Wanted: Dead or Alive

The series follows Josh Randall, a freelance bounty hunter in the post-Civil War West. Armed with his signature sawed-off rifle, 'The Mare's Leg', Randall travels from town to town, capturing wanted criminals and collecting bounties. Each episode presents a new challenge as he navigates dangerous situations, moral dilemmas, and the often-unpredictable nature of justice in a frontier society.

Wanted: Dead or Alive was a popular and critically acclaimed Western television series during its run. Praised for its gritty realism, compelling storylines, and the charismatic performance of Steve McQueen, it became a significant show in the genre. Its success laid groundwork for McQueen's later film career.

• Steve McQueen's breakout role as the laconic bounty hunter Josh Randall was a major draw.
• The show offered a more grounded and adult take on the Western genre than many of its contemporaries.
• Its unique weapon, 'The Mare's Leg,' became an iconic element of the series.

Google audience: Audience reception for the original run was very positive, with many viewers recalling Steve McQueen's memorable performance and the show's engaging Western narratives. It is remembered fondly as a classic of early television westerns.

The iconic sawed-off Winchester rifle used by Josh Randall, nicknamed 'The Mare's Leg', was a real Winchester Model 1892 carbine that had been legally modified for the show.