Steve McQueen revolver ID?...>

Doogle · November 30, 2012, 12:01 PM

Can anyone ID the brand/model of the Python-esque revolver Steve McQueen is holding in this photo?

Something from Harrington & Richardson? Arminius?

Thanks.

micromontenegro · November 30, 2012, 12:49 PM

H&R 940, if my eyesight does not betray me.
Edited to add: On a second thought, the barrel looks slab-sided, which would make the 939 more possible.

g.willikers · November 30, 2012, 12:56 PM

Gonna' have to try that technique the next time at the range.
If it's good enough for Steve McQueen..........

**Mike Irwin** · November 30, 2012, 01:03 PM

Yep, I'd say you're right on the money.

http://www.gunauction.com/search/dis...temnum=9061381

nate45 · November 30, 2012, 01:21 PM

McQueen is obviously in the living room at his Palm Springs home, practicing his aim before heading out for a shooting session in the desert. The date looks to be in the early 60s, 1963, unless I miss my guess, McQueen would have been 33 years old then. The pistol he's holding? Don't have a clue, not enough to go on.

Seriously though, looks like an H&R 940 to me as well.

Doogle · November 30, 2012, 01:32 PM

It definitely looks to be a 939.

nate45 · November 30, 2012, 01:58 PM

I called it a 940 too the same as micromontenegro did, which I now find from a little research is incorrect. While the H&R 939 and 940 are essentially the same pistol, the 940 has a bull barrel, but it wasn't introduced until 1970 and the photo of McQueen was taken in 1963, so it must be a 939. I learn something new, everyday.

micromontenegro · November 30, 2012, 02:53 PM

Rats. Now I want one.

Pilot · November 30, 2012, 03:46 PM

How is that revolver loaded? There is no loading gate. Do you pull the cylinder? Weird design.

m&p45acp10+1 · November 30, 2012, 04:09 PM

Pilot if I am correct the cylinder latch, and crane are on the left side of the revolver. If it is a Colt type the latch releases by being moved rearward. If not then it would be like the Smith & Wesson forward push type.

Oh and it is a nice looking revolver as well. I think it looks neat.

9mm1033 · November 30, 2012, 04:28 PM

You can have McQueen's revolver, I'll take his mustang.

http://bullitt-mustang.com

Webleymkv · November 30, 2012, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Pilot if I am correct the cylinder latch, and crane are on the left side of the revolver. If it is a Colt type the latch releases by being moved rearward. If not then it would be like the Smith & Wesson forward push type.

Actually, its neither. The H&R Model 939 has no cylinder latch per se but rather one simply pulls forward on the ejector rod to free the cylinder so that it can be swung out the left side of the frame like most other DA revolvers. I've seen several other older DA .22 revolvers of that design including the High Standard Sentinel series. Such a design probably wouldn't lock securely enough for a cartridge with much more power, but for a .22 it's plenty strong enough.

cohoskip · November 30, 2012, 04:45 PM

My 939 looks just like that...

g.willikers · November 30, 2012, 04:49 PM

In 1963 he could just walk in a store, buy it with no more fanfare than buying a drill.
No background check and no paperwork, other than probably having to sign autographs.

SGHOTH · December 1, 2012, 06:03 PM

Quote:

In 1963 he could just walk in a store, buy it with no more fanfare than buying a drill.
No background check and no paperwork, other than probably having to sign autographs

Thank God for our current system. Now criminals can't get guns.

Jeff #111 · December 1, 2012, 06:21 PM

For those who are interested in other firearms that McQueen owned here is a link showing several rifles and shotguns of McQueen's that were auctioned off in 2006. Also lists how much the firearms sold for. McQueen appears to have been a big fan of slide action ridles/shotguns and lever action rifles. Especially Remington and Winchester models.

http://www.mcqueenonline.com/gunssoldat2006auction.htm

Rainbow Demon · December 1, 2012, 10:12 PM

A co-worker once showed me an odd .22 revolver, H&R make I think it was. It looked much like the revolver shown in the thread starter.

The revolver I examined was odd because it had a cylinder latch mounted in the hammer. To open the cylinder with hammer down you would press a spring loaded steel plate just under the thumb piece. The shafts conected to the plate passed through the hammer and acted on the spring loaded cylinder pin.

If you look closely at the photo it appears that McQueen's revolver has that same sort of hammer mounted cylinder latch.

PS
In an old interview (available on youtube) Bruce Lee said that Steve McQueen was the only actor he'd met that he would not want to fight in real life. He said he could tell by looking at him that he'd never quit and that he would kill.

Deaf Smith · December 1, 2012, 10:54 PM

Yes it is a 939.

Just google 'H&R .22 939 slabside revolver'

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/show...t=60017&page=2

http://www.nationalgunforum.com/gun-...-revolver.html

Deaf

Redhawk5.5+P+ · December 2, 2012, 03:12 AM

Quote:

You can have McQueen's revolver, I'll take his mustang.

I get his bike, a Triumph.

He was a true legend. John Wayne and Clint Eastwood takes a back seat to a true bad-a$$. But I love them all, and the man of now is the one that is still alive. Long live clint.

warningshot · December 2, 2012, 04:27 AM

You talked me into buying a 939. But I'm going to refinish it in '1969 Ford Mustrang Green.

And from the same salesman whom sold me on a BAR in the movie, Sand Pebbles.

November 30, 2012, 12:49 PM	#2
micromontenegro Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2010 Posts: 647	H&R 940, if my eyesight does not betray me. Edited to add: On a second thought, the barrel looks slab-sided, which would make the 939 more possible. Last edited by micromontenegro; November 30, 2012 at 12:57 PM.

November 30, 2012, 12:56 PM	#3
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Gonna' have to try that technique the next time at the range. If it's good enough for Steve McQueen.......... __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

November 30, 2012, 01:03 PM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,379	Yep, I'd say you're right on the money. http://www.gunauction.com/search/dis...temnum=9061381 __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

November 30, 2012, 01:21 PM	#5
nate45 Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,746	McQueen is obviously in the living room at his Palm Springs home, practicing his aim before heading out for a shooting session in the desert. The date looks to be in the early 60s, 1963, unless I miss my guess, McQueen would have been 33 years old then. The pistol he's holding? Don't have a clue, not enough to go on. Seriously though, looks like an H&R 940 to me as well. __________________ "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."- Thomas Jefferson ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ (>_<)

November 30, 2012, 01:32 PM	#6
Doogle Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2004 Posts: 399	Thanks. It had that H&R look about it but I couldn't pin it down...> It definitely looks to be a 939.

November 30, 2012, 12:01 PM	#1
Doogle Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2004 Posts: 399	Steve McQueen revolver ID?...> Can anyone ID the brand/model of the Python-esque revolver Steve McQueen is holding in this photo? Something from Harrington & Richardson? Arminius? Thanks.

November 30, 2012, 01:58 PM	#7
nate45 Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,746	I called it a 940 too the same as micromontenegro did, which I now find from a little research is incorrect. While the H&R 939 and 940 are essentially the same pistol, the 940 has a bull barrel, but it wasn't introduced until 1970 and the photo of McQueen was taken in 1963, so it must be a 939. I learn something new, everyday. __________________ "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."- Thomas Jefferson ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ (>_<)

November 30, 2012, 02:53 PM	#8
micromontenegro Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2010 Posts: 647	Rats. Now I want one.

November 30, 2012, 03:46 PM	#9
Pilot Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2000 Posts: 4,193	How is that revolver loaded? There is no loading gate. Do you pull the cylinder? Weird design. __________________ Pilot

November 30, 2012, 04:09 PM	#10
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	Pilot if I am correct the cylinder latch, and crane are on the left side of the revolver. If it is a Colt type the latch releases by being moved rearward. If not then it would be like the Smith & Wesson forward push type. Oh and it is a nice looking revolver as well. I think it looks neat. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

November 30, 2012, 04:28 PM	#11
9mm1033 Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2005 Location: A big city with far too many cars and people. Posts: 932	You can have McQueen's revolver, I'll take his mustang. http://bullitt-mustang.com __________________ No one reads or cares what is written in ones signature box. So I'm not writing anything worth reading or remembering.

November 30, 2012, 04:45 PM	#13
cohoskip Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2007 Location: Chimacum, WA Posts: 424	My 939 looks just like that... __________________ To err is human, to forgive divine Neither is Marine Corps policy... NRA Life Member

November 30, 2012, 04:49 PM	#14
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	In 1963 he could just walk in a store, buy it with no more fanfare than buying a drill. No background check and no paperwork, other than probably having to sign autographs. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

December 1, 2012, 06:21 PM	#16
Jeff #111 Senior Member Join Date: July 25, 2001 Location: Idaho Posts: 1,072	For those who are interested in other firearms that McQueen owned here is a link showing several rifles and shotguns of McQueen's that were auctioned off in 2006. Also lists how much the firearms sold for. McQueen appears to have been a big fan of slide action ridles/shotguns and lever action rifles. Especially Remington and Winchester models. http://www.mcqueenonline.com/gunssoldat2006auction.htm

December 1, 2012, 10:12 PM	#17
Rainbow Demon Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2012 Posts: 397	A co-worker once showed me an odd .22 revolver, H&R make I think it was. It looked much like the revolver shown in the thread starter. The revolver I examined was odd because it had a cylinder latch mounted in the hammer. To open the cylinder with hammer down you would press a spring loaded steel plate just under the thumb piece. The shafts conected to the plate passed through the hammer and acted on the spring loaded cylinder pin. If you look closely at the photo it appears that McQueen's revolver has that same sort of hammer mounted cylinder latch. PS In an old interview (available on youtube) Bruce Lee said that Steve McQueen was the only actor he'd met that he would not want to fight in real life. He said he could tell by looking at him that he'd never quit and that he would kill. Last edited by Rainbow Demon; December 1, 2012 at 10:21 PM.

December 1, 2012, 10:54 PM	#18
Deaf Smith Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2000 Location: Texican! Posts: 4,453	Yes it is a 939. Just google 'H&R .22 939 slabside revolver' http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/show...t=60017&page=2 http://www.nationalgunforum.com/gun-...-revolver.html Deaf __________________ “To you who call yourselves ‘men of peace,’ I say, you are not safe without men of action by your side” Thucydides

December 2, 2012, 04:27 AM	#20
warningshot Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2009 Posts: 995	You talked me into buying a 939. But I'm going to refinish it in '1969 Ford Mustrang Green. And from the same salesman whom sold me on a BAR in the movie, Sand Pebbles. Last edited by warningshot; December 2, 2012 at 05:45 AM.

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