If you're looking at takedown rifles, you're looking for either a rare original or a Ballard.  The receivers are different on the takedowns.

David
Montezuma, IA

Paul,
Frank Zika makes takedown irons but they will not work on a standard action.
The take down action is a coil spring action and is not cut in at the face for the forend. 
Cheers,
Laurie

To my knowledge, C. Sharps, Meacham.

I spoke to Ballard LLC right after I saw that they were offering the takedown model. They confirmed that they were indeed making a coilspring action now. In my opinion if you want to do a takedown project and don't have the action already then Ballard is the best cheapest option. Other coil spring high wall actions can be altered to accept the takedown assembly but that is after you already paid for the action. The expense would be more than if you just went to Ballard in the first place. 

40 Rod

Thanks to everyone for the replies!

I did find that article in the Journal about the Zika barrel extension, but found it too late at night to read it, I will brush up on it after work.

Thanks to all for fixing that misconception I had about 'em

I will be keeping my eyes open for an original action suitable to rebuild.. but I never seem to have money (or visa space) when they come up...   

Oh, and Mori; that local stockmaker is who I'd planned to ask (beg) first... first I need to acquire a variety of shiny objects he may be interested in (plus money) to entice him

This is probably going to be quite a long term project given my finances... but, never started, never finished!

I'm liking the idea of a C. Sharps action, with Meachem triggers/lever... 
That and a Ballard take-down with double triggers as an action are on my "call" list.

Regarding the Uberti; 
I see little difference in "rebuilding" a buggered original, vs rebuilding (up to and including re-machining some parts) the Uberti.  Like with some Chinese tools, if treated as a "casting kit", they can be made useable.  The couple Uberti's I've seen locally have actually been surprisingly nice, and well fit (at least those parts visible without taking it apart).
They're damn sure no Meacham, but they're also $5000 cheaper than a Meacham, and a guy can do a lot of remachinging, rebarreling, restocking, re-color case, etc for $5000....
Still, NOT the top of my list... but not OFF the list either.

Lots to think about..
(good to know I didn't miss any makers that might make exactly what I'm looking for... sorta..)
Paul F.

Paul, second try. Here is the answer to your Dream.

1) Start looking for and buy a Winder Musket Takedown Hiwall Rifle complete. Hopefully one with a rotten bore.

2) This action now is the core of your Schuetzen. Contact Ballard and arrange to have them fit it up with their Wide spaced Double Set Trigger pistol grip lower Tang. Be carefull here as there are variations in Pistol grip shape from early to late Schuetzens and Deluxe sporting models. Also the Lever of your choice.

3) Arrange with competent quality Gunsmith to have the Rifle built up the way you want. Ballard is also capable of doing this work. I have seen some really nice example's of Ballard Hiwalls and they were nice.
But have not seen a full Schuetzen from them as of yet.

By the way the Hiwalls from the Coil Spring and Takedown era were by Winchester standard all Blued actions as that had become their standard of manufacture for the Model 1885. I have been collecting and accumilating Hiwalls for 46 years and have not seen to date a factory color cased coil spring or takedown reciever. 

Now I expect to see all kinds of howling here about the strength of the Winder actions for centerfire calibers. But the truth is the model 1885 got it's robust strength from design not heat treat of the material. Not to say proper heat treat does not help. But if you look around you will find plenty of Winder Musket Actions that have been rebarreled in what can only be described as modern high pressure woodchuck calibers. I presently have a "Built of Parts" takedown Hiwall that was a  winder musket action with a 30-40 Krag Takedown Barrel I assembled it with. I shoot it with fairly stiff loads of smokeless and Jacketed bullets. It  has an original Winchester #3 Nickle Steel barrel and swallows 37 Gr 3031 and 180 Sierra jacketed bullets with ease. 

This dream Schuetzen is gonna cost you somewhere in the price range of $4,000.00 or more depending on the Grade of Wood, Checkering, Sights and stuff etc.
Other than wanting it to be Takedown you can just plain order it from Ballard or Meacham. I have a Meacham Hiwall in 40-70 SS and it is a well built rifle with only a few Minor changes from the original Winchester design that I feel ARE beneficial. Ballard arms I believe has stayed true to the complete original design. There just is not any way around this price figure today for a Hiwall Schuetzen. HTH, Regards FITZ

That's why they call them dreams, Vall!  

I was fortunate enough to acquire the take-down action I have been building on nearly 20 years ago in a trade when it was an ugly sporter.  I got one of Ben Rice's last sets of DSTs before his passing, a Walker style lever (from a Shelton casting) and the necessary barrel extension lug from a dealer.  In the intervening years it has been restocked 3 times and rebarreled twice and is now heading toward being my interpretation of a Laudensack Schuetzen model.  It has both barrels available now that Frank Zika is making the barrel lugs and should have a third installed soon.  If I had to replace it all at once, the dream would be a nightmare!!  

I bet you have some Ballard stories that are almost as involved though, don't you Vall?

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!  

Froggie

PS  BTW, I would wholeheartedly agree with FITZ on the most likely donor action, if indeed one can be found in a reasonable time.  OR you could just send a blank check to Ballard, and they could build exactly what you want in about 6-10 weeks!