1985 I believe. The little rifle just did not sell. As with many rifles, the minute you could not get it, the more desirable it became. It lessened in cost and desirability while they made its successor, the Deerfield from 1999 to 1006. Now they both command a premium price. I have owned both and prefer the Deerfield (99/44). I will own the 99/44 as long as I own firearms, as a small semi automatic .44 magnum rifle can be quite useful under the right circumstances. I use mine as a camp gun and for still hunting the cleared hardwood forest patches here in MN.