For the turn of the century guns, I'd go with the darkhorse Remington 1894s. Built kinda thick 'n beefy and best fit the life and times.
Steel barrel era would go to the Phila. made AH Fox guns - the tops of all the American guns.
My picks of these would be in the lower grades, just as were hunted back in those good ol'grandpa days.
Anything higher, better go English and get the whole package.