What we have here is a current production 1873 Winchester. It is not a duplicate of any one that was produced between 1873 and 1919. It is not the same as any of them and was not intended to be. Think "CURRENT PRODUCTION WINCHESTER MODEL 1873."
Blackfoot
Correct, just as the model 94 is not the same as the pre 64. I do not and will not own a modern production 94 either.
If they would get the lever throw correct to the original I would probably have one of the new 73's as soon as it's introduced in either a 24 inch barrel or a true carbine and an original caliber such as 44wcf.
I just don't get how having the word Winchester written on the tang and barrel is important to someone if they don't care about the action being like the original. Having it say Winchester would be worth a little something to me in NCOWS where you like to have things authentic but without the rest being authentic the name means nothing.
Otherwise your comparing a Miroku to a Uberti and deciding which suits your needs best. The name on the barrel is just the importer, not the manufacture of the gun.