I've got a bad hankering for a new Winchester 1873. I'm thinking Sporter, case coloring, .44-40. I'm debating between straight vs pistol grip. What are your thoughts on this?

Also, his is it that there is no rebounding hammer and no tang safety on these rifles?

Straight

What make is that gem?

Of all things, a Chaparral. The wood jumped out at me and the relatively odd caliber for a replica.

Curious. Why straight vs pistol grip?

I'm in the same boat so to speak. My eyes are on the Uberti or Taylor Firearms 1873 Short Rifle. All my Marlins are PG - 336s & an 1895.

I can't speak for Viking, but I prefer a straight grip because the vast majority of '73s were configured that way. There were special orders and such, but most of them were straight gripped. Most were either full rifles or carbines too. The short rifle is a very popular REPLICA configuration right now.

The current 1895 is a bigger 336, differing from the original 1895's...which were mainly straight gripped, I think. The one I owned was. The later 1895's are vastly more popular than the originals which did come out at the end of the western era. I'd guess most 336's are pistol gripped with the straight grip having been a pretty popular variant for a long time though. Thinking the 336 T (Texan) and such.

I have recently handled a Winchester 1873 and it was much like my Uberti Short Rifle, ie. same smooth action with a "short stroke" kit installed (mine does not have). It was well done, like Miroku makes most of their guns. The Winchester version seems to weigh and balance the same as the Italian makes. I like all of the 1873's models, but if they came in really hard recoiling rifles I would prefer the longer barrel for the extra weight (8.3 pounds or more) and a "pistol grip" over a straight grip (I believe it handles more recoil by distributing it to the hands as well as the shoulder). I chose the Short Rifle (20" BBL) because it weighs about 7 1/2 pounds, which makes for a easy carrying, reasonable sight radius, and virtually little recoil from the pistol calibers it "houses". I like the esthetics of a straight grip on a lever action, but I like the control a pistol grip gives on guns shot more than carried.

Beautiful!

Only picture i have of my 357:

^ YOWZERS!