Home Forums Lever Action Central Cowboy Levers Thinking about an 1873

Trying to decide between Italian or Miroku. Want a straight stock and around 20" barrel and something pretty close to original or as much so as anything these days. Local GS has a short rifle. I really hate the curved buttplate on the short rifle. Would prefer a 19" (or whatever they are) carbine with the more normal buttplate, but those don't seem prevalent. What to you lever aficionados recommend?

I have an Uberti short rifle in 45 colt. It has the curved butt stock. The only thing I wish was better on it is the trigger.

I have a miroku and I really like it. It has the checkered flat butt and very nice wood.

I've got one of the Uberti (Cimarron) short rifles in 45 Colt. I wish I'd gotten the carbine, because it's a bit muzzle heavy for my taste.

It is butter smooth, and the trigger is pretty good, but it took some futzing around to get it to shoot. It needs to be loaded pretty warm (by regular pressure 45 Colt standards) for accuracy; with lighter loads it's a bit of a buckshot flinger.

I always used to poo-poo those, but I’ve come around. They are undoubtedly extremely handsome, and some new ones are strong enough for some pretty serious loads. The quality of the Mirokus and their good tiggers give them an edge IMO, but they suffer from spotty availability. I’d like a .357 short rifle with a tang sight for my old eyes. Doubt I’ll get it, but it’s simmering in the back of my mind…….

A Uberti can be turned into a high end CAS lever gun.

This carbine was sent to Pioneer Gun Works for action work, including short stroke. I got machined fancy walnut stock and forearm, fit, finished and had checkered. I installed a buckhorn rear.

I used case colored side plates for contrast, had my logo engraved. This one is about as slick and fast as any I've handled. It shows minor wear from usage, but is still pretty nice.

DF

Drop dead pretty rifle, Dirtfarmer.

imho, the Mirokus have always been fantastic rifles.

Thanks, Sarge,

And it shoots as good as it looks.

Fast, too.

DF

Dirt,
That's a beautiful job you did in that and it really looks classy and not overly done!

Thanks for sharing,

HS 58

That's REALLY nice. I personally have no desire to shoot CAS but that looks like a great gun for it.

That is pretty. Classy even.

Thanks, guys.

I no longer have an itch to shoot CAS, but that gun is a hoot to shoot. I was always proud to show up with it. It did get some attention.

And our closest CAS facility went away. I’d have to drive two hours, just not worth the effort.

DF

Here's my pair of engraved Colt Gen 3 in .38 Spec with dead elephant grips. Nice companions to the 1873.

DF