Hollywood’s record on firearms is spotty. Gunplay is often goofy and very unrealistic. But, sometimes that goofiness leads to something cool — even to the point of creating new types of firearms like the Colt Peacemaker Buntline Special. Another example of that rare phenomenon is the Mare’s Leg pistol. Mare’s Legs have only been around since 1958. They seemed so common that I didn’t realize they were a complete Hollywood fabrication until very recently. I blame that on the fact that my limited television options as a kid didn’t show the right reruns.
Hollywood prop or not, Mare’s Leg pistols are perhaps more popular than ever, So, let’s take a look at the admittedly cool Mare’s Leg, where it came from, and a few modern takes on the not-as-old-as-you-might-think design.
What is a Mare’s Leg?
A Mare’s Leg is basically a cut-down lever action rifle. Barrels range from 9 to 12.5 inches with the stock chopped off right behind the lever, often just back of the comb rise. They’re currently available in popular lever action pistol calibers. There’s even a .410 shotgun model.
Factory Mare’s Leg firearms are classified as pistols by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), but cutting one down yourself requires an NFA tax stamp. Likewise, the short “stocks” qualify the guns as pistols. Adding a longer stock for shouldering would likewise make the gun a short-barreled rifle (SBR) or shotgun (SBS), requiring the tax stamp. I understand the temptation, but make sure you’re doing it legally.
The result is a seemingly unwieldy, but undeniably cool-looking weapon. The problem is, how does one shoot such a thing and is it actually good for anything? Fear not, we’ll get to that. First, let’s go back to “those thrilling days of yesteryear,” or just to 1958, and see where this thing came from.
Steve McQueen inadvertently named the Mare’s Leg
In case you didn’t know, Steve McQueen was the epitome of 1960s cool. I recommend Bullitt and The Magnificent Seven (the original) if you want to check out some of his movies. McQueen’s star was still rising when he signed on to play bounty hunter Josh Randall in the 1958 TV Western, Wanted Dead or Alive.
Four Star Television launched the series as a spinoff from its popular Western, Trackdown. McQueen first portrayed Josh Randall in a Trackdown episode titled, “The Bounty Hunter.” The producers decided to give Randall a “gimmick” weapon. They turned to artist/gunsmith/custom car designer Kenny “Von Dutch” Howard, who altered a Winchester Model 1892 lever action rifle by removing most of the stock and cutting the barrel down to nine inches.
McQueen, himself a hunter and firearms enthusiast, suggested adding a duckbill hammer and the large lever loop. The large lever loop is reportedly a Hollywood invention via stuntman Yakima Canutt, who suggested creating it for John Wayne’s big hands. The duckbill hammer made the gun easier to “fan,” and the large loop is undeniably attractive, if mostly impractical. The large loop was also featured prominently in the Western TV series, The Rifleman, which, coincidentally, premiered in 1958. Chuck Connors used The Rifleman’s large loop Winchester 1892 to popularize the sweet looking lever action spin cock.
At the time, no one had ever turned a Model 92 into a sidearm before. Because that’s how McQueen carried it, fast draw leather craftsman Andy Anderson created a special holster for McQueen to wear the gun on his right hip and draw it effectively. Ultra cool. But cool or not, the producers failed to consult the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division (ATTD), forerunner of the ATF. The feds were not pleased with this clear violation of the National Firearms Act and the producers paid $1,100.00 in taxes and license fees for the three Mare’s Legs they made for the show.
The name “Mare’s Leg” came from McQueen himself. While familiarizing himself with the weapon, he was asked about the recoil. He replied that the gun kicked like a mare’s leg. The line was adapted for the show’s dialogue, in which McQueen’s character, Josh Randall, said of the weapon, “It’s kinda like a mare’s leg, only not as mean…but if I have to use it, I want to make sure the message gets to where’s I’m pointin’.”
The name stuck. The guns were all modified Winchester 92s chambered in .44-40 but weren’t identical. One had a larger loop than the others and the second and third models had octagonal barrels unlike the original’s round barrel. Despite the .44-40 chambering, McQueen’s cartridge belt packed .45-70 Gov’t rounds because the producers thought the bigger rounds looked more menacing, which, to be honest, they do. Hollywood never really worries about reality if it looks good.
A Big Hit
Wanted Dead or Alive ran for three seasons. It was a big hit, but moving its time slot killed the show as it has for many other programs. Some say McQueen pushed the change knowing how it would turn out, because he wanted to leave the show and get into movies.
Regardless, the Mare’s Leg lived on. Gun magazines wrote about it and toy Mare’s Legs graced department store shelves. TV shows and movies used the Mare’s Leg: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cut down Winchester Model 1887 shotgun in Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Zoë’s Winchester ’92 Mare’s Leg in Firefly, and Woody Harrelson’s standard lever loop 1892 in Zombieland. In the 1987 film, Wanted Dead or Alive, Rutger Hauer played Josh Randall’s grandson, Nick, where the 20th century bounty hunter kept his grandfather’s Mare’s Leg in a display case.
Mare’s Leg imagery was so commonplace that many, including me, thought the guns had been around forever. So, it’s no surprise gunmakers began building real Mare’s Legs for the shooting public and Western enthusiasts.
A Mare’s Leg of Your Very Own
Reproduction Winchester Model 92 Mare’s Legs were made by Eagle Squadron and JB Custom, chambered in .44-40. Meanwhile, Rossi introduced the Ranch Hand in 2010, based on the R92, Rossi’s Winchester 92 copy. The 12-inch barreled Ranch Hand was originally offered in .357 Magnum/.38 Special, .44 Magnum/.44 Special, and .45 Colt. Looking at the Rossi website, it appears .45 Colt is the only chambering still available for a new Ranch Hand.
Chiappa makes a nice Mare’s Leg for Legacy Sports that’s nearly identical to the TV version. Dubbed the Puma M-92 Bounty Hunter, you get your choice of a 9 or 12-inch barrel and the guns are chambered in .357 Magnum/.38 Special or .45 Colt. Chiappa also offers a 12-inch barreled Mare’s Leg in .44 Magnum and even have a takedown version.
Henry offers perhaps the most complete Mare’s Leg line out there. Why wouldn’t they? Henry is synonymous with lever guns. You can choose the 12.9-inch barrel Big Boy Side Gate model in .357 Magnum/.38 Special, .44 Magnum/.44 Special, or .45 Colt. They also have rimfire Mare’s Legs in .22 Short/Long/Long Rifle and .22 Magnum. As if that weren’t enough, the Axe .410 bore with 15.1-inch barrel is also available from them. Henry even offers a nice leather holster for Mare’s Leg and Axe firearms.
Finally, Heritage just released a new Settler lever action rimfire line in .22 Long Rifle, including a 12.5-inch barrel Mare’s Leg.
What are Mare’s Legs good for?
Great question. Glad you asked. Honestly, Mare’s Leg firearms aren’t good for much. I suppose you could hunt with one, but I can’t imagine why unless you’ve got nothing else. Range and accuracy would be questionable at best. Self-defense? Well, sure, but maybe not your best option. You might toss a Mare’s Leg in your truck, but again, other guns do that better. However, I see where the Henry Axe would make a good snake gun.
You may have a real use for one, but I recently picked up a Heritage Settler Mare’s Leg .22 as a fun gun. Purely a range toy. Oh, I’m gonna do cool stuff with it, like attaching a single point sling to the saddle ring and running it (sort of) like a sub-gun. I fully intend to get very good at spin cocking it. That’s probably it aside from taking cheesy photos, but I don’t care. It’ll be tons of fun for not much money.
Shooting it properly will take some practice. You cannot shoulder this thing. I tried. So, extended on a single point sling and hip shooting will be the thing. Hip shooting is obviously inaccurate as heck, but it’ll be fine since I usually shoot into the side of a mountain.
A Pop Culture Win
Like it or not, pop culture influences the firearms world. Sometimes it’s good. Sometimes not. The NFA regulates suppressors partly because politicians bought into movie mischaracterizations. Then, you have the John Wick effect. However, Western movies and TV shows reign supreme here. Lever action rifles and single action revolvers’ popularity exploded in the 1950s as Hollywood ushered in the “Golden Age of Westerns.”
The iconic Colt Peacemaker was discontinued because of World War II and declining sales. Colt rushed it back into production in 1955 amid skyrocketing demand. The Mare’s Leg was part of that process, even though it was created specifically for a TV show.
Thanks to the need to draw eyeballs, we now have Mare’s Legs and 12-inch barreled Peacemakers (the Buntline Special). Gun owners often sneer at Hollywood — and usually with good reason. But occasionally, they do something right. Impractical as it surely is, the Mare’s Leg is a cool and fun concept. Sometimes I like having cool guns of questionable utility. After all, shooting is supposed to be fun. If nothing else, the Mare’s Leg delivers that fun. Steve McQueen can’t be wrong.
