Im thinking about a H&R Buffalo Classic and Id like to get some feed back. Ive heard its a good shooter and the price is right; but it looks like H&R didnt quite go far enough. Id like to find a gunsmith that could change the hammer and lever to something that looks more 19th century.

This is where I tend to go crazy with ideas, so please be gentle. Ultimatly Id like to put a octagon barrel in 45-120 with more traditional sights.

The hammer may not be an easy change; but it seems like a lever that rolled over the side and looked less modern should be easy???

Im living in the "Peoples Republik of Maryland", where gunshops are few and REAL gunsmiths are fewer, any ideas who could do the work for less than a semester at Harvard?

Any thoughts on the project?

I think if you want the 19th century look, you're going to have to spend a lot more money, the original 1860 Wesson rifle doesn't look much like a BC or Target.

http://buffaloclassic.tripod.com/

Take it for what it is, rechamber to .45-120 and enjoy it, a tang sight isn't out of the question.

http://handirifle.com/articles/mybuffalo.htm

The .45-120 itself is a hoot to shoot, I love mine!!

My wife now thinks Im crazier than normal. She said Im fixated on this, when she dragged me away from the computer last night. I searched old therads for ideas, and I've come up with some new ones........ For me the gun is a project. The planing and anticipation are as important as the finished project. Wouldn't it be boring if tomarrow morning, you woke up and said Im going on sarafi, then left that afternoon? When I finally make those plans I want just enough time between the decision and the plane ride pack and re-pack 100 times, to train with every rifle I have, and drive everyone silly before takeoff.

SO, Im just looking for some of that 19th century "flair"...you know a little curl on the hammer or something to make it look less like a handi rifle with a long barrel. For the release lever I was thinkg something like a lever on a side lever shotgun, just a bit more rollover.

Here's my latest WISH list:
Rechamber to 45-120
Heavy Octaganal barrel
Sights-Soule tang sight or the buckhorn flip sight
add a little curl to the hammer
roll the release lever to the side
Long Brass telescope

Once REALITYsets in I'll be satified with the sigth change and re-chamber. I am going to check into the off set brass scopes. That seems "do-able" if the barrel can be tapped, once the bases are contored for the round barrel. I think Dixie has them in 18 and 24 inches. Ok and a spare barrel in _______ caliber.

I used to have a boat anchored at Tradewinds Marina on Frog Mortar Creek 65 Miles to my place in PA ! My advice get a Remington Rolling block 7X57 Chambering ,Order a Green mountain barrel , get your sights and all extra's you require , Then use my E-Mail for directions to my place !

I looked at some rifles at the SHOT show by Pedersoli http://www.davide-pedersoli.com that were reasonably priced. http://www.emf-company.com in Santa Ana,CA

If you want to change the barrel shape I would pop over to David Whites site and speak with him about his "stubbing" mite be able to do it for you,, 45-120 is a load of fun ,but in that rifle I wouldn't try for max loads recoil is ging to be tuff