I just found a shop in New Jersey that had a Dakota Model 10 as well as a Little Sharps. The Model 10 was in 7-08, I forget what the Little Sharps was in. First time I have picked either up. What wonderful rifles! Of course one immediately notices things one would like slightly different - like the width of the trigger on the Model 10. This store is getting several more 10's in - in 30-30, 348 Winchester, 405 Winchester. Thanks for all the comments.

Unfortunately my life got complicated by one reference on this board to a falling block action that I had never heard of before - from Hall manufacturing. Got to look at that right? (On the website they have a picture of the action and it seems homely.) I have been following the Hagn and the Allen actions since they first were announced, and the Hagn still is on my list. But I may spring for an off the shelf Model 10 so I can have it for sure for hunting this Fall, and dream about the rest later.

Modern designers of anything have many advantages, such as new and better materials that make some designs work that would have failed in the past, but most important they can see how previous people solved problems and borrow the best. Didn't Browning have the benefit of the Sharps design to look at for his falling block? Of course I had a conversation with the Little Sharps people in Montana and as SDH pointed out, they have a different vantage point on this type of issue.