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KC
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« Reply #61 on: August 26, 2003, 09:37:21 PM » |
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John Omohundro
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« Reply #65 on: September 18, 2003, 08:27:09 AM » |
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Couple of small corrections, guys:
First of all, although Alistair MacLean *DID* specify that Major Smith and Lieutenant Schaffer used silenced Lugers in the novel "WHERE EAGLES DARE", the German military had, according to J. David Truby's "SILENCERS, SNIPERS, AND ASSASSINS", given up on attempting to silence the Luger automatic during World War ONE. Seems the temperamental pistol's action didn't take to having the extra weight of a silencer attached to its barrel. Coupled with the low-velocity ammunition usually used with silenced weapons, the experimental Lugers were too prone to jamming to be reliable as combat weapons. The automatics used in the film by Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, and Mary Ure were WALTHER PPKs.
Secondly, the rifle used by Scorpio in "DIRTY HARRY" was NOT an M-1 Garand. The Garand is a SEMI-AUTOMATIC rifle, and Scorpio's weapon was a BOLT-ACTION--specifically, a Japanese Type 99 Type 2 Paratrooper's Rifle, which was one of two takedown variations of the basic Type 99 Arisaka battle rifle, intended for use by airborne paratroopers. The rifle used in "DIRTY HARRY" had been further modified by (1) the addition of a sporter (hunting rifle)-type stock; (2) conversion to .30-'06 from the standard Japanese 7.7 X 58MM Arisaka (essentially a rimless counterpart to the .303 British); (3) the addition of a telescopic sight in quick-detachable mount; and (4) the addition of a Maxim-type silencer.
Thirdly (and with all due respect to the gentleman who posted the original), the rifle shown under the "Coogan's Bluff" entry could just as easily be a MARLIN MODEL 336. It's SIMILAR in appearance, but NOT IDENTICAL, to the MOSSBERG Model 472 Brush Gun identified in the other gentleman's post. No criticism is intended here--I'm just pointing out that there is ANOTHER rifle that could have been used in the film.
And lastly, the Thompson-pattern SMG used by Eastwood in "Kelly's Heroes" was NOT a Model 1928. Although MANY of them were procured for military use early in the war, that model of Thompson was superseded by the simplified Thompson M-1 and M-1A1 Military models, which are easily distinguished from the earlier models by the presence of the cocking knob on the RIGHT-HAND SIDE of the receiver, instead of on the TOP, as was the case in the earlier Models 1921, 1928 and the rare Model 1923. Also, the M-1 and M-1A1 Thompsons could only accept 20- and 30-round box magazines--the M-1921 and M-1928 could accept these too, as well as the 50- and 100-round drum magazines frequently shown in the gangster films of the 1930s and 1940s. If you look closely at "KELLY'S HEROES", you'll notice that (a) most, if not all, of the Thompson SMGs shown are of the M-1/M-1A1 pattern, and that (b) they ALL use box magazines (check out the scene after the first firefight when the Company Quartermaster (I *THINK* that's what he was supposed to be) is walking from man to man doling out Thompson SMG magazines from a duffel bag).
--John
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« Last Edit: September 18, 2003, 01:01:04 PM by John Omohundro »
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John Omohundro
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« Reply #66 on: September 18, 2003, 12:48:37 PM » |
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Incidentally, gentlemen and/or ladies, the Automag used in "SUDDEN IMPACT" was custom-built for the film by Arcadia Machine & Tool (AMT), a company which built the ORIGINAL Automags back in the 1970s.
According to GUNS & AMMO magazine, which did a cover article on the pistol in, I believe, June 1984, there were actually TWO such guns built for the film, serial numbered "Clint 1" and "Clint 2". The former was set up for LIVE ammunition (presumably for the impromptu range session between Eastwood (as "Harry Callahan") and Detective Horace King (played by Albert Popwell, who also had roles in "COOGAN'S BLUFF" ("Wonderful Digby"), "DIRTY HARRY" (the "I gots to know!" bank robber), "MAGNUM FORCE" (a pimp), and "THE ENFORCER" (as "'Big Ed' Mustapha")). The second gun was set up to use blanks, and was featured in the shoot-out between Harry Callahan and Mick (Paul Drake) and his cronies at the end of the film.
Once again, no criticism intended of anyone else posting here. I'm just doing my part to help set the record straight.
-- John
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« Last Edit: September 18, 2003, 12:49:42 PM by John Omohundro »
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KC
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« Reply #67 on: September 18, 2003, 06:08:17 PM » |
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John Omohundro
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« Reply #68 on: September 19, 2003, 08:59:52 AM » |
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John Omohundro
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« Reply #69 on: September 20, 2003, 02:51:25 PM » |
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KC:
I'm not quite certain, but I believe that Eastwood used the SAME holster and gunbelt set for "JOE KIDD" that he did for the earlier "Spaghetti Westerns". However, he did NOT use the same gun--the pistol he used in "A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS" and "FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE" had a 4.75" barrel, while the one he used in "JOE KIDD" had a 7.5" barrel--something the holster easily accommodated, because it was open at the end. (This was a feature common in the 1950s "Fast Draw" craze; it allowed a hardened steel plate to be affixed to the end of the holster, parallel to the shooter's leg, but angled slightly away from his body. The idea was that, in the event of an accidental discharge while drawing the gun in a competition using live ammunition, the plate would safely deflect the bullet away from the shooter's body.)
It was originally made for him by the late Andy Anderson, the same man who designed and made the silver-inlaid rattlesnake grip panels showcased in those films. Until shortly before his death about 20 years ago, Anderson made virtually ALL of the leatherware that Eastwood used in his Western films--from his days as "Rowdy Yates" on "RAWHIDE" until he played the lead in "THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES".
--John
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John Omohundro
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« Reply #71 on: September 25, 2003, 05:21:53 PM » |
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Just asking: Does anybody have an idea what the brass machine gun was which Ramon Rojo used to ambush the American soldiers in "A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS" ? I think an 1886 Maxim, which was the first true machine gun ( i.e. , mechanically operated by the ammunition, rather than a manually-operated weapon, such as the Gatling gun) would fit the time period. However, the only sources that I have say that the Maxim gun, while first purchased by the British government in 1885, were not used in combat until the Matabele wars in Africa in 1891. If the weapon WAS a Maxim, I suppose that Ramon Rojo could've somehow gotten hold of one--after all, he and his family were, essentially, arms dealers. Unfortunately, that's a hobby of mine--finding flaws in films, such as weapons that were produced later than the era in which the film takes place (1873 Colt Peacemakers and Winchesters in a film set during the Civil War, for example--a few of John Wayne's early films were like that  ). Anyway--is there anyone here who might be able to shed a little light on this particular subject, and possibly identify the machine gun in question? Thanks in advance.  --John
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John Omohundro
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« Reply #72 on: November 22, 2003, 02:52:46 PM » |
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The Man With No Name: You're correct. Or as Don Rickles said in KELLY'S HEROES , "You win a cookie."  I read several years ago that there were several substitutions for the .44 Magnum co-star made during the filming of DIRTY HARRY . The standard gun was a Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum, with blued finish, checkered Goncalo Alves ( a tropical American hardwood known also as "Kingwood" or "Zebrawood") hardwood grips, a rear sight that was adjustable for windage (side-to-side movement) and elevation (up-and-down movement), and a 6.5" barrel. However, because there was a shortage of that model at the time (possibly in CA state gun shops, and not a production shortage at Smith & Wesson, as some have hinted here, although I am not certain), some Smith & Wesson Model 57s were used--this pistol is virtually IDENTICAL to the Model 29 except for caliber (the Model 57 is a .41 Magnum rather than a .44). Also, possibly to make the weapon look more intimidating physically from some camera angles, several revolvers of both models with 8.375" (8 and 3/8ths-inch) barrels were used, most notably in the scene at the football stadium where Harry shouts "STOP!" , and we (the viewers) are treated to a three-quarter view of the .44's right side (all the way to the muzzle-- SHUDDER! ), just before Harry blows Scorpio's leg out from under him. --John
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« Last Edit: November 24, 2003, 03:27:13 PM by John Omohundro »
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D'Ambrosia
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« Reply #74 on: December 25, 2003, 10:36:31 PM » |
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The pistol that Blondie uses in the Good the Bad and the Ugly is a modified 1851 Navy Colt (modified, no doubt, by a dubious gunsmith). It has been converted to fire metallic cartridges which was extremly rare in the day but a few guns around then could fire these bullets (Smith and Wesson). The technology was there but the mass production was not. Both the Union and Confederate States stalled and delayed the new metallic cartridges in fear of their armies wasting ammunition and costing too much to manufacter.
One of the most popular of Civil War revolvers was the Colt Model 1851 in 36 caliber. Around 250,000 were made by Colt between 1850 and 1873. It had a six shot cylinder and a 7-1/2" octagonal barrel. The standard cylinder featured an engraved scene of a naval battle. The Navy designation meant it was 36 caliber. 44 Caliber were known as Army, but both terms are merely convenient marketing designations. This model was carried by such different men as Robert E. Lee as the Confederate Commanding General and by Wild Bill Hickock as the Sheriff of Abilene. It was loaded with loose blackpowder and a bare bullet, referred to as "cap and ball," or with paper cartridges. Loading a cap and ball revolver is from the front of the cylinder. Misfires in cap and ball revolvers were more common than in the subsequent metallic cartridge guns. The misfire problem was well enough known to be commented on when it didn't happen after unusual circumstances. The '51 Colt carried by Robert E. Lee made the commentaries. When it was shot after his death in 1870, every chamber fired when it had last been loaded during the middle of the War about seven years earlier. The '51 Colt Navy was the first gun to be made as a replica in the 1950s. The markup prototype was assembled in 1949 for Italian production
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« Last Edit: December 25, 2003, 10:37:20 PM by DAmbrosia »
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Blu
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Would you like some of Bill Carson's tobacco too ?
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« Reply #75 on: January 01, 2004, 08:33:16 PM » |
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....I don't know a whole lot about guns, and this post is a bit late in the chronological sequence, but as I stated once before, two of the guns Clint used in the spaghetti western trilogy are (or were, last time I was there) on display in the Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. I'm not sure if the post is still around, but I believe one was a Springfield rifle (probably used in the GB&U), and the other a Colt revolver. ....Just thought I would throw that in.
-Blu
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« Last Edit: January 01, 2004, 08:35:53 PM by Blu »
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"Don't piss down my back and tell me it's rainin'[/b]...."
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