Robert, if you have a different opinion than the one Ted posted (and I think Ted has pretty good credentials where Darne/Charlin shotguns are concerned), why don't you just express it? No need to get confrontational about the whole business. If you do, I do not intend to go down that road with you again.
And there is no "pecking order" here. Good information is good information, whether you come up with it, I come up with it, or Ted comes up with it. That's what this place is all about: an exchange of information. As for the question of Beagle restocking his gun . . . well, I do have experience (not good) with a restocked Darne. Fortunately, I did not pay for the restocking, and ended up buying the gun for less than the cost of the stock work. I think Beagle should know that restocking any gun isn't cheap, and restocking a Darne can be both expensive and fraught with problems. That's my opinion, based on my experience. I won't speak for Ted, but I expect that's also where he's coming from. And opinions may be freely exchanged here without any concern for "pecking order".
And please, Robert, don't start misquoting me again. I never "challenged the existence" of any photo of a "L'Abeille" shotgun. I did ask to see proof that a shotgun called "L'Abielle"--which is what you claimed you had, in about 3 different posts--actually existed. You see, I don't think I know everything. I've seen stranger stuff than two makers' names (like Parker/Barker, you know) only one letter apart, so I thought there was some possibility--however slight--that might be the case with Abeille/Abielle. Turned out there was no "L'Abielle", which is fine with me. And if you had simply said at that point, "Woops, I had the wrong spelling", well . . .that would have been the end of the story. As it is now, as far as I'm concerned.
Merry Christmas to you, and to you a good night!
