What's the best movie for Old West gun viewing?

hightime · Post by **hightime** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:25 pm

Many of the Tom Selig movies are great. I buy and watch all the good gun Westerns I can. Maybe there's some you know of that I havn't seen.

I've got ; Quigley Down Under
Crossfire Trail
Tomestone
Desperate Trail
Last Stand on Sabre River
Both True Grit movies
The Quick and the Dead
Unforgiven
Open Range
Appaloosa
310 To Yuma
Joe Kidd

Owen

tman · Post by **tman** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:51 pm

The Good, the bad, and the Ugly, if you like cartridge conversion Civil war era.

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 6:48 pm

Man, I must be kludged

Hey, I just realized on YOUTUBE you can watch all these old Westerns (for free)

Ya, I need to get with the times more.

Here is my favorite(full movie)Winchester 73
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mkl3kFD ... ure=relmfu

mack · Post by **mack** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 7:20 pm

Wasn't it "Crossfire Trail" that had an Evans rifle in it?? First time I ever saw one on screen. The Selleck movies seem have a handle on the "proper" armament for the period, and seem to make a point of it. I think Selleck is one of "us", as I believe he owned some of the firearms used in his movies.
Oh, by the way "Last Stand at Saber River" is one of my all time favorites. The book by Elmore Leonard is every bit as good as the movie, and vise-verse.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 7:22 pm

Wellllll
I am watching Josh Randall right now....
I just want to see how he gets those 45-70s in that itty bitty 92!

but, I have about 400 plus western movies and old tv episodes
some are not period correct...but, what the hay!
and your list is a pretty good start....
I like anything with Tom Selleck or Sam Elliott, and of course, John Wayne
Tom Selleck is a stickler for period correct firearms and equipment.

gak · Post by **gak** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 7:49 pm

I don't recall the gun specifics one way or another, but Broken Trail is a good yarn, largely thanks to the usual good work of Robert Duvall. He elevates just about any movie he's in--especially the westerns. I've always been a big fan of the Spaghetti trio. Appropriately gritty and certainly no fancy boots, ironed shirts and new Stetsons free from sweat stain!

Civil War movies depicting SAAs and repeating levers aside, guns out of period generally don't bother me too much if it's otherwise a good story and well cast and shot, However I draw the line at having a Win 94 (esp Post War) in it--or worst, 60s-issue Marlins like the Big Valley used--which usually is a bad sign of things really gone awry and prop departments gone cheap. I realize the 92s are just two years removed from the 94s, but they don't seem too glaring--perhaps 'cause used so much in all those John Wayne (and just about all other) movies, I'm just used to them. They've "become period" by sheer tenacity!

Rube Burrows · Post by **Rube Burrows** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 8:21 pm

Any of the newer westerns will have more period correct guns in them and that is always nice.

Crossfire Trail really showcases the 1876
Last Stand at Saber River showcases some nice conversion pistols and a 66.

Open Range shows off a few period guns.
Broken Trail does also.

The one where Eastwood plays the Preacher...title slips me right now. It showcases the 58 Remmy pretty nicely.

There are lots of good ones but usually the ones that are made from the 80s through today feature more of the period correct guns.

My brain is not working right at the moment due to me having a bad cold. Sorry I could not be of more help.

RSY · Post by **RSY** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 8:54 pm

Probably doesn't qualify as "Old West," but one of the things I love about "the Wild Bunch" is the range of weapons in there. It pretty much encompasses everything I love, from Model 94s to M1903 Springfields, and from Peacemakers to M1911s. Not to mention Model 12 shotguns and Mexican Mausers. And, there's also the Browning M1917 machine gun making a bit of an, uhhh, early appearance, shall we say. That was a very interesting time for firearms, in my opinion.

Scott

1894c · Post by **1894c** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:19 pm

RED RIVER... :)

ving-thorr · Post by **ving-thorr** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:34 pm

The lonesome dove movies!

Dead man's walk
Comanche Moon
Lonesome dove
Streets of Laredo

A little late for old west but i enjoy all the krags, 1895s, and others in the Rough Riders

airedaleman · Post by **airedaleman** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:44 pm

"Ride the High Country " with Joel McCrae and Randolph Scott. Model 8 Remington, Model 1895 Winchester, and a young Mariette Hartley.

MrMurphy · Post by **MrMurphy** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 10:09 pm

I generally put Unforgiven down as tops since the Colt double barrel, Starr revolver and Spencer rifle used in the movie were all actual original period pieces.

The Schofield and others were replicas.

JohndeFresno · Post by **JohndeFresno** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:13 pm

Too many great Westerns to make a choice! Realistic armaments coupled with outstanding actors (in my opinion) - any one of those with Tom Selleck, Robert Duvall, Sam Elliott, and the ever laconic Clint Eastwood!

And I have to say that Jeff Bridges totally threw me in the remake of that classic, "True Grit" - I didn't think he had it in him. Outstanding stuff.

I wish they had made many more.

rbertalotto · Post by **rbertalotto** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:31 pm

Just bought the Tom Selleck trilogy on Amazon for $12............Last Stand is included

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:59 pm

Silverado?

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 6:19 pm

wild bunch!

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 7:23 pm

Spotted an 03A3 in the Wild Bunch tho...

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 8:00 pm

Guys,
Another great one------------here is the trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui1Mnvdj24I

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 9:07 pm

Can't believe you guys are forgetting "Winchester ' 73" staring Jimmy Stewart!

JohndeFresno · Post by **JohndeFresno** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 1:56 am

Then, there is the "best" movie for Old West gun viewing that made me laugh -
"Colt 45," 1950, with Randolph Scott:
1) Mr. Scott and a "bad guy" had a .45 Peacemaker with a barrel length that varied between scenes, and
2) Most of the others carried a Thompson Center (T/C) pistol that they hid in a deep holster!

Apparently, they were trying to make it look like the T/C's were the older type of percussion pistols that were still around during the early years of Colt production. Hilarious!

gundownunder · Post by **gundownunder** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:25 am

"The life and times of Judge Roy Bean"
The judge's mistress gets landed on her butt when she shoots at him with a Winchester 1887

It's been years since I saw it but I seem to remember that they even used a blackpowder load.

ndcowboy · Post by **ndcowboy** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:26 am

Tombstone pretty much takes the cake as far as historical prop accuracy (other than Doc getting 3 shots out of a double barrel!). Peter Skerakyo wrote a book about it, as not only provided the majority of the guns, tack, hats, etc for the movie, but also acted in it. It is an interesting book, and if you ever want to try to copy any of the leatherwork, the pictures give you a great place to start.
Here is a link to the book: http://www.amazon.com/Tombstone-Guns-Ge ... ap_title_0

RSY · Post by **RSY** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 9:36 am

JohndeFresno wrote:Then, there is the "best" movie for Old West gun viewing that made me laugh -
"Colt 45," 1950, with Randolph Scott:
1) Mr. Scott and a "bad guy" had a .45 Peacemaker with a barrel length that varied between scenes, and
2) Most of the others carried a Thompson Center (T/C) pistol that they hid in a deep holster!

Apparently, they were trying to make it look like the T/C's were the older type of percussion pistols that were still around during the early years of Colt production. Hilarious!

But...T/C didn't come around until 1965.

So, you just mean they were cap/ball pistols?

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 10:40 am

I love watching Tombstone just for the guns and leather. The leather is for man and beast.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 10:49 am

madman4570 wrote:Guys,
Another great one------------here is the trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui1Mnvdj24I

Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea are excellent in this movie....
2 of my favorites

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 10:52 am

check this out guys
http://www.cinemacom.com/westerns.html

JohndeFresno · Post by **JohndeFresno** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 10:59 am

RSY wrote:
JohndeFresno wrote:Then, there is the "best" movie for Old West gun viewing that made me laugh -
"Colt 45," 1950, with Randolph Scott:
1) Mr. Scott and a "bad guy" had a .45 Peacemaker with a barrel length that varied between scenes, and
2) Most of the others carried a Thompson Center (T/C) pistol that they hid in a deep holster!

Apparently, they were trying to make it look like the T/C's were the older type of percussion pistols that were still around during the early years of Colt production. Hilarious!
But...T/C didn't come around until 1965. So, you just mean they were cap/ball pistols?

My bad; will have to research the movie database and see if I can find it. It was definitely the "Contender" in a Western; thought it was the movie named. I remember it was a big star of the day, thought it was R Scott...

hightime · Post by **hightime** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 12:45 pm

The Last Stand at Saber River had a Henry not a ''66''. Remember it was at the end of the Civil War.

Was it in Lonesome Dove where they used a '92 with the forearm removed and some kind of work done to the front of the reciever to make it look like a Henry. He shot and shot and the follower next to the reciever.

Owen

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 12:51 pm

JohndeFresno ... I'd wager it was one of these type muzzle loaders...The upper one is perhaps the Tingle model of 1960...The lower one that really looks TC is some kind of EyeTye version..

JohndeFresno · Post by **JohndeFresno** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 3:38 pm

Ben_Rumson wrote:JohndeFresno ... I'd wager it was one of these type muzzle loaders...The upper one is perhaps the Tingle model of 1960...The lower one that really looks TC is some kind of EyeTye version..

It could have been Nr 85 - the one on the lower left (above) - but with a flatter, plain grip.

What I saw as just a squarish angled grip, flat sideplate and hammer, which to all appearances looked to me like the Contender. The holsters of those carrying that gun had high "ears," so to speak, that hid the handgun, which I think was on purpose. When the bad guy and the good guy wore the .45 Colt, the holster was cut away as we normally see to expose at least part of the cylinder and trigger area.

That gun above, specifically the one marked "85," the one in the lower left corner of the photo - is it a correct copy of a period piece? If so, then perhaps that is what I saw.

I just checked Netflix and I am sure that the movie was Scott's "Colt .45" - a movie bundled with two others. I clicked on it to rent it again, since it is only available on DVD, but I saw that it is now marked as "Very Long Wait." Maybe because other posters saw this thread and are curious to see it, too! Too bad I can't find a clip or two on YouTube or other streaming media site to put this to bed.

JohndeFresno · Post by **JohndeFresno** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 4:06 pm

Found a still photo! If I post it on the site, I might run into copyright violations, so here is the link to view one of the guys with what looks to me like two Thompson Contenders (!) although you are right; it appears that the pistol was not marketed until about 15 years later.

Are these cap and ball pistols, or did Hollywood use a prototype of the T/C?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ctarchives ... /lightbox/

Note that the "bad guy" on the right and the Sheriff on the left both have the same gun. Note that the Sheriff's holstered gun has that characteristic squarish grip that you see on today's T/C's. Educate me, please, if this is a legitimate muzzle loading pistol (or fair copy thereof).

gak · Post by **gak** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 4:31 pm

Hightime said:
"Was it in Lonesome Dove where they used a '92 with the forearm removed and some kind of work done to the front of the reciever to make it look like a Henry. He shot and shot and the follower next to the reciever."

I've seen several like that. '73s and '66 "Yellow Boys" especially. For awhile it was a popular "modification" to give the Henry appearance while still allowing 5-in-1 blanks.

RSY · Post by **RSY** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 4:35 pm

JohndeFresno wrote:Found a still photo! If I post it on the site, I might run into copyright violations, so here is the link to view one of the guys with what looks to me like two Thompson Contenders (!) although you are right; it appears that the pistol was not marketed until about 15 years later.

Are these cap and ball pistols, or did Hollywood use a prototype of the T/C?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ctarchives ... /lightbox/

Note that the "bad guy" on the right and the Sheriff on the left both have the same gun. Note that the Sheriff's holstered gun has that characteristic squarish grip that you see on today's T/C's. Educate me, please, if this is a legitimate muzzle loading pistol (or fair copy thereof).

Cool. Looks like Remington 1867 rolling block pistols.

JohndeFresno · Post by **JohndeFresno** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 4:46 pm

RSY wrote: Cool. Looks like Remington 1867 rolling block pistols.

There ya go, RSY.
That is a new one on me! Thank you for the clarification, and my apologies to Mr. Randolph Scott (although that is a bit late).

RSY · Post by **RSY** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 5:27 pm

JohndeFresno wrote:
RSY wrote: Cool. Looks like Remington 1867 rolling block pistols.
There ya go, RSY.
That is a new one on me! Thank you for the clarification, and my apologies to Mr. Randolph Scott (although that is a bit late).

No problem. Looks like the props guy on that film did a pretty good job, actually.

The barbers must have been busy in those Old West movie towns: Everyone, even the bad guys, is usually sporting a nice clean shave and a fresh haircut!

Hey, just noticed that it's the Skipper on Scott's right. Where's Gilligan?

Les Staley · Post by **Les Staley** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 5:41 pm

While we're picking nits, I have an old photo from one of the releaseing theaters of the movie "The Wild Bunch" .. the springfield is an A3 with the world war two rear peep sight.. Dirk Thornton's sleasy bounty hunters.. Les

bobbyjack · Post by **bobbyjack** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 1:10 am

The Johnson county wars Tom Berringer as Hero and Burt Reynolds as Azzhole Sherrif,

lots of good old rifles. Another Good one is Death Hunt Charles Bronson and Lee Marvin

Lots of great guns!

Bob

bobbyjack · Post by **bobbyjack** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 1:10 am

The Johnson county wars Tom Berringer as Hero and Burt Reynolds as Azzhole Sherrif,

lots of good old rifles. Another Good one is Death Hunt Charles Bronson and Lee Marvin

Lots of great guns!

Bob

hightime · Post by **hightime** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 11:57 am

These responses are very helpfull. Thanks. It is keeping me busy on a dreary day. If the sun comes out , I have to shoot some special 45 c loads, but until then, I keep checking out movie trailers.

Owen

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 1:55 pm

Tom Selleck version of "Monte Walsh", and "Silverado" a couple of my favorites.

kragluver · Post by **kragluver** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 6:47 pm

In his interviews, I've read where Selleck will often use guns from his personal collection in movies.

hightime · Post by **hightime** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 9:14 pm

The NRA book says that whrn he does Western movies he insists on period correct firearms. Then it's in his contract to recieve those same gun afterwards.

Owen

jens5 · Post by **jens5** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 1:03 pm

airedaleman wrote:"Ride the High Country " with Joel McCrae and Randolph Scott. Model 8 Remington, Model 1895 Winchester, and a young Mariette Hartley.

Good one

rossim92 · Post by **rossim92** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 1:50 pm

Rube Burrows wrote:Any of the newer westerns will have more period correct guns in them and that is always nice.

Crossfire Trail really showcases the 1876
Last Stand at Saber River showcases some nice conversion pistols and a 66.

Open Range shows off a few period guns.
Broken Trail does also.

The one where Eastwood plays the Preacher...title slips me right now. It showcases the 58 Remmy pretty nicely.

There are lots of good ones but usually the ones that are made from the 80s through today feature more of the period correct guns.

My brain is not working right at the moment due to me having a bad cold. Sorry I could not be of more help.

i think the movie was pale rider

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:04 am

just as the Sharps rifle is the star of Quigley Down Under,
the 1876 is the star of Tom Horn.

http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Tom_Horn

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:16 pm

I have just watched an old (1940) black and white movie called "Arizona" staring Jean Arthur and William Holden.
The movie set in the 1860s had more authentic firearms than any other I've ever seen, even original speed loaders for a Henry rifle.

The villain had a pair of D/A Star revolvers and I "think" Jean Arthur had amongst other firearms a Hall carbine.
I have only watched this DVD once but I intend to see it frame by frame just to check the fantastic attention to detail.

This is one movie I really recommend to all fellow gun nuts...

I'm not saying no mistakes were made but I saw very few compared to most Westerns...

JB · Post by JB » Mon Apr 09, 2012 2:05 pm

Rube Burrows wrote:Any of the newer westerns will have more period correct guns in them and that is always nice.

Perhaps a good posting would be which movie has the worst gun viewing. One of my favorites is A Time for Killing with Glen Ford, George Hamilton, Max Baer Jr (Jethro) and others. It's a civil war picture where the soldiers are armed with trapdoors, 92 Winchesters and Colt peacemakers!

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 2:18 pm

bulldog1935 wrote:just as the Sharps rifle is the star of Quigley Down Under,
the 1876 is the star of Tom Horn.

http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Tom_Horn

...and the Winchester 73 in the movie Winchester 73.

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 2:22 pm

Not an Old West movie but great period piece for gun viewing is "The Wind and the Lion" Starring Sean Connery, and Brian Keith as Teddy Roosevelt- Great story, great acting, allot of action.

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Mon Apr 09, 2012 2:25 pm

JB wrote:
Rube Burrows wrote:Any of the newer westerns will have more period correct guns in them and that is always nice.
Perhaps a good posting would be which movie has the worst gun viewing. One of my favorites is A Time for Killing with Glen Ford, George Hamilton, Max Baer Jr (Jethro) and others. It's a civil war picture where the soldiers are armed with trapdoors, 92 Winchesters and Colt peacemakers!

"Shenandoah" starring Jimmy Stewart was a civil war piece which showed Union troops using Trapdoor Springfields.