Dances with Wolves is the 1990 historical drama directed by and starring Kevin Costner as John J. Dunbar, a US Army lieutenant who after the end of the Civil War is assigned to a distant outpost in the undiscovered West. After finding the outpost abandoned, Dunbar befriends the Sioux tribes in the land and soon learns about their ways. The film received twelve Academy Awards nominations and won seven, including Best Director for Costner (in his directorial debut) as well as Best Picture. All the guns in this film were supplied by Aldo Uberti Inc. of Italy.
The following weapons were used in the film Dances With Wolves:
Lt. John J. Dunbar (Kevin Costner) keeps a Colt 1851 Navy as his sidearm throughout the film. It is actually converted to fire metallic cartridges which is safer then using blanks on a percussion revolver. Also seen in the hands of some high ranking Union officers. After a conversation with Dunbar, Major Fambrough (Maury Chaykin) puts a Colt 1851 Navy revolver to his head. Also John Dunbar's revolver could be considered as slightly anachronistic due to its model type. This particular revolver was built in London, England due to its appearance being a steel frame with black iron backstrap and black steel barrel. As only around 2,000 units were produced at the London Colt factory, it is highly unlikely that John would come by one.
Several soldiers of the US Cavalry are seen armed with Colt 1860 Army revolvers as their sidearms. In what appears to be a continuity error, Sergeant Major Bauer (Larry Joshua) is seen trying to use a Colt Army revolver instead of the Remington he was holding earlier.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingColt 1860 Army - .44 caliber.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSpivey (Tony Pierce) fires his Colt 1860 Army at Two Socks. Based on the divots in the cylinder this appears to be a zinc replica.Error creating thumbnail: File missingDuring a confrontation with Smiles A Lot (Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse), Sergeant Major Bauer (Larry Joshua) tries to use the Colt 1860 Army, but the powder appears to be 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.
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.
During the film's beginning, Sgt. Pepper (Tom Everett) can be seen loading an Enfield 1853, not a Springfield 1861 as previously thought.
This can be determined due to two factors: the shape of the ramrod end, being cylindrical in shape with a square hole punched through it for a jag cleaning cloth, unlike a more bulbous plain ramrod of the Springfield 1861, and because of the shape of the barrel bands being a more rounded shape from being cast, much unlike the barrel bands of a Springfield 1861 which are produced by being pressed and stamped. When the sergeant loads his Enfield, it appears that he forgets to load a Minie ball before preparing to ram the powder down the barrel.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingSpringfield 1861 - .58 caliber Mini-ball.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSgt. Pepper (Tom Everett) loads a cartridge into his Enfield 1853. It is obviously a blank firing rifle because he doesn't load a .58cal Minie ball in with the powder.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA Confederate soldier fires his Springfield 1864, noticeable from its hammer, much like the Enfield's, although for some reason is missing all its barrel bands (front). Also, Enfield 1853 rifles are being fired at Dunbar while he attempts a suicide run.Error creating thumbnail: File missingUnion soldiers march, all of them armed with Springfield 1861 rifles.
Enfield 1853
Confederate soldiers carry Springfield 1851 and Enfield 1853 rifles as their standard issue weapons.
Dunbar also gives many of the Sioux Sharps Saddle Ring 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 ramrod underslung under the barrels.
