step to be taken in this project and I'm anxious to proceed. On that note, I need to lay out a critical path production plan as I frankly have little knowledge as to what to do when. I suppose Ellis's book would shed some light on that so I'll order it now. In any case, I know you used Llija barrels and were very pleased. I'll probably go with them upon your recommendation if you think they would be suitable for my project. After I spend some time with pencil and paper, as you say, I'll PM you for some help ordering the barrels.

Here's a pic of the rib/crossbolt extension but, if I won't be using the monobloc, that concern would be moot.

Thanks