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!

I"ll add another 1873 in 357. Here with an 1866.

Love those old cowboy rifles. Brings back the nostalgia of my youth.

Nice. The 73 is on my wish list.

I absolutely love the look of the pistol grip models. Never enjoyed the look of straight stocks quite as much.

I like both stocks but I only have straight stocked ones

one on top is a Uberti/Cim. 1876 Centennial 45-75 it's a beast, just need to find some 45-75 ammo!

one on bottom is a Uberti/Cim. 1873 .45 Colt.

The Miroku has the original half-cock and lever safeties.

No rebounding hammer. No tang safety.

However, where the original 1866 and 1873 and Italian repros have a solid breech pin, the Mirokus have a sliding automatic safety tunneled inside the breech pin that deactivates when the hammer strikes the breech pin. It's hardly noticeable.

In the pistol grip versions of all 1873 Winchesters and repros that I have seen, the curved portion is so far back on the stock that it doesn't seem to do anything. The lever and portion of the grip under the lever seems just as straight as the straight grip version.

Perhaps it was mostly for a deluxe appearance, along with the checkering?

My Navy Arms Miroku 1873...

https://ibb.co/cxR9F44
https://ibb.co/0Y822n9
https://ibb.co/z4s3Vkf

EDIT:
I can't load full sized pictures like some of the others here...

I have one. Davidson edition with beautiful wood and case hardening. It's also one of the funnest guns I have ever shot.

Straight for me.

I've only have one and it's a straight stock and I've grown to like it and have much love for the 73 in general. I can only imagine how the men back in 1873 felt when they picked up one for the first time and put a few rounds through it. It bet they had a smile on there face.