It seems odd that companies such as Henry and Chiappa are being allowed to build such close copies of Marlin designs (Chiappa makes a knock-off of the Model 39 rimfire) without a challenge from Cerberus/Remington.
As for the thread topic, I think the "best" are the JM-stamped (pre-Remington) Marlins, the pre-'64 Winchesters and the Miroku-built Browning and Winchester models. All of those outclass the current Marlins and Henrys (don't know too much about the current production Winchesters).
For a while now, I've wanted a Miroku/Browning 1886 in .45-70 (from approx. 20 years ago, around the same time they made the Winchester 71 clone). Superb quality, but without the price tag of an original 1886.
The Miroku Brownings are high quality. The Winchester snobs scorned them when they were new production items.
I have a Miroku 1886 in 45-70. Does anyone make a slipover butt pad for that crescent buttplate? Someone wrote that a crescent butt must be held into the upper arm rather than the shoulder.
Thoughts?