The Wild Geese: Difference between revisions - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
The Wild Geese: Difference between revisions
There is a huge mix of all manners of FAL rifles in the film. The Mercenaries use a mix of LAR, FAL 50.00 and [[L1A1 SLR]] models. Some of them are firing semi auto and others are firing full automatic.
There is a huge mix of all manners of FAL rifles in the film. The Mercenaries use a mix of FAL 50.00 and [[L1A1 SLR]] models. Some of them are firing semi auto and others are firing full automatic.
[[Image:L1A1-SLR.jpg|thumb|none|450px|British Inch Pattern L1A1 SLR (Self Loading Rifle) chambered in 7.62x51mm]]
[[Image:L1A1-SLR.jpg|thumb|none|450px|British Inch Pattern L1A1 SLR (Self Loading Rifle) chambered in 7.62x51mm]]
[[Image:WG-L1A1a.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Mercenaries all fire the L1A1 SLR (Self Loading Rifle) chambered in 7.62x51mm. Medical Orderly Arthur Witty (far left) carries an Uzi during his jump, uses an L1A1 during the first battle, and then switches back to an Uzi for the rest of the film. Actor [[Percy Herbert]] (middle) also seen using a L1A1.]]
[[Image:WG-L1A1a.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Mercenaries all fire the L1A1 SLR (Self Loading Rifle) chambered in 7.62x51mm. Medical Orderly Arthur Witty (far left) carries an Uzi during his jump, uses an L1A1 during the first battle, and then switches back to an Uzi for the rest of the film. Actor [[Percy Herbert]] (middle) also seen using a L1A1.]]
Lt. Shawn Fynn (Roger Moore) uses a suppressed Walther P38 during the scene when his team takes control of the airport. Another P38 is used by a mafia hitman during their hunt for Shawn Fynn. Col. Faulkner also uses a P38 to perform a mercy-killing later in the movie.
Colt M1911
The Sgt. Major "Sandy" (Jack Watson) uses a Colt M1911 to discipline a soldier during training. He later uses it during the final shootout at the airfield. Another 1911 is used by a mafia hitman (Leslie Schofield) during the Shawn Fynn rescue.
A Czechoslovakian Sa.23 Submachine Gun with a fixed wooden stock is seen in the parachute harness of a mercenary as they prepare to do a jump from the C-130 transport plane. Later it is seen being used by the 4th NCO, Derek (Joe Cole) as the mercenaries capture Zembala airport. Derek is still carrying it when Lt. Fynn's detachment capture the battered old Dakota DC-3.
It is the 23 model because it is 9mm Parabellum, the later 7.62x25mm Tokarev model has a slanted pistol grip and magazine hence the ammunition. While it might be unusual for one of the mercenaries to be carrying a communist weapon during the Cold War, the design was actually sold to and adopted by South Africa during that time period. Some may think it is a South African Sanna-77 submachine gun. The Sanna-77 was a semi-automatic SMG issued to white Afrikaans farmers during the Aparthied era as a protection weapon, however many claim that is was merely an updated Sa.25 (folding stock 9mm). This is unlikely since the Sanna-77 was only manufactured in a folding stock version.
Sa.25 submachine gun
One mercenary can be seen with the folding stock of the 9mm submachine gun. This indicates it is the Sa.25 Submachine Gun.
RSM Sandy Young (Jack Watson) uses a Sterling L2A1 submachine gun as well as several of the other mercenaries.
MAC-10
One of the members of the hit team sent to kill Shawn Finn (Roger Moore) uses what appears to be a MAC-10.
Rifles & Carbines
L1A1 SLR
There is a huge mix of all manners of FAL rifles in the film. The Mercenaries use a mix of FAL 50.00 and L1A1 SLR models. Some of them are firing semi auto and others are firing full automatic.
FN FAL 50.61
Some of the Mercenaries and nearly all of the Simbas (General Endoufa's crack troops) carry the FN FAL 50.61 paratrooper rifle. This is odd, since the junta's forces are being aided by the Soviet Bloc (note the Cuban and East German military Advisors), thus it would have been more likely that the junta's soldiers are issued AK47s or other Combloc weapon.
However, the number of FN-FAL available for the production is logical though as the movie was filmed in South Africa and used South African weapons.
FN FAL
A lot of the Mercenaries carry the FN FAL automatic rifle with a wooden stock and metal foreend. Faulkner is seen holding a FAL for one of the soldiers while the latter cuts through a barb-wire fence. Note the slim folded bipod.
FN FAL 50.00
Hardy Krueger as Lt. Pieter Coetzee uses an FN FAL 50.00 with a wooden buttstock, like many of the other mercenaries.
Custom L1A1 Battle Carbine
Ex SAS member Tosh Donaldson played by Ian Yule used a weapon that was a chopped down L1A1 SLR that was converted to full auto fire with a special single dot reflex sight and flash hider (and 40 round 7.62x51mm magazines). The actor Ian Yule, was a former real life Mercenary in the Congo during the 1960s under the command of Major Mike Hoare. For many years, fans of the film assumed the weapon was a South African R1 Variant, but information directly from the actor reminds us that there was an arms embargo against South Africa during the 1970s (because of apartheid). This was a custom made L1A1 carbine that came from a UK Movie armory.
SIG SG 510
During the attack on the barracks, a Mercenary carries a StG 57/SIG SG 510 Assault Rifle. It is also seen fired in the prone position during the final firefight.
Machine Guns
Bren Gun
The Bren Gun is used by some of the Mercenaries and Simbas, both in .303 and 7.62.
Vickers Gun
A Vickers Machine Gun is used by the Mercenaries in the final firefight with the Simbas, manned first by Sgt. Jock McTaggart and then by Capt. Rafer Janders. This weapon was most likely scavanged by the Mercenaries at the Airport (by Colonel Faulkners orders) since its not a light-weight weapon (55.12 lb, 25.00 kg) and were probably not parachuted in with the Mercenaries who according to plan were not expected to remain for more than a few hours.
FN MAG-58
The FN MAG-58 is used by some of the Mercenaries and RSM Sandy Young (Jack Watson).
Fire Support
RL-83 Blindicide Rocket Launcher
Tosh Donaldson (Ian Yule) carries and uses a Belgian RL-83 Blindicide multiple times during the final firefight. Tosh's rocket launcher does not have the blast shield installed.