The late 1950s TV Western series Wanted: Dead or Alive launched the careers of two stars. The first was actor Steve McQueen, and the second was McQueen’s character’s sidearm, a cut-down Winchester Model 1892 that was called “The Mare’s Leg.” Henry Repeating Firearms, a name synonymous with lever-action rifles, already makes its own rimfire and centerfire version of a Mare’s Leg lever-action pistol. Now the company is stepping up its lever-gun game with the Bear’s Leg.
Think of the Bear’s Leg as an X model of Henry’s Mare’s Leg firearms. Henry’s X series eschews the traditional hardwood and brass furnishings of the company's more traditional lever-actions for a more tactical product. Its furniture is black polymer. The forearm has molded-in M-Lok slots, a section of Picatinny accessory rail and a sling swivel mount.
The design also has a pistol grip that is an abbreviated version of the X models’ buttstock that also has a molded-in sling mount. Like the X series, the Bear’s Leg’s sights consist of an adjustable rear and post front, both of which have fiber-optic inserts. The pistol’s 13.8-inch barrel is extended beyond the magazine tube and threaded 5/8x24 TPI for the attachment of suppressors. Steel components are given a blued finish.
The Bear’s Leg’s action is Henry’s side-eject, closed-top receiver that is drilled and tapped for mounting optics and is actuated by a mid-sized lever. Loading is through a side loading gate and the magazine tube is also removable.
While the original Mare’s Leg was chambered in a revolver cartridge (the .44-40 Win.) and Henry’s own centerfire Mare’s Leg models are chambered for revolver cartridges, the Bear’s Leg adds two rifle cartridge chamberings. In addition to .357 Mag. and .44 Rem. Mag. (four-round capacity) versions, the Bear’s Leg is also available chambered in .30-30 Win. and .45-70 Gov’t. (three-round capacity). Versions chambered in handgun cartridges weigh 5.75 pounds, while rifle cartridge versions weigh 6.59 pounds. Both have an overall length of 25.1 inches.
While the Bear’s Leg is intended as a compact backpack or truck gun, Henry also points out that, with recently changed $0 NFA short-barreled rifle (SBR) tax, a Bear’s Leg can be turned into a Trapper-style rifle, with the addition of a X-model rifle stock and the appropriate paperwork.
The Henry Repeating Arms Bear’s Leg, in any chambering, has an MSRP of $1,129. For more information, see the company’s website.
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