Field Day With a Henry Mare’s Leg .22

I’ve finally had the opportunity to take a Mare’s Leg out and fire a few rounds this week; it was a great time to finally put some rounds down range with this pistol.

The Lever, the Action, and the Accuracy Are Second to None

Seeing this type of pistol and wondering just what the purpose was for this led me to do some research on it, learning more about them in a couple hours than I thought I could.

A History Born on Horseback

The Wild West cowboys and lawmen, in the days when horse transportation reigned supreme, everyone carried firearms. Most carried a sidearm revolver and some sort of long gun at the minimum. The problem with the long gun was that carrying a full length rifle was hard to access quickly.

The cowboys and lawmen began to cut some length from the stock and the barrel so that the firearm could be carried in a scabbard ahead of the saddle and more accessible. This scabbard would hang lengthwise of the horse’s front leg in order for the rider to draw the firearm quickly if needed. The term “Mare’s Leg” was soon coined and it didn’t take long for it to stick.

More Than a Novelty

While in today’s world cowboys still ride horses but it isn’t like it was in the days of old. Many ranchers and farmers have moved to other modes of transportation such as UTV’s, pickup trucks, and tractors. The idea of the cowboys riding the trail and sleeping out under the stars every night carries a romanticized idea of the old west. This still happens in parts of the country, but isn’t nearly as prevalent as it once was.

I admit when I sold the first Mare’s Leg, I thought they were being purchased as a novelty item, something neat to have in the collection and maybe fun to get out and shoot once in a while. I held the notion that they weren’t really a useful tool to be taken seriously, but after spending a few days carrying one, I can see that they are certainly fun to shoot, accurate (if taking time to aim) and they are also a very versatile tool that can be used by farmers and ranchers in their operations in the defense of their livestock from predators and varmints.

Available Calibers

A Practical Tool for the Field

For years I’ve had my CCDW (Carry Concealed Deadly Weapon) license, and I’m pretty much always packin’ — but what I have found is that a concealed firearm isn’t always easy to access depending on how it is carried. With my family, we have a few head of cattle and work throughout the year to keep them fat and sassy. We produce our own hay so we spend some time on tractors while doing this, and I’ve found carrying a long gun on a tractor is much more practical than a pistol.

While the Mare’s Leg is technically a pistol, designated by the ATF as such, these are very versatile to carry on a tractor, or on a UTV, in a truck, and of course, on a horse.

These firearms are exactly what you would expect from a brand like Henry. While other brands produce similar products, nothing comes close to the operation, the reputation, and the reliability of Henry.

This Mare’s Leg sells for $469.99 and we would be happy to help you get one. Whether something to add to a collection or something to put to work, these firearms are great to own.

Here at Labascus Armory, we are proud to be listed as a Henry USA Gold Dealer and we would be overjoyed to help in the acquisition of your next Henry product. Come by the shop for a free Henry Catalog, or contact us to learn more.

— Chad Davenport, Labascus Armory