Rene Leclerc and Leopold Bernard (1832-1867) were barrel makers in Paris in the early 1800s. About every Belgian brl maker had a 'Bernard' brl with minor variations, and there were 20 makers in the Syndicat des Fabricants de canons de fusils de la Vesdre in Nessonvaux.
From a booklet published by E. Heuse-Lemoine
http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20h/a%20heuse%20gb.htm 'Manufacture of Damascus Gun Barrels' "...it was from Paris that the first imitation came to us for the researches in the combining some mixture of iron and steel in order to produce figures which we call Damascus, such as Turkish Damascus, Bernard, Leclerk, Parisien Damascus, etc. to an infinate number of names, as the combinations that compose the figures of the Damascus vary constantly...with the only difference, that in these the variery is produced by the colours on the surface, whilst the figures on the damascus are produced by the substance or material like the designs or patterns in our linen weavers. What is the Turkish or Curled Damascus, the Horse-shoe, the Boston, etc. that are derived from them."
A c. 1900 product brochure for N.J. Higny shows Quality No. 1 and 2 Bernard
http://www.littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20h/a%20higny%20gb.htm and this 1897-98 Ferdinand Drissen (a Liege gun maker) Price List shows Heuse-Lemoine Bernard I and II, BUT 4 other Bernard patterns also
Ferdinand Drissen was registered with the bench of tests of Liege of 1874 to 1900. In 1900 its activities were taken over by Bernard E & Co,, Mont St Martin street in Liege.
FD in a rhombus lying is the mark of Fernand Drissen; Bernard E. & Co added a crown over.
Leopold's gun and barrel making company in Paris ceased operation in 1890. It is extremely likely that most of the neat 'Rose Pattern Bernard II' barrels on Parker C grade guns were from Belgium. The 'Parker Damascus' PictureTrail shows several slightly different patterns
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=17227428
