After about 150 bows I sent my #49 and 50 to Boggs tools for sharpening, they came back as sharp as new.
There was a guy selling new old stock American made 49 and 50s for $20 shipped on ebay about a year ago, he had a bunch of them. I only bought one of them and I should have bought them all.
I have heard you can send a Brazilian made 49 or 50 to Boggs and it comes back like an American made one.