Three Men from Texas

This is one of 54 Hopalong Cassidy features produced by Harry Sherman, initially distributed by Paramount Pictures from 1935-1941, and then by United Artists 1942-1944, which were purchased by their star William Boyd for nationally syndicated television presentation beginning in 1948 and continuing thereafter for many years, as a result of their phenomenal success. Each feature was re-edited to 54 minutes so as to comfortably fit into a 60 minute time slot, with six minutes for commercials. It was not until 50 years later that, with the cooperation of Mrs. Boyd. i.e. Grace Bradley, that they were finally restored to their original length with their original opening and closing credits intact.

Just prior to the first shootout between an outlaw gang against Hopalong Cassidy and California Carlson, Hoppy hands California one of his guns to provide cover. When it's all over, Hoppy comes over to California and takes back the gun, and throws it over his shoulder into the brush. But it was his own gun.

Edited into Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (1976)