Levergun dilemma

[Zundfolge]

Ok, so I've got it in my head that I "need" a lever action carbine in .357mag. It needs to be short (no more than 18" barrel) and a well made and pretty gun.

I've narrowed it down to a couple of choices:
1. A Uberti 1873 carbine (18" half octagon barrel, case color frame)
and
2. A Henry Big Boy (16" octagon barrel, brass frame)

The pros and cons of each are as follows

Uberti:
Cons: expensive, not sure about the half octagon barrel (although that does keep the weight back over the receiver).
Pros: King's Gate, case color finish, authentic cowboy gun. Lots of aftermarket support.

Henry:
Cons: goofy loading system
Pros: inexpensive (well slightly, compared to the Uberti). Made in 'Merica. Installing a skinner rear sight is easier than field stripping a Glock. Shiny.

Both are pretty (although if Henry made a carbine in case color I'd be looking at it, not the brass).


So ifn it was y'all spending, which way would you go? Any real big reason to go (or not go) one over the other?

Is there some option I'm not considering? (first one of you knuckleheads says Rossi is gettin' kicked in the nuts ... I'm not buying a Taurus Lever Gun.)

Note that I will not be competing in cowboy action shooting (if I was I'd spend a little more and get a modified Uberti).