I think they are figuring out that if they are only going to sell a few hundred rifles of a particular configuration, they can market it as a limited production, produce the projected number they'll sell, jack up the price a little since it's "special edition" and carry on. Besides, if everybody had an octagon-barreled lever gun, it wouldn't be special, would it? Now, if I can only save up for a Marlin 1895 .45-70 with 26 inch octagon barrel before they disappear. . .