Thanks! I guessed that the older ones have no signs.
In Catalog Identification, RecycledBrick writes:
I have Dark Gray ones from sets I bought and they are not marked. The new ones
are marked on the end. I usually keep around an older one and compare it to see
if it matches when I get used ones. But a buyer said they were fake because they
weren’t mark and wouldn’t believe that all pieces aren’t marked. I now don’t
sell any that are unmarked. I keep those for myself
I have Dark Gray ones from sets I bought and they are not marked. The new ones
are marked on the end. I usually keep around an older one and compare it to see
if it matches when I get used ones. But a buyer said they were fake because they
weren’t mark and wouldn’t believe that all pieces aren’t marked. I now don’t
sell any that are unmarked. I keep those for myself
From memory, I think the limit between old & new would be around 2008… maybe
a bit later (LEGO uses all its stock).
The Great Colour Shift, when Dark Gray was replaced by DBG, was in 2003-2004.
Worse, for transparent colours, some genuine LEGO bars have visible bubbles,
and some are a bit cloudy.
So, provenance is the only way to be sure they are real LEGO.
Germany, Bayern
USA, Illinois
France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine