Nothing to do with hand size.
It's a John Wayne true grit image thing IMO. The more round lever affords the appearance of the ability to 'twirl' the rifle. As he did in the movies, and as chuck Connors also did in the old rifle man series.
I didn't ask, but I know the lever shape that was featured in Steve McQueen's movie that actually coined the term Mares leg, is already on the market by someone else. (Davidson's I think) Duplication of another design gets expensive, legally speaking.
Bush hunter!
the twirl factor is even more silly......the lawyers in the States will have fun when someone looses a toe twirling their mare's leg!
The Mare's Leg carbines are classified as Non-Restricted (that's right, NON-Restricted) firearms in Canada under the current FRT system. Look them up here:
https://secure.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/eCFISB...IdSelection.do
(from the CFC's FRT tables)
Armi Sport Notes Serial Numbering: Numbered
Model: Winchester 1892 Mares Leg Notes Country: ITALY
Manufacturer: Chiappa Glossary Level: Manufacturer Specifications and Commercial Customization
Type: Rifle Legal Classification: Non-Restricted
1 45 COLT Keywords 6 305 Manufacturer Specifications and Commercial Customization Non-Restricted CC 2 "firearm" Glossary
We have the Chiappa MLs in .45 LC in stock.
I personally spoke with a representative from the CFO to confirm the status of these guns, despite the barrel being only 12 inches long, and the overall length of the gun being only 23 inches, well short of the 26-inch cut-off normally applicable to fit into this category. The response I received was this: "The Mare's Leg is fitted with a buttstock that can be fired from the shoulder, and is a modification of an existing model that has already been classified as a Non-Restricted firearm. There are no plans to review or alter the classification of this firearm at this time."
If gun owners in this country were truly a threat, do you really think our politicians would have lasted this long??