In a conversation with a Marlin (Remington) customer service rep last week, I was told that production of the XLR in 45-70 will resume this month. I have no way to verify this information, but it appears that the relocation of Marlin manufacturing and start-up issues (including quality control) had taken XLR production off-line. The customer service rep confirm what I was told at the last NRA Annual Meeting - that production of the 1985M (450 Marlin) will be only by distributor special order.