Tombstone is a 1993 Western that concentrates on the events leading up to the infamous shootout between the Earps and the Clantons at the O.K. Corral. The film was directed by George P. Cosmatos and starred Kurt Russell as the legendary lawman Wyatt Earp. The cast also included Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, and Bill Paxton. Tombstone was released only six months prior to Wyatt Earp, a rival Western that starred Kevin Costner as the lawman. Peter Sherayko, who portrayed Vermillion in the film, is a film armorer and expert on guns of the Old West and was responsible for providing the majority of the firearms for this production.
The following weapons were used in the film Tombstone:
As with many Westerns, the Single Action Army is the most commonly seen gun in the film, in the hands (or holsters) of nearly every major and minor character.
Single Action Army Quickdraw Model (4.75" barrel)
Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn) carries a nickel Quickdraw model. Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer) also has a nickel Quickdraw, which he carries in addition to his Colt Lightning.
Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) often carries a Cavalry Model in addition to his Buntline Special. Morgan Earp (Bill Paxton) has a Cavalry SAA as his primary weapon, as do "Curly Bill" Brocius (Powers Boothe) (who carries two) and his Cowboy gang. Cochise County Sheriff Johnny Behan (Jon Tenney) also has a Cavalry Model, which Ike Clanton borrows during the O.K. Corral gunfight. Johnny Tyler (Billy Bob Thornton) is disarmed of his by Wyatt when the latter replaces him as faro dealer, with Wyatt tossing the revolver to the bartender as a "keepsake" to keep above the bar. Billy Clanton (Thomas Haden Church) draws his during the O.K. Corral confrontation to begin the gunfight. Barnes (John Corbett) fires one into the air during the Henry V speech, causing the other Cowboys to fire theirs into the air at the speech's conclusion.
Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) carries a Colt Buntline Special that appears to have been crafted especially for him in 1878 due to his service in Dodge City. In actuality, the Buntline Special in the film is one of three EMF/Uberti replicas custom made for Tombstone. Although the legendary Buntline Special is often associated with Wyatt Earp, he was documented in the Judge Spicer hearings as using his Smith & Wesson Model 3 Russian during the O.K. Corral gunfight.
Virgil Earp (Sam Elliott) carries a Smith & Wesson New Model No.3 with a nickel finish and pearl grips. Wyatt seems to carry this revolver in his holster when he is out riding his horse, giving it back to Virgil when talking to him about his choice to serve as City Marshal. The Schofield has a rounded rear grip frame whereas the New Model 3 has a "knuckle." The knuckle can clearly be seen in the publicity photos from "Tombstone."
When Behan is attempting to tell the Earps about Tombstone's positive image, "Turkey Creek" Jack Johnson (Buck Taylor) shoots a man in the background with a Remington 1875. Doc Holliday then sarcastically notes that the city is "very cosmopolitan".
Billy Clanton (Thomas Haden Church) loads a 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun during the film's opening shootout with the Cowboys. Several others can be seen throughout the film, used primarily by other Cowboys such as Florentino Cruz (Paul Ben-Victor) in Tombstone, Ike Clanton (Stephen Lang) at the train station and "Curly Bill" Brocius (Powers Boothe) during the Iron Springs shootout. Sherm McMasters (Michael Rooker) also carries a 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun as he arrives at the train depot with Doc Holliday, Texas Jack, and Turkey Creek Johnson.
Johnny "Madcap" Tyler (Billy Bob Thornton), the faro dealer, approaches Wyatt with a Belgian-made Meteor 10-gauge side-by-side shotgun, which Virgil Earp (Sam Elliott) picks up and uses after Johnny puts it down. Morgan Earp (Bill Paxton) also is seen carrying it. Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) uses the sawed-off 10-gauge as his backup gun, hidden underneath the faro table at the Oriental, when Johnny Ringo harasses Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer). Doc himself carries one into the O.K. Corral during the confrontation, as the true Doc Holliday had in 1881. Doc's real-life personal shotgun was a 10 gauge Colt double.
Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) carries a three-triggered Stevens 10-Gauge shotgun during his vendetta ride, notably using it to kill Frank Stilwell (Tomas Arana) at the train depot and "Curly Bill" Brocius at Iron Springs.
Several Cowboys use Winchester Model 1876 rifles during the film, including Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn) and Breckenridge (Jason Priestley). Of Earp's men, Sherm McMasters (Michael Rooker) and "Texas Jack" Vermillion (Peter Sherayko) also carry Winchester '76 rifles. According to Sherayko, who was also the film's armorer, there were five Winchester Model 1876 rifles, chambered in .45-60, used in the film.
When Virgil, as Deputy Marshal, posts the notice banning the carry of guns within the town of Tombstone, a man can be seen holding what appears to be a Kentucky Flintlock Rifle in protest.
