People are just being dramatic and bitter as usual.
Yes, Pump Action Shotguns aren't as popular as they once were and have taken a backseat towards semiautomatic rifles as well as shotguns, but to say that all interest in them has faded is a gross exaggeration.
Furthermore, people seriously need to tone it down with their nostalgic "They sure don't make 'em like they used to..." sentiments that newly manufactured firearms are crudely produced, loosely/sloppily fit, and objectively inferior compared to ones of the past, because it's objectively false information which might be written off as ignorance at best, malicious misinformation at worst.
Honestly, modern CNC Machining is capable of producing parts of unrivaled precision/consistency, resulting in tight tolerances yet adequate clearance between moving parts, and metallurgy has improved as well, resulting in stronger alloys which can be made thinner and lighter than they ever could be in the past, but of course all of the folks young and old who know absolutely nothing about modern engineering, metallurgy, or manufacturing methods get all nostalgic over older firearms, and based simply on what they can see with their eyes and feel with their hands, older firearms must be superior. Why wouldn't they? Old Blued finishes are aesthetically superior to modern finishes, and older firearms feel so slick yet so tight compared to new firearms, but looks can be misleading, and what they fail to appreciate is that a modern FNC treatment is far more durable not to mention corrosion resistant compared to bluing, and that the actions on those old firearms are so slick because they've either been broken in over a course of many decades or otherwise were hand-fitted. Alas, that is were their superiority often ends, aesthetics and overall feel. In terms of actual usage for EDC or self-defense, they're equal at absolutely best, but often times they're heavier in weight, less reliable in overall function sans modifications, and may even be less accurate when compared to newer firearms for a wide variety of reasons. (Lesser sights, less ergonomic grips, worn out rifling, etc.)
Are old firearms aesthetically superior? Undeniably, clearly much more effort went into styling back in the day, which makes sense, especially back when open carry was more common and therefore a firearm was just as much a piece of fashion as a watch, a belt buckle, jewelry or even a pair of shoes.
Are older firearms cool? Heck yeah, in my honest opinion some of the coolest firearms are well over a century old, or at least a few decades old.
Are older firearms more special. Often times yes, because they have more history and history is interesting, exciting, romantic, and above all else nostalgic.
Are older firearms mechanically, metallurgically, and functionally superior? No, I'm sorry, but no. Times change, things change, and although as we age they may seem strange, foreign, or even frightening to us, they most often do change for the better, because that's how progress works. All denying it does is makes you appear stubborn at best, foolish as worst.
