Side note.
In my collection of Darne literature is a catalog from American Imports, who made it perhaps 3 bird seasons as an importer for Darne guns, I’m thinking 1960-1963, in between Don White (the only guns I know for sure that Don imported were his pair of V19s, a 20 and a 12) and Stoeger Arms, who made it about a decade 1964-1974.
In the AI Darne catalog is a tantalizing note that stainless steel barrels were available for “extra cost”. I’ve never, ever seen them, but the guys at the factory in St Etienne knew the process to get them blued when I was there, mid 1990s. They were plated with iron and then blued like any set of barrels. The subject came up because the famous “Charlin in a jar of water” was in the shop at the Bruchet works, a stainless steel Charlin action, fasteners, and stub of barrels that had been immersed in water for about 30 years at that point.
I would think there would be a mark designating stainless barrels, but, I can’t add anything about that.
Best,
Ted
