well way back mossberg had made leverguns, they were meant to be "deluxe" models over the lesser winchesters and marlins. ive got a s.i.r mailorder catalogue from the 1960's and they were listed $35 more then the un checkered winchester and had the option of a peep sight. i think because of the quality that they were meant to be built to back then they might be better then the new ones