Trigun is a 26 episode anime "Space-Western" series from Madhouse Studio based on the manga by Yasuhiro Nightow. Set on a desert planet populated by small towns of human settlers, the story follows Vash the Stampede, an outlaw known as the "Humanoid Typhoon" with a 6,000,000,000$$ ("double dollar") bounty on his head. The show draws heavily from the Hollywood portrayal of the American frontier (especially Spaghetti Westerns) and relies heavily on guns and gunplay, boasting a wide array of firearms ranging from real-world models to carefully designed fictional firearms. The series is notable for being one of the major anime titles in the U.S. in the 90's, where it gained (and still maintains) far more popularity than in its native Japan.
Note: Many of the weapons in the series are based on real-world designs but have been modified to appear more futuristic. Most modifications are largely cosmetic and will simply be noted as "Futuristic" in the section header.
Vash the Stampede's primary weapon is a fictional silver-plated double-action, .45 Long Colt revolver. While the weapon's name is never given, the markings on the side of the barrel denote it as a ".45 Long Colt AGL Arms Factory". It possesses a 6 o' clock position barrel similar to a Mateba Autorevolver, a break-top mechanism similar to a Schofield Model 3.
The revolver's internal operation is somewhat unclear. The barrel mates up with the lowest chamber of the cylinder, but when fired, the hammer does not appear to be striking the round in that chamber. There may be an internal mechanism that redirects the force of the hammer down to the correct round. It appears to be styled in this way to keep the gun looking more conventional, instead of having the more unusual-looking hammers of the Mateba handguns. At the beginning of the series, the weapon has fallen into disrepair (Vash states that it is "three inches off from only ten yards") until episode 3 when the gunsmith Frank Marlon "changes the cylinder and hammer parts" and gives it a general tuneup. The revolver is also part of the "Angel Arm" weapon system.
Vash's revolver is not entirely unique. A second revolver AGL Arms revolver with a black finish was also created for Vash's "brother", Knives. While it is almost identical to Vash's weapon, it features a slightly different set of grips (which include a lanyard loop in the front) and lacks the smooth upgraded cylinder.
At the end of episode 2, Mr. Cliff uses a fictional semi-auto pistol. While it doesn't appear to be based off of any particular weapon, the design is fairly believable and features a cut-away slide similar to many Beretta handguns.
Nicholas Wolfwood carries several fictional 1911-style handguns called the "Grader Single Hand 2043". According to markings on the weapon, it is a .45ACP handgun, manufactured by a "Grader Arms Co.", based out of July City. The most distinguishing feature about these weapons is the cocking lever; the front of the triggerguard is separate from the rest of the triggerguard and is attached directly to the slide. This allows the shooter to rack the slide with their shooting hand, allowing the pistol to be used completely one-handed.
A frequently seen weapon is a futuristic version of the Single Action Army revolver with two ejector rods that comes in three different barrel lengths.
A large portion of episode 3 centers around the history of a small town where gunsmith Frank Marlon had previously armed the population with custom-built revolvers referred to as "Frank Marlon Specials". All of these weapons are identical save for their finishes and some ornately engraved models.
An excerpt from the Trigun artbook showing the "Frank Marlon Special".An excerpt from the Trigun artbook showing the more ornate version "Frank Marlon Special".Error creating thumbnail: File missingAn ornately engraved "Frank Marlon Special" hanging on the wall of the town saloon. (Ep.03)Error creating thumbnail: File missingA closeup of the barrel of a "Frank Marlon Special". (Ep.03)Error creating thumbnail: File missingAnother engraved "Frank Marlon Special" with a silver finish. (Ep.03)
Lighter Pistols
The gang leader in episode 3 uses a pair of lighter pistols modeled after the basic design of several Early Colt revolvers during his introduction. It is never shown if these are actual pistols with a lighter mechanism built in or just a pair of ostentatious cigarette lighters as he never uses them again.
One reoccurring weapon is a fictional semiautomatic pistol that uses design concepts from an assortment of real-world pistols. It features a forward-mounted magazine and cocking handle similar to the TEC-9, while the action operates like the Mauser C96.
Brilliants Dynamite Neon carries a fictional .45 caliber (likely meaning that it's chambered for the .45 Winchester Magnum) magnum pistol that is a combination of the barrel and recoil spring setup as the AMC Auto Mag Pistol, the grip design of a Wildey Magnum, and a series of neon lights wrapped around the chamber.
The astronauts aboard Project SEED were armed with semiautomatic pistols (marked "USF Force") with built-in LEMs. These same weapons are used by the settlers living inside one of the derelect SEED ships.
Several of the assorted criminals and thugs in the show use futuristic Micro Uzi submachine guns. The cocking handle on these submachine guns wrap around the top of the receiver (as opposed to the real Micro Uzi's cocking handle, which is just a hook-shaped protrusion), and the triggerguard has been altered.
Mr. Cliff carries six small submachine guns hidden in his coat. Each one is rigged up to a metal arm that raises them into position and fires them when he opens his jacket far enough. Despite their effectiveness as a surprise weapon, they are shown to have a very limited ammunition supply.
Several mercenaries, thugs, and lowlifes are seen using a fictional submachine gun variant marked as an "Ingram MAC-15". As the name suggests, the weapon is a compact, closed-bolt design that draws heavily from the MAC-10, but also incorporates elements from the IMI Uzi. The MAC-15 appears to come standard with a (removable) vertical foregrip and can be fitted with a skeleton stock.
One reoccuring weapon design is a fictional submachine gun that uses components from various designs, most notably the magazine of a MG34 machine gun. Despite the size of its magazine, it is shown ejecting pistol-cartridge-sized casings.
Many of the larger gangs in the series make use of a futuristic AKMS assault rifle. The weapon is modeled after the custom-built short-barreled AKMS rifles seen in American films, but has been heavily altered around the muzzle and receiver.
Bounty hunter Ruth Loose (aka "The Constance Rifle") uses a fictional double--barreled lever-action rifle. The weapon feeds from two separate stick magazines, each one connected to a separate barrel. Operating the lever causes the barrels and magazines to rotate counter-clockwise, ejecting the spent round from the previously-fired barrel and chambering a round in the top-aligned barrel.
Several minor characters are seen with a fictionalized rendition of the M1 Garand rifle. The primary changes to the design are an extended magazine (which now extends slightly below the stock) and the addition of small heat shields in the gaps between the stock and barrel shroud.
While Rai-Dei the Blade, a member of the Gung-Ho Guns, mostly uses a katana (to go along with his overall samurai theme), the sheath for his katana doubles as a revolver rifle.
Several futuristic Winchester Model 1897 shotguns are seen throughout the show. The forward sling/bayonet mount has been altered from its real-world counterpart, and the receiver has some sort of vent-like structure over its front half. Several short-barreled versions sans bayonett mount) are also seen throughout the show.
The gang leader in episode 3 uses a fictional machine gun as his primary weapon. Racking the shotgun-style pump causes the barrel shroud to open up, revealing a large variety of alternate functions (none of which are actually used onscreen).
B.D.N.'s henchmen use an assortment of improvised armored vehicles in episode 7, most of which are armed with machine gun turrets. The only clear shot of these weapons is of the muzzle, making it difficult to positively identify them.
Monev the Gale, an assassin hired to kill Vash, uses a massive and complex setup of two rotary machine guns, one mounted to each wrist to where the barrels spin around his forearm. These machine guns are connected to an ammo feed system attached to his back containing six ammuntition canisters (three per gun) arranged in a circle with the two canisters on each side feeding the machine guns. After the active canisters run dry, the backpack system automatically disengages the active canisters, then rotates the assembly until a pair of fresh canisters are lined up, then engages the fresh canisters so that Monev can resume firing.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingAn excerpt from the Trigun Artbook showing Monev with his machine guns.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAn excerpt from the Trigun Artbook detailing the feed canister system attached to Monev's machine guns and the guns themselves.Error creating thumbnail: File missingMonev the Gale makes his enterance. (Ep.12)Error creating thumbnail: File missingMonev aims his right-arm mounted machine gun at Vash. Note both the wheel-like assembly designed to rotate all eight barrels around Monev's arm, and the yellow feed belt running from the gun to his backpack. (Ep.12)Error creating thumbnail: File missingA shot of Monev's backpack. Each of the six canisters houses an unspecified amount of ammo, and can be replaced automatically by the device they are mounted to. (Ep.12)Error creating thumbnail: File missingAs Monev's guns run dry, his backpack disengages the spent ammo drums, then rotates and replaces them with a fresh pair. (Ep.12)
Shoulder-Mounted Mult-Weapon System
After his primary weapon runs dry, Monev the Gale switches to his backup plan; a massive shoulder-mounted rotary machine gun (complete with two sets of barrels that spin in opposite directions and a built-in bullet shield) and rocket launcher combo. Both its size and the the level of devestation it causes suggests that it fires a round on par with most aircraft-mounted cannons.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingModel 24 "Geballte Ladung" ("Bundled Charge"), a common improvised version of the Model 24 consisting of one complete grenade bundled together with six grenade heads, creating a more powerful charge.Error creating thumbnail: File missingRuth throws a Geballte Ladung at his pursuers. (Ep.12)
Prosthetic Weapons
Numerous characters in the series have firearms either have limbs that have been replaced with firearms or have fireamrs hidden inside fake limbs.
Cybernetic Arm Gun
During his battle with Monev the Gale, Vash reveals that his left arm is actually a cybernetic prosthesis that houses a semiautomatic 9mm firearm.
In episode 20, a scientist aboard one of the derelect SEED ships upgrade's Vash's arm gun into the "Gale M101", a fully automatic weapon chambered for 10mm Auto.
Insurance agent Milly Thompson carries with her a large Gatling-style concussion gun, usually concealed under her coat. It fires long projectiles which unfold into 4-armed crosses which have enough force to incapacitate people, or flip over trucks. Despite it's design and resemblance to a typical Gatling gun, Milly's Stun-Gun is semi-automatic.
Nicholas D. Wolfwood's signature weapon is a specialized weapons platform called the Punisher. In fitting in with his profession as a priest, the Punisher is a massive cross-shaped weapon that Wolfwood usually keeps concealed with a cloak and several leather straps. It's primary weapon is a large machine gun that occupies the long end of the crucifix, while the opposite end houses a rocket launcher. The arms of the cross contain storage racks capable of holding multiple handguns (five on each side, ten in total) for quick access.
