I am with the Chief on this one Greg. And I am also surprised by a perception that their current production is of questionable quality. If anything, AYA has done a tremendous job over the last couple of decades getting stability into their middle grade guns (their first quality guns have always been excellent). I do not have a SXS from that era, but I do have a model 37 OU. It is a full, detachable side lock (Merkel design), and is as finally a constructed gun as I have ever seen.