MovieChat Forums > The Bravos (1972) Discussion > Firearms seem to be correct for the peri...

Firearms seem to be correct for the period


I know a little about historic firearms of the USA. This is just a post to state that, because of this interest in firearms, I always try to see if firearms used in westerns are correct for the period. There is a lot of problem with Hollywood productions using firearms that are incorrect....typically using Colt Peacemaker type sixguns and Winchester type lever-action repeating rifles that would not have yet been developed or available in certain time-frames of certain films. Just want to compliment the producers on this film. This was supposed to take place in 1866 and it appears the handguns used were cap-and-ball (aka percussion type) revolvers which did exist for about 20 years preceding 1866. The so-call peacemakers from Colt did not come out until 1873. About the rifles...the lever-action rifles used by some appeared to be replicas of the Henry Repeater which came out in about 1861-62 and were, to a limited degree, used during the Civil War. Also, it appears that some of the civilians and enlisted soldiers had single-shot rifles that were certainly period correct because they appear to have been a type used during the Civil War. So, I am pleased to see that this part of the equipment necessary for a historical piece was correct.

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This film was made well before replicas of Henry rifles were avaliable from Italian gun makers like Uberti. The ones used in this film lookm like Winchester model 92s with the handguards removed. The Henry did not have a side loading port.

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Hey Moewadle,

I just started watching this film, and I don't think you are altogether right about the firearms being period correct if the film is supposed to take place in 1866. In the opening scene, the soldier searching the empty Indian village certainly seemed to be carrying an 1873 Trapdoor Springfield carbine. The Springfield Trapdoor used a 45-70 cartridge, and it was not introduced until 1873. Shortly thereafter, you can also see Pernell Roberts using what seemed to be a "pretend" Henry rifle. Like Barjo4 noted above, the rifle appeared to be a later model Winchester with its forestock removed to make it look more like a Henry. You could clearly see Robert's rifle had a loading port on its right side while a true Henry rifle loaded its tubular magazine from the front rather than using a side loading port at the receiver. As you mentioned, however, I did see percussion pistols used at the beginning of the show.

After watching the whole film, it seemed to me George Peppard started out with a Remington Army percussion pistol, and at the end of the film, he was using a Colt Army percussion pistol, both of which would have been period correct. The 1873 Model Springfields, however, would not have been correct for the time. It seemed that everyone, including Indians, had the pretend Henry rifles.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile



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