Revisiting this thread today, after a lengthy hiatus. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth on here, but Dave is the only one who has piqued my interest in a possible contender to the BLR, with his inclusion of the venerable Sako Finnbear. See my response to his post should you be interested. I have never handled one, but I do put much credence in Dave's musings.
It is evident that there is much reverence for many classic models of lever guns out there, based on very well documented personal experiences, going back well over a century. I get that. However, sometimes nostalgia and personal preference clouds the mind when critical reviews are called for.
Quite simply, the BLR should logically, IMO, be declared the winner here, as its rack and pinion action is simply the smoothest, strongest, and most reliable action in a lever rifle ever conceived. The incredibly strong bolt locking configuration (some refer to the BLR as a 'lever action bolt rifle'), coupled with a detachable magazine that allows for the use of spitzer style bullets, are other reasons, aside from its ultra smooth strong action, that it is king in this class of rifle.
No requirement of ergonomics, style, or accuracy were included in the OPs original post, but the BLR, albeit less than glamorous in some estimates, is ergonomically outstanding (mine are all straight stocks), and their accuracy will embarrass any possible contenders.
Don't overlook the 'IMO' qualifier...
Woodlot
