Well, I thought the page showing the 1894 Darne action, and the word Charlin looked familiar, and, it should have, since I have the same catalog-and, I was pretty much on the mark, the catalog is from a French retailer that sold both 1894 patent copies and Charlins.
I was told I was full of second round horse oats over it, as well. I expect I'll get over that.
Robert, you have made a very amatuer error in the above photo posting. The gun shown with the Charlin IS NOT a Darne.
When you own up for the above, I'll tell you who made the 1894 copy YOU believe is a Darne.
Hint-go to your junior high French book and look up the word "Fils".
By the way, calling a Darne 1894 copy a "clone" is NOT calling it cheap, or poor quality. It is simply acknowledging that the patent was owned by someone else. Wonderful copy guns exist, surpassing the quality of the originals, proof being the gold medal awarded in Lyon, in 1914, to the company that produced the copy illustrated in the photo Robert put up.
That is another hint, Robert. See what you can dig up. If you need help, I'll happily give you my once through the horse opinion, OK?
Beagledogxxx, if you have a stock for your gun, it should go to a good stockmaker, who can tell you if it can be saved. I don't know if you have a stock, but, you would truly be astounded at what a good wood guy can do with even shattered stocks, if he gets all the pieces.
While Robert is sure that they are simple guns to restock, some very good stockmakers over here refuse to have anything to do with them, for whatever reason. You won't be getting a stock job on a Darne from our own "crossed chisels", for example.
Good luck with your gun. Don't sink a lot of dough into it, though. And have a good gunsmith have a hard look at the barrels and action before you spend a penny on new wood. Kirk Merrington is your man for the mechanical exam, by the way.
Best,
Ted
