The Wild Bunch: Difference between revisions
The Wild Bunch: Difference between revisions - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
The Wild Bunch: Difference between revisions
The Wild Bunch is the 1969 Western starring William Holden as the leader of an aging outlaw gang at the beginning of the 20th century who make one last score and are pursued into Mexico by a posse led by a former ally. The film is considered director Sam Peckinpah's finest film, but was highly controversial at the time due to its extreme violence and themes. In 2006, the restored version of the film was released on DVD under the title The Wild Bunch: The Original Director's Cut. The film's influence can be seen in the works of director John Woo and Walter Hill as well.
The following weapons were used in the film The Wild Bunch:
The members of the "Wild Bunch", most notably Pike Bishop, Dutch Engstrom, Lyle Gorch, and Angel, use Colt M1911 pistols. As with many other films made during this time, 9mm Star Model B pistols were used instead as they were more reliable with blanks. The German government official with Gen. Mapache notes that the "Wild Bunch" are carrying them, noting to tell them that they cannot be acquired legally by private citizens. In the film, you can see that they use both M1911's and Star Model B's as well, the pictures from the film below you can tell the difference from a M1911 to Star Model B, just by looking at the diameter of the barrel and size.
Of the "Wild Bunch", Pike Bishop, Dutch Engstrom, and Tector Gorch keep a Single Action Army as a secondary sidearm. Deke Thornton and the rest of his posse pack SAAs and they seem to be the standard sidearm of the Mexican Army, including Major Zamorra (Jorge Russick). Other anonymous characters use them as well.
Some of the Mexican soldiers carry Colt New Service revolvers. In both flashbacks, a lawman arresting Thornton and a jealous husband who wounds Pike each use a New Service. Pat Harrigan also keeps one in his waistband.
The Mexican prostitute that shoots Pike in the back during the final shootout uses a Luger P08.
Commander Mohr (German actor Fernando Wagner) is also seen with a luger.
Some of the U.S. Army and Mexican Army soldiers in the film use Springfield M1903A3 rifles. Tector (Ben Johnson) uses one while dressed as an Army corporal and in some scenes after. Coffer (Strother Martin), a member of Thornton's posse, uses one as well, at one point telling T.C. to dig a bullet out of a corpse to see if it is one of his .30-06 rounds. Coffer's M1903A3 is the World War II variant, making it anachronistic for a film taking place between 1913 and 1916. The rifles used on the film were made by National Ordnance.
Characters on both sides of the law use Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine rifles. Of the "Wild Bunch" itself, Pike, Dutch, Tector, Angel, and Freddie Sykes (Edmond O'Brien) can all be seen using Winchester '92s. Deke Thornton (Robert Ryan) leads his posse with a Model 1892. Some members of the posse, including T.C. (L.Q. Jones) use '92s as well.
Pat Harrigan (Albert Dekker) fires a Winchester Model 1892 (not a Saddle Ring Carbine like the other characters carry) when he sits on the rooftop with the posse he hired.
A single barrel shotgun is used by a town resident to shoot one of Pikes gang members in the face. The shotgun has a very long barrel giving the impression that this citizen grabbed his duck gun and tried to help fight the gang.
It is possible the gun is a "Harrington & Richardson Topper M48 Shotgun" 20 gauge. The gun seen in the movie has a hammer and a small switch to break open the weapon for reload. The barrel also appears to be larger than a more usual 12 gauge shotgun.
The Wild Bunch steals a .30-06 water-cooled Browning M1917 machine gun and gives it to Mapache "as a gift". Mapache (Emilio Fernandez) fires it wildly when trying to find out how to use it. Later in the film, Pike, Lyle, and Tector each fire it at the Mexicans during the final shootout. This gun is most likely an anachronism as the film takes place during Pershing's time in Mexico, which was before the M1917's development.
