r/Westerns • u/Catholic_Dad_1858 • 1d ago
Wanted: Dead or Alive
I don't care if I'm an old man, I STILL want that lever-action Mare's Leg that Steve McQueen carried in Wanted: Dead or Alive. I promise to use it responsibly. Just rustlers and wanted criminals.
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u/Fusiliers3025 1d ago
Provided it’s legal in your particular area, functional Mare’s Leg styles are available from Henry, Rossi, Taurus, and I’m sure others.
More an “oh wow” piece, IMO, because they’re awkward to shoot well with, but hey. Sometimes ya just gotta cycle fast and hip-shoot!
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u/Cuhuldra 1d ago
My budy has one in his Gun shop Here in Oregon. Honestly kinda worthless. Half the speed, maneuverability, and accuracy but twice the kick and half the ammo capacity of a good pistol. I did buy a nice Henry's .22 long rifle lever action though.
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u/Catholic_Dad_1858 1d ago
What you say about the rifle reminds me of watching the Bullitt (with Steve McQueen) car chase scene with my friend who knows cars. He said while the Mustang Bullitt drives is cool, the Charger driven by the bad guys was a lot faster car and would've left Bullitt in the dust.
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u/Reasonable-Form-4320 11h ago
This is true. The stunt driver of the Charger had to keep slowing down to make the chase look plausible.
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u/hi-howdy 1d ago
I’m wondering what caliber that is.
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u/Catholic_Dad_1858 1d ago
According to our AI Overlords, it was a chambered .44-40 caliber. The bullets he carried, however, were .45-70 caliber rounds, which while visually impressive, were not actually compatible with the gun.
I say, if Steve McQueen wanted to use .45-70 caliber rounds with a .44-40 caliber rifle, he could make it happen, because he is Steve McQueen.
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u/hi-howdy 1d ago
These bullets are necked down. I’m going to have to research. Interesting
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u/hi-howdy 1d ago
I put my glasses on and realized that they aren’t necked down. I believe that they are 45-90. Same as 45-70 but longer.
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u/Extreme_Leg8500 1d ago
I recall, Von Dutch (the pinstripe custom car guy) made the original and got into some legal trouble. It varies state to state, but I think the replicas get around the cut down rifle problem by being listed a pistol. Henry makes a nice replica. https://www.henryusa.com/handguns/big-boy-mares-leg-side-gate/
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u/Catholic_Dad_1858 1d ago
Those look nice! Too pricey for me, but I'll keep buying those lotto tickets and put this on my wish list.
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u/azroscoe 12h ago
Perhaps THE most impractical firearm.
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u/Catholic_Dad_1858 4h ago
Yes, definitely not the weapon for home protection. More of a conversation piece, provided the people you are conversing with are not too young.
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u/ThrowRA137904 1d ago
I’m not even 30 yet and that movie was awesome!