Steve McQueen revolver ID?...>

D

Doogle

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

Something from Harrington & Richardson? Arminius?

Thanks.

mcqueen_rev1.jpg
 
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.
 
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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. :p:D

Seriously though, looks like an H&R 940 to me as well.
 
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. :)
 
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.
 
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.
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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.
 
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.
 
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
Click to expand...

Thank God for our current system. Now criminals can't get guns. :rolleyes:
 
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
 
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.
 
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You can have McQueen's revolver, I'll take his mustang.
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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.
 
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.
 
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