And I can recall ads in magaines bragging o the Winchester 94 still being just $99.99. I don't think Marlins were ever "cheap guns". Yes, some of their least expensive rifles, like some 22's, were pretty low priced. But they worked fine. The "cheap guns" were the import guns, the no name clones of some UtS design. I think theres some brand bashing in play. But the same thing applies to other tools. People brag about the N series Ford tractors and how wonderful they are. Well, I've worked on those things and it's surely a case of beauty in the eye of the beholder. VW's, Toyotas and Datsuns used to be viewed as "cheap"...until people figured out they were very good vehicles. No offense to anyone, but there is some snobbery involved here.