I've owned some pre-'64 models and some post-'64. I believe the pre-1964 models definately are superior in quality to those made after. The ones from 1964 to about 1972 were some real crap, stamped, tinny parts, receivers that refused to stay blued. After that, the quality started to improve somewhat. They started putting some solid steel parts back into them. I can't say much about the newer versions. I don't have any experience with the latest incarnations.