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I haven't asked him specifically, so my speculation may be wrong. I imagine he (or some other long-time breeder) created them back about 40 or so years ago.
The chicks look different than large fowl chicks, they've got a "chipmunk" stripe that the large fowl don't. They are darker birds when mature than large fowl are (generally.) They have definitely got single comb genes in them from 'way back, as the combs aren't as nice as the large fowl can be (although I have yet to hatch a bantam that has come up with a single comb specifically.)
They aren't quite as pleasant in temperament as the large fowl.
I suspect they were created by crossing a Dark Cornish bantam to a RIR bantam. I like them, and am working on getting my numbers up so next year I can sell some. I have some from Matt John, Jason Page, Russell Crevoiserat, and Duane Urch. But I also suspect that 99% of them all came from Duane at one point or another.
I'd love to sit with him and chat at length about the breed! Hope I'll see him at a show this year.