I played with a couple of them. The metal work is more finished, filing/polishing, but the bluing seems more black and the checkering on the bolt handle is softer than the originals. Wood is finished better but lesser quality grain in the wood and checkering again, seems soft compared to original. I know, the featherweights used to be glass bedded don't know about these new ones, the synthetics are pillar bedded though. Also, they say they improved the trigger, really, is that possible? I don't think so. Not a bad rifle for $800 in my opinion, but not as good as pre-64s and the last couple couple years of the original productions.