i found marlin screws to be pretty soft also. some screws are nearly stripped from repeated disassembly and one of the longer screws that goes through the barrel band snapped during recoil from firing. replacement parts for lever guns are expensive too 
marlin also has quite a bit of tool marks on the inside. seems like they try to smooth out the more important contact points a bit though.
i like them for the price after a mild tuning. seems to be in between a winchester and a rossi in price and quality.

When remington bought marlin they screwed them up bad, which is why now the JM marked Marlins command a premium. The newer ones that ive seen, this year and the tail end of last are much better, but the ones prior are bad, sharp internals. bad screws, ive seen and heard of some that came New in Box with the screws broke, feeding issues, bad headspace, the list goes on. I recommend tuning for all cowbow action guns even if not being used as such, Marlins, Ubertis, Winchesters, they all benefit from it, and run alot more user friendly.

Uberti is still a decent gun, the work that would benefit them the most is probably in the 150-300 extra range. The winchester by far is the best out of the box, theres alot of standard models on gunbroker. If it comes down to the henry or marlin id go for the marlin, QC has gotten alot better recently as opposed to when remington first took over.

I highly recommend the new winchester 1873s, I had 2 and have one original, they are great guns especially tuned up, and currently are beating uberti in terms of quality control. I have a couple of uberti rifles as well, the ubertis tuned up are a must, but nowdays they are getting sloppy. For a big slug like a 44 mag, id definitely get a marlin, for 357 id get either the marlin or winchester, they are the best fit and can be tuned quite nice. The Rossi/Puma 92s are very well made as well, and can handle loads the winchester 73 cannot. Both the marlin and rossi/puma are best for heavy loads. The henrys are nice american made guns, but there are better options, ive owned atleast one example of all of them.

No one on island that I know of or would trust. 2 of the best you can go to.


http://www.dgrguns.com/


http://shuffsparkerizing.com/

If you want to talk SAAs send me a message, theres a few things to check and watch out for, I can help with pickin one or two out.

if it bothers you ask politely to correct the issue, lets not add more rules and regulations on top of the mountain of rules and regulations currently in effect, Next itll be new rule, load one at a time to avoid raining brass upon the next bench over. Ive been rained on and not bothered, ive also asked that the brass be deflected in some way or reduced, ive rained on others and corrected it just out of awareness and courtesy to them. Its a range, brass flies, nature of the beast.

Surplus 7.7 ammo is a rare bird and quite valuable. I wouldnt recommend shooting any if you had some or found some. A gun with an unground mum would be a battlefield pick up, the soldier that used it gave his all for the empire. The Paratroop rifle is indeed a takedown, have to do your homework if you see one, theres a few floating around that have been faked.

not a bad looking piece, the series number can be found online, the mum is a nice touch but to me not required, id prefer it be matching numbered, and have all or most of its features. End of the war rifles have no issues, as crude as they look. Good luck checking headspace as arisakas were made with oversized chambers. They have some of the strongest actions around, ive bought and sold and built quite a few and have had no issues firing any of them. Bore condition shouldnt be to much of an issue as most of them had chrome lined bores and they survived quite well in high numbers.

Colt Family Photos

theres a 240, 249, last I heard the M60 was in the works, wiselite is making an MG42, its not cheap even a little bit. Heres one of the top manufacturers making them, their B.A.Rs are excellent as well, have handled and shot a couple of them.


http://www.ohioordnanceworks.com/rifles/semi-auto/oow-line