The Brit Trade guns are "honest" in that they almost always were built to be what they appeared to be. I've never encountered a factory "tarted up" Brit gun; aftermarket, yes, factory, no. That said, we must understand that there are exceptions to any rule you can make. We do not need to try to deal with all the possible exceptions, though. If you bump into something outside your experience or understanding, leave it alone, at least until you are able to research it adequately.
"Tarted up" caught my eye, in that when I read it it sparked me to think whether I have or not. While you admit exceptions are possible, the only excption I could think of were guns restored with new casecolour, and perhaps nitre bluing of parts not originally blued.
I wonder why we see "upgraded" or "customized" American sxs, but not British?
