This is my 3rd time with a toe in the Darne pool. I was fascinated when I first saw Darnes on my first trip to France, back in 1976. Nearly bought a Charlin 16--plain gun, but very nice condition--when the wife and I were touring France 20 years later. The first Darne I owned had been restocked in very nice wood by a guy who did mostly trap stocks. Misfit on a lightweight bird gun. Second one had an odd grip angle that made it difficult for me to reach the front trigger, even though the LOP was on target.
This one is a 16ga, weighs just under 5 3/4# with barrels just shy of 27". Chokes are a very reasonable .008/.014. Straight grip, swivels, and very nice wood with fine double-bordered checkering that looks as if it might have been recut at some point. I do photos via email, but I've avoided trying to post them on BB's.
Can't see any unusual marks on this one, other than Nantes and the word ending in -het on the water table. I do see "epreuve surchargee" next to the double St. Etienne proofmarks on the underside of the barrels. Don't know whether one typically sees "epreuve surchargee" on Darnes, but an overcharged proof is what you have with the two proofmarks, so that's logical.
