Does anyone know then, how the more common underlugs and rib extensions are made and joined to the barrels? Are they soft, silver soldered, or brazed? Do the temperatures do anything to the metallurgy of the barrels that might make them either prone to bulging (soft) or rupture (hard, brittle)?
I'm curious because I wonder if it would be possible to take two damaged sets of barrels and salvage one good right and one good left by unsoldering the bad tubes, and then re-joining the good barrels?
I have read where this is done, presumably replacing the bad barrel with a brand new one. But I have not been able to find any information on the methods and materials used. I hear that when the British do this, the gun must be re-proofed. That is why I'm concerned what all of this soldering, brazing, etc being done multiple times may do to the steel.
