A rough translation of Fab’s post:
Hi,
It is impossible to date a Darne by its serial number.
A mathematical calculation based on the list provided by Argo44 cannot work.
The Darne companies tested several thousand guns in a very short period of time. These were stored and then used in their production.
With this way of doing things, some guns could remain for years, even decades, before being used.
According to the markings, the barrels as well as the weapon were tested after 1923.
You would have to put one or two photos of the opening key to establish if the unlocking system of the key foot which allows the breech to be removed from the table and the 1921 patent (shutter opening) or the 1928 patent (breech removed by pulling the key up).
That is the end of Fab’s post.
I’ll try to fill in a couple holes.
The “shutter” that Fab mentions was used on Darne V models for a time, and was the system used on a P grade gun. We don’t get to see many P models in North America, but, they compare nicely to V models. If you can, a good, clear photo from straight above the opening lever, and a photo of the breech removed and the lever work exposed will illustrate exactly what V system your gun uses.
We are in the ballpark on age with your V. Sometimes, that is all you get. Sometimes, you don’t even get that.
If you have a gun with the “SPC” or SPL” designation in the serial number, it can’t be dated at all. You will get some help on a gun with a serial number like that if it is importer marked, and you know what years the importer was doing those importations. The “SPC” and “SPL” prefix were applied to guns ordered with special length short and special length long barrels respectively and were built and numbered out of sequence.
Best,
Ted
