Larry,
I think the Darne story was actually enabled by the manufacturer. The factory came out with new patents in 1909, and cataloged the old patents for some years. Clones are always 1894 patent R model guns, and never V models, or, 1909 patent R models. It would have been easy for the factory to sell in the white and proofed actions and barrels out the back door, while producing and selling the new patent guns out the front.
I have looked for years trying to find a clone with the crossed lightening bolts, that shows it was proofed as a finished gun. Im still looking. It would seem most were proofed, then finished. If outside companies produced the action and barrels, you would see that mark from time to time.
But, as a rule, you dont.
Best,
Ted
