TH44,
Nice rifle and the lever terminus is classic.

I started the lever modification by cutting most of the original off and then forming a piece of D2 to the desired curve. This was welded on to the action end of the lever. A tube of 1018 steel was welded to the other end. I then made buttons to cap each end of this tube. These caps were engraved and then nitre blued. They are secured with a screw from one side. The buttons are just in front of the breech block in the photo.