I certainly am no expert. So you can probably clear this up for me. There is nothing but a serial number on the 1st stage. The 2nd stage has Mares MR12 III on the purge button, and also says Mares on the mouth piece. No other names. Also, when it was serviced they indicated they had the kit for the Mares reg, but not the seat, which was when I mentioned another seat that would work, which they had. Like I said, working great the last two years. If this was other than a Mares 2nd stage, wouldn’t it say so?