If done properly, the reault is a good shootable gun with no safety concerns.
The things to look for is the quality of the sleeve joint, a very good one will be very hard to see. The quality of the tube striking. And the quality of the rib re-lay. If any of these things are off, the overall job will be a poor one. Also, the work at the breech end must be good as well.
Regulation of the tubes and point of aim can be a concern as well, but it is not as important of an issue as it is with a double rifle.
Usually sleeving means stepping down a gauge (ie: 16 to 20). Which can result in a balance issue since the barrels will weight more after than before. If the same length tubes are used.
Same gauge sleeving can be done, but that is where wall thickness at the breech end is very important.
Obviously originality is blown when barrels are sleeved, so you are left with a shooter and nothing more. But it is a great way to save a blown or otherwise junk set of barrels.
Unfortunately, a lot of perfectly good damascus guns were sleeved years ago.
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B. Dudley
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