JDenis: Get it before it goes away. That Winchester is every bit as good as it's Marlin counterpart. Those blemishes just add character to the piece. The Winchester is a strong action - none of my three 444s have ever had any problems at all.
These babies shoot easy, the porting helps control recoil but wear earplugs or better. I think mine carries a 1:12 twist and she shoots to 2" at 100 yds with open sights and 330 gn hardcast loads and Beartooth loading data. I haven't scoped it yet but maybe for my next Elk hunt.
If yours hits low at 100 yds, call Browing/Winchester somewhere in Missouri and get a couple of shorter different front sight blades. If they recommend one particular height get the next lower one.
The 444 is best maximized through reloading and firelapping the barrel is fun, will help you get to know your rifle and will help improve accuracy with heavyweight cast slugs. If you want to have a hoot sometime, go shooting around dusk and have someone film the muzzle blast from that carbine. Yeeha! HTH. Mikey.