Quote:
Now, I understand dovetail lump isn't the way it was done,


Ted:

Why do you say that? Many, many, best London guns from this period were originally built with dovetail lump barrels. It isn't unusual at all. I just handled a hammerless Holland "Royal" .500/.450 Nitro Express from 1902 with original dovetail lump barrels.

Damascus barrels were typically joined this way. Since they were accustomed to this method, many of the best barrel makers continued to use it well after fluid steel became common. From the description, it sounds to me like the original barrels have simply been sleeved. It's a beautiful gun.

"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."