Update: Mystery (partially) solved

-Removed due to users here pointing out that this bike may have a patchier history than I thought. Thanks for everyone's advice-

motivated sales pitch, do you have something that backs up the Merlin (the USA one ) origin ?

It is one obscure F+F that's for sure. It shares decals (the shadows of which are still visible on the downtube even though they have been removed) with this:

https://bikerumor.com/ib14-merlin-empire-carbon-fiber-road-bike-spotted/

Frame number label is still on the BB shell too. I'd love to know more about it if anyone has any knowledge : )

This is gonna be a great watch

Just heard back from MM, not exactly a detailed email but they have confirmed that it is one of theirs. Have requested more information and will post more if they get back to me

I don’t know much about Merlin, and I’m not saying it’s not one of there’s, but it’s an uncanny likeness to my 2012 Chinese frame (FM028 I think). They did an ISP version too.

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It might be a Casati, Cicli barco or Sarto built if it’s tube to tube construction.

Very uncanny. Could it be an open mould? I've seen a few bikes that are badged and charged at a premium, that use open moulds produced by Far East manufacturers.

The plot thickens

It could end up a bit gravy

suits a rider with very high skill levels.

Sure lol.

It's a road bike , you can't do gravely on it

Am I right in thinking the seat post is stuck?

Well it is as tight as a tiger. Whatever the hell that means.

It’s a Chinese open-mold frame. Could be had for £300 brand new on eBay (back when people actually wanted rim-brake bikes). Exoteric it ain’t. Decent build, though £1200 is about double what it’s worth. Finding a buyer with sufficient skills though … that’s the real challenge

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It's an ISP, so not stuck, just limited amount of adjustment

Are the threads on the ISP borked? Dirty great nut looks a bit odd, plus the carbon inside the ‘oval’ looks a bit crunchy

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Haha you guys are savages! @Arnomatic it's totally this! Thanks a lot all for straightening this out!

So either Merlin white-labelled a few of these (not totally inconceivable I guess, as I understand they were going through some changes as an org at the time, and I'm still perplexed by the email they sent me back), or more likely someone has played silly buggers with it at some point during its life. Either way, appreciate your help - I bought this in good faith, so it's interesting for me learning what can go on in the road bike world.

I'll kill this listing and take it back to eBay and list it as what it is off the back of this, will get whatever it's worth. Cheers!

Sorry to kill the sale, but props for taking it so well! Been riding mine for 12 years so recognised the shape straight away.

It might not be Merlin but I cant poo poo the frame, it’s been great the whole time I’ve had it! Reduce the price and someone will enjoy it

All good man, your bike looks sick! I just need rid of a couple of bikes as we're under pressure from the owner of our building, so maybe I was a little too (ahem) motivated! Stand by what I said about skill level though, this thing is so twitchy that it'll kill you in central London pretty quickly if you don't know what you're doing ; )

Totally happy to accept it is what it is. If someone thinks it's worth £600 or so then I'd take it, not looking to pull the wool over anyone's eyes at all. I just listed it on ebay at £650 if anyone wants to follow up:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116236919254

Do appreciate everyone chipping in on this, thanks all

You'll never have to worry about people not chipping in here 😂

TBH I had forgotten what forums were like 😂

you can't put it on ebay and here, or a t least promote tour ebay listing here, since you removed sale content.

kudos for taking the amused feedback in positive light.