Posted by Kevin Neilson on 8/10/2011

A close up of a white chess knight on a back background is widened to show the black pistol holster it is affixed to, which is worn by a gunman clad entirely in black. Only the gunman’s midsection is shown; his right hand slowly draws the weapon from the holster, cocks the long-barreled revolver, and rotates to point it directly into the camera for ten seconds (while a line is spoken) before the gun is de-cocked and re-holstered. The gunman is Paladin, and the show “Have Gun, Will Travel” is about to begin.

The first episodes all began with this visual, while a different spoken line was delivered, except for the Christmas episode, where he is seen hanging up the gun and holster. Later versions of the opening sequence give a longer range view, showing a full body silhouette dropping into a crouch as he draws the gun.

“Have Gun, Will Travel” is an American western TV series of the 1950’s, set in the time following the Civil War. Some later episodes allude to the setting being in the late 1800’s. Episodes were filmed outdoors in various locations, mostly in California and Oregon.

Paladin, the star of the show, is a gentleman gunfighter who preferred settling things without a fight, but wasn’t afraid of one either. He lived in a posh San Francisco hotel, dressed in formal attire, ate gourmet food, attended the opera, and was very well educated. He looked like a Dandy from the East until he changed into his all black work clothes.

When working, Paladin dressed all in black, carried a derringer under his belt, used calling cards with a chess knight symbol, and wore a western-style gun belt with the same chess knight symbol. The knight symbol refers to his name, and the theme song calls him “a knight without armor.” He uses his extensive education to help him get out of difficult situations, and often quotes poetry – unusual things for a western hero portrayed during the 1950’s.