Okay, you are probably aware of the Mare’s Leg gun, right? If not, here’s a bit of history.
The Mare’s Leg was the name given to Steve McQueen’s shortened Winchester Model 1892 lever-action in the hit T.V. show Wanted: Dead or Alive. McQueen’s character, Josh Randall, was a bounty hunter who spun the weapon and fired from the hip. All really cool for television, but maybe not the most practical. However, because of its pop-culture iconography, forms of the Mare’s Leg are produced today.
Henry Repeating Arms has had a version listed for quite some time. Recently, they took the basis of the Mare’s Leg and modernized it. Henry calls it the Bear’s Leg.
SPECS
The Bear’s Leg is a compact, utility-focused platform that combines the unmistakable profile of the classic Mare’s Leg with features tailored to how today’s firearm owners use their guns.
The standard specs are as follows:
- Model(s): H12, H9, H10
- Action: Lever Action
- Grip: Polymer Bird’s Head
- Caliber: 357 Mag/38 SPL, 44 Mag/44 Spl, 30-30 Win, 45-70 Gov’t
- Threaded Barrel: 5/8×24
- Capacity: 4, 4, 3, 3
- Sights: Adj. Rear, Fiber-Optic Front Sight
- Optic Cut: Drilled and Tapped for Weaver 63B
- Barrel Length: 13.8”
- Overall Length: 25.1”,
- Weight: 5.75 lbs., 5.75 lbs., 6.59 lbs., 6.59 lbs.
- Price: $1,129
FEATURES
The Henry Bear’s Leg Pistol adds a modern twist to the iconic Mare’s Leg profile, blending classic lever-action styling with features built for today’s shooters. Chambered in .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .30-30 Winchester, and .45-70 Government, the platform is built to handle everything from range sessions to truck carry and camp utility.
Each model ships with a factory-threaded barrel for suppressor compatibility and Henry’s X Model furniture, including a durable polymer handguard with M-LOK slots and an integrated Picatinny rail section for lights and accessories. Fiber-optic sights are standard for quick target acquisition, while a large loop lever improves handling and preserves the unmistakable lever-gun feel.
A side-loading gate simplifies topping off the magazine, and the pistol’s configuration also provides a straightforward path to Short-Barreled Rifle (SBR) conversion, where legally permitted and approved by the ATF. By combining modern attachment points, versatile chamberings, and a compact footprint, the Bear’s Leg Pistol is built as a flexible lever-action platform ready for customization and heavy use.
ZOOMING OUT
By combining modern attachment features, versatile chamberings, and a compact footprint, the Bear’s Leg Pistol is built as a flexible lever-action platform ready for customization and heavy use. I dig it. Maybe it doesn’t have the classic western look, but it falls in the style of the modern “tacticool” lever gun.
For more new release news, head over to the Cadre Dispatch.
