Henry Mare's Leg

The Henry Mare’s Leg is a pistol-format lever-action firearm with a short barrel and abbreviated stock inspired by the sawn-off Winchester carried by Steve McQueen in the TV series Wanted: Dead or Alive. Henry produces the Mare’s Leg as a pistol (NFA-free) in .22 LR, .357 Magnum/.38 Special, and .44 Magnum/.44 Special — delivering the classic lever-action manual of arms in a compact, visually striking package popular among collectors, western enthusiasts, and shooters who want something genuinely different.

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Mare’s Leg History: From TV Prop to Production Firearm

The Mare’s Leg originated as a custom prop firearm built for Steve McQueen’s character Josh Randall in the 1958–1961 TV western Wanted: Dead or Alive, using a cut-down Winchester Model 92 with a pistol grip and shortened barrel. The distinctive look and McQueen’s iconic portrayal made the Mare’s Leg one of the most recognized western prop guns in television history. Henry’s production version replicates the aesthetic — a short-barreled, pistol-grip lever-action that captures the look and feel of the original prop in a legal factory configuration that does not require NFA registration because it is designed and sold as a pistol from the factory.

Mare’s Leg Calibers and Configurations

Henry produces the Mare’s Leg in three calibers. The .22 LR version is the most accessible for casual plinking and makes the lever-action format available at minimal ammunition cost. The .357 Magnum/.38 Special version is the most practical, offering genuine defensive capability with .357 Magnum loads while also accepting inexpensive .38 Special for range use. The .44 Magnum/.44 Special version delivers maximum power in the pistol format with the option of mild .44 Special loads for recreational shooting. All three feature an American walnut stock with a large loop lever, brass receiver, and octagon barrel.

Is the Henry Mare’s Leg an NFA Item?

No. The Henry Mare’s Leg is manufactured and sold as a pistol from the factory — it does not have a shoulder stock, and its short-barrel pistol configuration was its original design intent. Because it was never a rifle, it is not subject to NFA short-barreled rifle regulations. It is subject to the same purchase requirements as any handgun. Do not add a shoulder stock to a Mare’s Leg without appropriate NFA SBR registration, as doing so would create a short-barreled rifle requiring a tax stamp and registration.

Frequently Asked Questions: Henry Mare’s Leg

Is the Henry Mare’s Leg a pistol or rifle?
The Henry Mare’s Leg is legally classified as a pistol. It was designed and manufactured as a pistol from the outset, so it does not require NFA registration despite its lever-action mechanism and short barrel.

What calibers does the Henry Mare’s Leg come in?
The Mare’s Leg is available in .22 LR, .357 Magnum/.38 Special, and .44 Magnum/.44 Special.

Can I add a stock to the Henry Mare’s Leg?
Not without NFA registration as a short-barreled rifle. Adding a shoulder stock to any pistol creates an NFA-regulated SBR requiring ATF approval and registration.

What TV show is the Mare’s Leg from?
The Mare’s Leg was made famous by Steve McQueen in the 1958–1961 CBS western Wanted: Dead or Alive, where his character used a cut-down Winchester Model 92 as his signature sidearm.

Browse Henry Mare’s Leg
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