It helps to carefully consider your goal(s): A pristine collector piece, model and caliber (.50-70 or .45-70), historical context, good representative example or just an economy shooter?

(A cut-down rifle/quasi-carbine can be a fun shooter and not cost too much).

I suggest you pick up a $20 book or two. Poyer has a useful one on the .45-70. Dick Hosmer has a great one on the .50-70 models. (You can buy it from him and he will autograph it).