MovieChat Forums > Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958) Discussion > Is a sawed-off lever action rifle feasib...

Is a sawed-off lever action rifle feasible?

posted 16 years ago by jeffyoung1
14 replies | jump to latest

Steve McQueen's sidearm of choice in the television series, "Wanted: Dead or Alive", was a sawed-off, lever action, .44=40 caliber rifle. McQueen affectionately referred to it as his, "Mare's Leg".

It wasn't exactly crudely sawed-off. It looks like a skilled gunsmith altered the rifle for McQueen.
It could no longer be called a rifle. It was now a two-handed, lever action, long-barrelled pistol.

I'm no gunsmith. Is such a highly modified lever action firearm possible? Would it be legal today? Even if feasible, what would the shooting characteristics be like? How about the recoil? Accuracy? What would be the magazine capacity?

I seem to remember full-scale toy versions of McQueen's 'Mare's Leg' in the stores as a kid. I wish I had obtained one for a collection.

[–] night_is_silent 16 years ago

I'm not a gun expert, but based on what I've read about the Mare's Leg...

There were guns of this type in the past and still are today. It's my understanding that it's illegal to modify a modern rifle in this manner, but it's ok to own an antique version.

From what I've read, sawing off a rifle in this manner would decrease the gun's range and accuracy. It would also reduce the number of cartridges that the gun could carry. I think that Josh's mare's leg only held 6 shots.

Lastly, as has been covered in another thread here, a mare's leg is not a practical weapon for a bounty hunter to carry. It's bulky, awkward to use and only good at short range. The only justification for the gun in WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE is that it looked cool and distinctive. At a time when TV was overrun with westerns, it helped the show to stand out from the crowd.

[–] jeffyoung1 16 years ago

True, true, true...from the very start I had an instinctive feeling that the Mares Leg, cut-down 1894 Winchester lever action was not really the proper firearm for Josh Randall. Yes, the Mares Leg looked sharp and impressive, but that was it. It would be strictly a short-range weapon, almost point blank.

Josh Randall was better off carrying a 44-40 double-action revolver, possibly a 16-inch barreled lever action Wincheste 1894 Trapper model, or a sawed-off shotgun, or a shotgun pistol like Mad Max.

That just made me think about Mad Max. His cut-down, side-by-side barreled shotgun pistol was gimmicky too. It was deadly at point blank range against the dangerous Australian outback motorcycle gangbangers, but the two shots limitation worked against Max too many times. He needed to carry a semi-automatic pistol with large capacity clip magazine as a companion firearm, but he didn't.

[–] jblackie47803 15 years ago

It wouldn't be that "short-range" of a weapon. It still had a longer barrel (therefore more rifling) than a standard pistol would have, making it arguably more accurate.

[–] xenaguy 10 years ago

jeffyoung1 » Tue Aug 25 2009 16:21:03

True, true, true...from the very start I had an instinctive feeling that the Mares Leg, cut-down 1894 Winchester lever action was not really the proper firearm for Josh Randall. Yes, the Mares Leg looked sharp and impressive, but that was it. It would be strictly a short-range weapon, almost point blank.

Josh Randall was better off carrying a 44-40 double-action revolver, possibly a 16-inch barreled lever action Winchester 1894 Trapper model, or a sawed-off shotgun, or a shotgun pistol like Mad Max.

That just made me think about Mad Max. His cut-down, side-by-side barreled shotgun pistol was gimmicky too. It was deadly at point blank range against the dangerous Australian outback motorcycle gangbangers, but the two shots limitation worked against Max too many times. He needed to carry a semi-automatic pistol with large capacity clip magazine as a companion firearm, but he didn't.

Just to clarify, Josh would have used (probably) a Model 1873 Winchester, not the 1894 model.

According to Wikipedia, the 94 was not chambered for the .44-40 cartridge, but only for the .32-40, and later for the .32 Winchester Special, .30-30, .25-35 WCF, and .38-55. Also, it wasn't introduced until (obviously) 1894, much too late to be included in the timeframe of this show.

It could have been the 1892 (not 1894) Trapper model, which also came in .44-40, except for the date. I think the show was set earlier in the 19th century (15-20 years earlier).

Except for the caliber of the bullets, (The .44 Henry rifle was only chambered for the .44 Henry cartridge.) it could have also been a .44 Henry Rifle (1860) left over from the Civil War.

Everything else you said was pretty much spot-on.

- -
XenaGuy

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] hermanator74301 15 years ago

I was under the impression that the rifle was supposed to be a 30-30 Winchester. I remember hearing them mention 30-30 in several episodes. Also if you'll notice the shells on his belt are not 44-40 which is a handgun size cartridge. Anyway I don't think it would be a practical weapon. Why not carry a Colt single action army with a full size lever action or even a shotgun as a secondary weapon. Also in 30-30 the magazine capacity would be so limited along with the decreased accuracy of the short bbl. that such a gun wouldn't be practical at all. As for today such a weapon would be classified as a short barreled rifle which would be considered an NFA class 3 weapon by the BATF. I do agree with posters that said this gun was strictly for the cool factor which, after all, was what Steve McQueen was all about.

[–] bgbeck55 15 years ago

It is perfectly feasable. Currently two different companies market "Mare's Laigs" in .45 Colt, .44-40, and .44 magnum.They run about $1100.00. The show's gun was made from a Winchester 1892, probably in .44-40 so they could use the standard 5-in-1 blanks. In two separate episodes, Randal asks a storekeeper for .38-55's and .45-70's, neither of which will work in the 1892 action. But it makes a good story and they look impressive on his belt.
As far as being a weapon goes, a Colt Single action Army or Remington 1875 revolver would be much more practical. The "Mare's Laig" just made the Randal character stand out just like Lucas McCain's rifle, Johnny Yuma's sawed-off shotgun,and Yancy Derringer's derringer in his hat. It was all about gimmicks in TV westerns of the 50's.

[–] silverr8c 14 years ago

It is legal to own a cut down rifle or shotgun but you can't just go out and cut down a gun. it is classified as any other weapon under the national firearms act. Owning requires tax stamp. I paid $200 for a stamp for each machine gun I own but I thing a stamp for that would be $20 or maybe as low as $5

For more info go here

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/guides/importation-verification/firearms-v erification-nfa-antique-firearm.html

I did some more checking and I am not 100% sure on this but I think you need to pay $200 for a tax stamp to build one plus a $5 tax transfer stamp. So if you are buying one from someone that built one it only will cost you $5 for the stamp and the builder pays $200 for the stamp.

Do not take my word on this I may be wrong do your own checking to verify.
..........................
I bought my sofa at Sofa King, because their sofas are Sofa King good

[–] wgdavis 14 years ago

Hi,
Someone text about a toy one; they make real ones.. I just happen to see one at an gunshop today..

W.G.

[email protected]

[–] mrbluto-2 13 years ago

Winchester makes the collectors item gun. You can order it or buy it from the company.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] roberttroywhite 13 years ago

It is not. The 1894 Winchester did not appear until 1894. About 15 years to late on the average for the time period of this setting. Under Federal guide lines you can own or build this rifle.( with the purchase of a tax stamp for a short barreled rifle and approval of the BATFE and allowance of the state you live in. I live in Tennessee the land of the free and here we can own class 3 weapons such as short barreled rifles and shotguns, pistols with stocks, suppressors (silencers),machine guns and destructive devices when approved by the BATFE.

[–] doobienick 11 years ago

Tim Daly carried a Mare's Leg under his coat as the character "Johnny Gault" in the made for Showtime western "The Ousider" with Naomi Watts. He also carried at least two pistols.

I spend my money on dope, sex and cheap thrills.
The rest of it, I waste.

[–] pawtrax67 11 years ago

Rossi makes a Mare's Leg.

It's in .45 Long Colt,
.44 Magnum
or .357 Magnum

It's more of a novelty, but like anything if you practice enough it works.

http://www.rossiusa.com/product-list.cfm?category=17

There is a mystique about it. McQueen's Josh Randall had one, and Woody Strode had one in Once Upon a Time in the West.
It looks badass. Practical? Probably not as much as a good regular lever action rifle. But probably a lot of fun to shoot.