Gene,

You say that “the rib has been cut” but that could well be as originally made.

It is not uncommon for that part of the “rib” to be a separate piece of steel attached when the breech ends are joined.

It is typically done with guns with doll’s head or Greener cross bolt top extensions.

You can see it below in this Greener made J. V. Needham, which has a doll’s head extension.

[Linked Image from thumbs2.imgbox.com]

The rib itself is laid at a later stage to the joined barrels, and if it needs to be re-laid that can be done without the tubes themselves being separated.

Last edited by Parabola; 03/19/26 06:07 AM.