I have owned Marlin rifles for almost 60 years. I currently have 4 JM 336s and and a 444s in my safe, and I have had a lot more of them pass through my hands. Yesterday, I purchased a blue round barrel .357 Henry Carbine-my first Henry. By every outward quality appearance measure I can apply, it equals or exceeds any Marlin I have been around. The real test will come when I start pouring rounds through it in the next few days, but I am already pretty damn sure this little guy will shoot. CP.