you can't beat the quality of the old lever 22's.,Winchester 9422,Marlin 39's just can't be beat for quality,you could go with a Henry which is a fine rifle for the price,but it uses a pot metal receiver,not exactly heirloom quality,but nice lever still.I own 2 1973 9422.a regular model model and the deluxe XTR model which is just gorgeous in wood and bluing,but it's so nice it stays in the safe,and i use the regular one,you can't compare the Winchesters to the Henry,but they are in way different price ranges,but if you go Winchester,it will appreciate in value while you have fun with it,while the Henry will go down,The Marlin 39's also up there with the Winchesters,and you beat their quality either,but again price will be in the $1000.00 range,for a really nice one,oddly enough,i recently got a deal on some Norinco copies of the Winchester,having both of them side by side it looks like Norinco might have copied the 9422,they are not being made anymore,so when i got the chance to get 5 of them in a trade deal,i took it,i'm very surprised at how well they work and cycle,i expected a lot of grittiness in the action without some cleaning up,but was pleasantly surprised,and they are ALL STEEL,no pot metal like the Henry's,but again the Henry is a fine little rifle,but those Norincos are surprising,but as a gift to yourself you'll be proud to own,the WInchester or Marlin will make you proud,and to those Browning BL22 owners,yest they are awsome rifles to,i own an old one of them too,while i'm not thrilled by the short throw lever,there's no denying the accuracy and reliability and the finish on the old ones is beautifull.and i realize the benefit of the short throw when shooting from a bench at the range,but still not crazy about it,anyone of those top 3 will serve you great for the rest of your life,
