I think CSMC is like the Orvis of the shotgun world. Orvis draws a lot of snide comments, which I think are the result of Orvis's marketing. They have built an empire that started off with fly rods and expanded, based on great marketing.
Orvis is disdained by some, although they make a fine fly rod, great fly reels, and just about everything to do with flyfishing. However, they branched out...clothing, furniture, even shotguns.
So the name had a lot of name recognition, which kinda soured on some people, mostly wannabe purists and posers. It became "the thing to do" to dismiss Orvis on its face.
So CSMC draws criticism partially because of their success. How many other shotguns are made here in the U.S? They may not be top of the line (the RBL) but they're very good guns nonetheless, and represent the sole entry, so far as I know, in American made shotguns.
