Magazine review of Big Boy & Mare's Leg

[Les]

I received the January 2017 edition of one of my comics .................. er, no, sorry, one of my magazines, and there is a report on two of Henry's rifles, the Steel Henry .357 BB and the Mare's Leg.

There isn't anything in it that we didn't already know, but I thought it was really cool to see Henry rifles being featured. I do know that Henry rifles are quite popular over here, which explains why some folks have to wait for a while for new stock to arrive.

I don't know the prices in the USA, but for most things we usually pay in pounds sterling what you pay in dollars - plus a bit for good luck!

The reviews are generally complimentary, although like me, they seem to be bemused by the Mare's Leg.

I've taken a couple of pics, but I'm not sure how legible they will be. Photography is not one of my strong points!

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[JEBar]

is that a British publication ?

[Les]

is that a British publication ?

Yes, it is. It's called Gun Mart. It comes out monthly, and it's the only magazine that I subscribe to. It has some good articles, but I really like all the adverts. A lot of people don't like adverts clogging up their magazine pages, but I love 'em! It's nice to know what's available, and also the kind of prices that things are selling for.

It usually covers Airguns, Airsoft, Firearms, Countryside & Shotguns, Bushcraft & Outdoor, Militaria Mart, and articles on just about anything and everything that people like us are interested in.

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[JEBar]

info sincerely appreciated .... I know next to nothing (or even less) about British gun laws .... about all I've heard is commentary about it being somewhat difficult to own, possess and use them .... consequently, the thought of having such publications over there never crossed my mind ....

[Sir Henry]

Half the people here are confused by the Mare's Leg too. You have to have watched the TV show Wanted: Dead or Alive to appreciate one.

[CT_Shooter]

Thanks for the culture exchange, Les. Interestingly, the laws in CT (and maybe everywhere in the U.S.) consider the Mare's Leg to be a pistol and, therefore, to own one requires a state pistol permit; but in the U.K. it's considered a "Large Firearm".

[Les]

Half the people here are confused by the Mare's Leg too. You have to have watched the TV show Wanted: Dead or Alive to appreciate one.

Yes, I've watched a few episodes on YouTube. I vaguely remember seeing it on TV over here as well, probably quite a while after it first aired in the US.

Thanks for the culture exchange, Les. Interestingly, the laws in CT (and maybe everywhere in the U.S.) consider the Mare's Leg to be a pistol and, therefore, to own one requires a state pistol permit; but in the U.K. it's considered a "Large Firearm".

I don't know anybody here who owns one, so I really don't know how one would be recorded on a firearms certificate. The "guide" on UK firearms laws runs to 271 pages, but Mare's Legs are not mentioned anywhere. I'd love to know how many pages are in the full version!

Very, very briefly, a firearm here has to conform to:-

" any firearm which either has a barrel less than 30cm/12" in length or is less than 60cm24" in length overall, other than an air weapon, a muzzle-loading gun or a firearm designed as signalling apparatus".

I think the overall length of the Mare's Leg is 25", so it definitely qualifies as a firearm, but I don't know where the magazine got 'Large Firearm' from. I suspect it is something that they have just made up. It's not something I've ever heard before. My best guess is that it would appear as 'rifle' on a firearms certificate, but that is just a guess. Either way, it's not something that I'll be rushing out to buy any time soon!

info sincerely appreciated .... I know next to nothing (or even less) about British gun laws .... about all I've heard is commentary about it being somewhat difficult to own, possess and use them .... consequently, the thought of having such publications over there never crossed my mind ....

You're in good company. Many shooters here don't know much about the gun laws either .... and I'm probably one of them. I know enough to stay legal, but that's about it. Even the police here are not that clued up about it, because firearms offenses are not something they come across on a regular basis.

You are correct in thinking that it is difficult to own, possess and use firearms over here. Shotguns are generally easier to come by, but they must have a maximum magazine capacity of 2+1. Any more than that and it a different license. To own a rifle, you normally need to be a member of an approved shooting club, or have land - either your own or somebody else's - on which you can shoot, and the land must be passed by the police for the calibers that you will be using.

Pistols and revolvers are a minefield, so I won't even go there. Suffice it to say that we used to be able to buy them, and now, realistically, we can't. At least I had plenty of opportunity to own and shoot most things in South Africa, so I haven't been totally deprived of fun.

[clovishound]

Thanks for the culture exchange, Les. Interestingly, the laws in CT (and maybe everywhere in the U.S.) consider the Mare's Leg to be a pistol and, therefore, to own one requires a state pistol permit; but in the U.K. it's considered a "Large Firearm".

No permits required here in SC to own a pistol, or other firearm, unless it is a class III. If you can pass the federal background check and have the money to pay for it, you can take your new pistol, or better yet, Henry, home with you. You do have to keep it in certain areas of the vehicle, unless you have a concealed carry permit.

All this stuff varies from state to state. The only constant is the federal background check. Even that does not apply to private sales in some states.

[CT_Shooter]

No permits required here in SC to own a pistol.

In CT, where regulations are fairly rigid (though not as stiff as other states), a state issued permit is required to buy or carry a pistol; which means that approved owners will have had a background check, the mandatory basic NRA firearms and safety instruction, and some minimal hands-on practice before they can buy or carry one. It took several weeks and a couple of hundred dollars for me to get one and, frankly, I'm glad it wasn't any easier. With my permit, I can buy as many approved pistols and rifles and ammo as I can afford (no AKs or mags over 10).

Otherwise, no permit is required to simply possess a pistol that has been inherited or otherwise obtained, though it would not be allowed to leave the owners' home. Furthermore, purchasing factory ammo would be restricted because a qualifying permit is also required to buy ammo here (long gun or pistol permits qualify). Oddly, handloading isn't restricted at all; anyone can buy the equipment and materials (including bullets, primers, and powder) to make their own.

[tractortad]

No permits required here in SC to own a pistol.

In CT, where regulations are fairly rigid (though not as stiff as other states), a state issued permit is required to buy or carry a pistol; which means that approved owners will have had a background check, the mandatory basic NRA firearms and safety instruction, and some minimal hands-on practice before they can buy or carry one. It took several weeks and a couple of hundred dollars for me to get one and, frankly, I'm glad it wasn't any easier. With my permit, I can buy as many approved pistols and rifles and ammo as I can afford (no AKs or mags over 10).

Otherwise, no permit is required to simply possess a pistol that has been inherited or otherwise obtained, though it would not be allowed to leave the owners' home. Furthermore, purchasing factory ammo would be restricted because a qualifying permit is also required to buy ammo here (long gun or pistol permits qualify). Oddly, handloading isn't restricted at all; anyone can buy the equipment and materials (including bullets, primers, and powder) to make their own.

CT gun laws aren't too far off from the rules in Europe. Glad I live in Virginia.

[Sir Henry]

Lots of good stuff in this thread. In the U.S.A. a pistol can not have a buttstock and must be able to be shoot one-handed.