"The Legend" was built on what the Merkel offerings used to be. Suffice it to say, that going back decade, by decade, the quality was, in general, better. 50's guns, better than 1960's etc.
The Merkel Company folded when the wall came down. Labor put together a deal- attempted to re-open and begin production again. Due to any real management, that failed. Some time later, management put a deal together; that never made it off the ground- labor would not cooperate.
The Merkel name was sold. At that very point in time, Merkels, those upon which the Legend was built, did not exist except in past times.
Though they legally posses the right to be called Merkel, any subsequent offerings are merely inferior look-likes. The Merkel name sold again. Still any current offerings are grossly inferior look-likes.
It's not that Champlain seems to suggest.... They have put the truth out there on the guns marketed under the Merkel name these days. Among the cognoscenti there is no disagreement on that.
If anyone wants a good Merkel, don't buy one any later than the 1960's.
