I looked at the rebounding hammer on a friends new 1886 ELW. It seems to me the only real differece is you can't lower it all the way, like on a half #### type. Are people finding there is some functional disadvantage to this? Seems to be a reasonable break from tradition with no downside, excepting the sentimental value of tradition. I think the tang safety will be a handy feature. It still gives you the option of carrying the rifle with the hammer on half #### and additionally you can have it in full #### with the tang safety on. When calling in an elk it would be nice to be able to have it cocked and loaded with the tang safety still on. A quick flick of the thumb on the tang and you are ready to fire. It all should add up to a nice working rifle, one I can carry in the mud the blood and the beer when I don't want to hurt my darling original Model 71. I think if the original 1886 had been made in this configuration it would have been an improvement. Just be thankfull it didn't come out with a cross bolt safety, laminate stock, raised cheek piece, giant novelty lever loop and drilled and tapped for scope mounts.