You have to handle a few different models, see what feels good in your hand. Aovid the brass frame models, steel frame is best.

i have a 1851 Pietta and Uberti 1851 that i converted to 38 S&W cartridge. The cartridge conversion minus the loading leaver has an excellent balance, better than the Colt 1873 (in my opinion). The 1851 revolvers have a tighter cylinder to barrel gap than most others. The Pietta 1851 has a slightly small size set of grips on the factory models. I change grips alot using the fake pearl and ivory. I also like the 1861 Uberti too.