Lt. John J. Dunbar (Kevin Costner) keeps a Colt 1851 Navy as his sidearm throughout the film. Also seen in the hands of some high ranking Union officers.
Henry 1860
Lt. John J. Dunbar (Kevin Costner) keeps a polished brass frame Henry 1860 rifle or as the Rebels called it, "That damned Yankee rifle you load on sunday and shoot all week", as his main weapon of choice throughout the film.
Springfield 1861
Union soldiers carry Springfield 1861 rifles as their standard issue weapons.
Springfield 1851
Confederate soldiers carry Springfield 1851 rifles as their standard issue weapons.
Union soldiers are seen armed with Colt 1860 Army revolvers as their sidearms.
[Image:DWWColt1860-2.jpg|thumb|none|500px|Major tries to kill Smiles Alot (Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse) with his Colt 1860 Army, but luckily it got too wet from him crawling in the river. It changed from a Remington 1858 revolver, which he was actually seen crawling through the river with.]]
Sharps 1863
To prepare for the attacking Pawnee Indians, Dunbar gives the Sioux indians Sharps rifles, which based on the time are 1863 models.
Sharps 1863 Saddlering Carbine
Dunbar also gives many of the Siouxs Sharps saddlering carbines, also assumed to be the 1863 model. Union soldiers are later seen almost entirely armed with Sharps Carbines in the film, and use them to sadly shoot down Dunbar's pet wolf, Two Socks.
12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun Muzzleloaders are seen used by some of the Confederate soldiers at the beginning of the film and Timmons (Robert Pastorelli) keeps one at his side while driving Dunbar in his coach. They are noted as muzzle loaders based on the romrod underslung under the barrels.