I like the Ruger 77/44 idea. They are light weight, have a detachable rotary magazine, you have the option of open sights or mounting a scope, and you can easily upgrade the trigger with a kit from Volquartzen. I also find them to be easier to load/unload than a lever action. I have owned both the 77/44 and the 1894 Marlin and I liked the 77/44 better (my 1894 was one of the dreaded "Remlins").
Another suggestion I haven't seen yet is one variation or another of the Ruger Single Six. This is one of my favorite handguns and it would make a nice companion for your Blackhawk.
The Single Seven in 327 mag has been a lot of fun. Mine is 4.625 inches. A 78 gr Lasercast over 3 gr of Universal shoots about like a 22 magnum. My eight year old grand sons absolutely love it. Or a 115 gold dot over 13 gr H110 is only slightly shamed by the 357. I also shoot these in the new 4.2 inch SP 101.
