I always felt this way, but it took an art major to tell me why. The action is "kinked" down like someone hit it with an anvil. There are no "golden rule" proportions, but just what ever it took to make the parts fit. There is no grace or finesse about it. As it told me, it is as handsome as a garden hoe.
You have the right idea. It may have been Finn Agaard or Jack O'Connor that talked about the extremely subtle difference between two sisters. One a raving beauty and the other, well not.
In my deluded brain I find lever gun beauty in the Winchester 1892 and Marlin 1894. Svelte is a good starting point.
As much as I applaud Henry Rifles I get turned off by fake Zamac brass frames, any pot metal frames for that matter. The odd line here and there. I hope they sell train loads of them, but they won't be selling any to me.
Uberti and Rossi get so close, then step in their collective d appendages with not quite right wood, a shame. That said, some Ubertis do look right, 1873s and 66s in particular.
I'm kind of a Winchester guy, but my Marlin 1894 in .38-40, 24" octagon and color cased receiver makes me flat out happy.