The flat spot is normal but not found 100% of the time. When its missing it can cause one to look closer just as you have but it is not the end all indicator of cut barrels.
The keels that are placed between the barrels are not all that long, so if they are there that would be a very good sign that they are not cut. I believe the keels dimension is documented in one of the FAQ's; so you can see by their size how they would be lost when cut, unless the cut is very very small.
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