$495 isn't as bad as I was afraid it'd be. It's been at least 6 years since I priced them last. The American series is Saxon's lower priced line. Very good quality, but youcan't get the more exotic woods that are available in the more upscale lines. The shop I used to shoot for was a Saxon dealer. I've played around with quite a few of their bows, andbought two Mongoose longbows,and really like them.