'Because it is the most purely American form of repeater, jOe, further developed and put to use here, and completely efficient in design, use, and purpose. They can rightfully be considered "maintenance free" when compared to a double, or most autoloaders. I consider them "repeater, 101" and anyone who has completed a gun safety course WITHOUT learning to handle one hasn't completed a gun safety course, IMHO-people who hand a newbie a single shot at gun safety class soon come to realize that newbies don't stick with single shots for very long if they don't have to.
My very first repeater was a Remington model 17, a gun so well thought out, executed, and efficient that it allowed me to concentrate on hunting and dog skills without regard to anything else. There were reasons pumps pretty much replaced doubles in the American field, jOe and you can choose to ignore that, or, celebrate it.
That is why I own and shoot both.
Wanna' buy a wood stocked Stupid Black Eagle, jOe? The Remington 17 'ain't for sale, however.
Best,
Ted
