Agreed, my friend! I don't think I would ever attempt a solid block with my limited resources. I've silver soldered/brazed a lot of stuff over the years and I think there's plenty of meat here to have a solid piece. To generate enough heat for something like this, I use one of the cheap ice melting torches and a propane tank. Too concentrate more heat, I use a MAP gas torch. However the new 'Mapp' gas is not the same as the old....they stopped making it. I've machined as much as I dare on the lumps, leaving several thousands for final fitting. I need to order some more end mills, having dulled the last one. I think one should have used the more expensive cobalt and perhaps have started with a 'roughing' bit. I've left enough material up front so as to...hopefully... drill a hole for the pivot, rather than trying to cut a 'notch'. I'm almost at the stopping point until I decide on and locate the barrels. Those will have to go the machine shop for fitting.