The Legality of Hollywood Guns

by
posted on October 1, 2010
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
201010191523-pixblog210-001_ms.jpg

In the movies, you see all kinds of guns that are illegal to own—machine guns, sawed-off shotguns, silencers, etc. Most of this stuff is legal to own if it is registered under the provisions of the National Firearms Act and if you live in a state that permits it.

Most movies are made in California, which does not permit private parties to own even registered NFA items. Where do the movie makers get their guns? They come from firearm rental firms who legally own them under a specific provision of the Penal Code in California. In this way, one of the Golden State's legitimate businesses is allowed to conduct business.

I have toured the gun vaults of one of the great movie gun rental firms and looked in awe at the thousands of firearms they own for use in films, including Thompson Submachine Guns they bought from Auto Ordnance in the 1920s. Under these laws, it was legal for them to make the famous Mare's Leg handgun used by the late Steve McQueen in the TV show Wanted Dead or Alive.

The gun in question is a Model 92 Winchester rifle cut down to very short length—both barrel and butt—so that McQueen could carry it in a special holster. There is little practical reason to do this because it ended up with a 6-round magazine tube, essentially the same capacity as a Colt six-shooter. But this was the era of “different,” so the gun lived on.

A private party, then or now, could not legally build such a gun, in that it would violate the provision of the law that prohibits the shortening of a rifle below a 16-inch barrel. However, if the gun is built at a factory in the McQueen configuration and registered as a handgun, it is perfectly legal to own. In this way, a nostalgic shooter can re-live those thrilling days of yesteryear—with live ammo and a replica. In fact, Rossi has recently created a Mare's Leg. Josh Randall lives!

Latest

Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1
Taurus Expedition Rifleman Review 1

Rifleman Review: Taurus Expedition

Taurus entered the bolt-action rifle market with its Expedition, a Remington 700-pattern design that's built to be versatile and affordable.

New For 2025: Charter Arms Pathfinder II

Charter Arms updated one of the oldest models in its lineup with the new Pathfinder II, which features a lightweight 7075 aluminum frame, making it more well-balanced and easier to carry.

Review: Kimber 2K11

The 2011-style pistol was designed to address the capacity limitations of the single-stack M1911 platform, and Kimber's approach to the concept is its 2K11, a competition-ready offering with several notable features.

Favorite Firearms: A High-Flying Hi-Standard “A-D”

Manufactured in New Haven, Conn., in late 1940, this Hi-Standard pistol was shipped as a Model “A,” but a heavier Model “D” barrel was installed later to replace the original, light barrel, leading one American Rifleman reader to call it a Model “A-D.”

Ruger Helps Families In Need Through The Kids & Clays Foundation

In the effort to help tens of thousands of critically ill children and their families across the nation through local Ronald McDonald Houses, Ruger is among some of the industry’s foremost Platinum-level sponsors of The Kids & Clays Foundation.

Unlocking The Future: Smith & Wesson's "No Lock" Revolvers

The future is shaping up to be a good one for fans of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The iconic American company had released 14 new models thus far in 2025 at the time this was written mid-year. And, with one exception, they have all shared a common feature—no internal lock.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.