The Shawshank Redemption is the 1994 feature film adaptation of the short story Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption written by Stephen King. The film focuses on the friendship that develops over twenty years between two prison inmates: a hardened convict (Morgan Freeman) and a former banker (Tim Robbins), who was wrongfully convicted of killing his wife and her lover. The film, while nominated for seven Academy Awards, was not a financial success at the time of its theatrical release, but has since developed a much beloved status upon its subsequent viewings on cable and video outlets. The Shawshank Redemption was directed by Frank Darabont, who would go on to adapt and direct two more of Stephen King's works for film: The Green Mile and The Mist.
The following weapons were used in the film The Shawshank Redemption:
At the film's beginning, Andrew "Andy" Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is seen loading a Colt Detective Special while in a drunken state. During the trial for killing his cheating wife and her lover, he says he didn't do it, but threw the gun in the river, ruining his chance of proving his gun wasn't used to commit the crime. The Colt is a first generation Detective Special based on the grip design and the round front sight.
The District Attorney (Jeffrey DeMunn) that questions Dufresne shows the jury a revolver for props effect, which is a Colt Police Positive in .38 caliber. Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding (Morgan Freeman) also sees a Colt Police Positive in a pawn shop window.
Warden Norton (Bob Gunton) pulls out a Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver with a 2" barrel from his desk drawer when the police try to break into his office to arrest him. He loads up the gun and is seen pointing at the door.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingSmith & Wesson Model 15 - .38 Special.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA Smith & Wesson Model 15 is seen in the pawn shop, center. Note the adjustable sights, confirming it is a Model 15, (though as the barrel is not visible it, though unlikely, could be a Model 14). Note also the revolver is fitted with the slimmer S&W 'Magna' grips, differentiated from the larger 'Target' grips on the .357 Magnum Smith & Wesson Model 19 seen next to it; Magna grips were more commonly seen on .38 K-frames.
Shotguns
Winchester Model 12
Several of the guards at Shawshank are armed with Winchester Model 12 shotguns.
Captain Hadley (Clancy Brown) is armed with an M14 Rifle fitted with a scope when Tommy (Gil Bellows) tries to tell the prison warden that he knew the man who really killed Dufresne's wife and lover. It is not likely an M21, since prisons aren't usually outfitted with Marine sniper weaponry. Close inspection of the rifle reveals that it lacks the fire control selector lug on actual M14s (and M21s), though the stock does have the selector lug notch, indicating it is actually a civilian variant in a U.S.G.I. M14 stock. Given the M14 and M21 rifles were in frontline service with the U.S. Military at the time this scene takes place, it is doubtful they would be issued to guards in some prison in New England.
