The Guns of Will Sonnett

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The Guns of Will Sonnett was a Western television series set in the 1870s which ran on the ABC television network from 1967 to 1969.

This series starred veteran gravel-voiced character actor Walter Brennan as Will Sonnett, and Dack Rambo as his grandson, Jeff. The elder Sonnett was in search of his son, James, Jeff's father, who had disappeared shortly after Jeff's birth, leaving the young boy to be raised by his grandfather. The elder Sonnett was very capable with firearms and often spoke to strangers about this prowess in a way that often intimidated them, invariably closing with the disclaimer, "No brag, just fact," which became a catch phrase with many of the show's younger fans.

Apparently James had inherited his father's shooting prowess, for it was soon revealed that he had become an intenerant professional gunfighter. In the Sonnetts' travels over much of the West, they invariably arrived at places which had been vacated by James, usually only slightly before their arrival. The places' inhabitants had mixed opinions of James, some seeing him as a ruthless killer, others as the only man brave enough to take the side of justice against other men far more ruthless.

Unlike the case of most series with a similar premise, the problem was resolved during the series' run, with Will and Jeff eventually locating and linking up with James, and the three vowing to become lawmen together.