The following guns were used in the film Appaloosa
Appaloosa (2008) (note that the cylinder notches on Ed Harris ' Single Action Army are larger than on an actual version, indicating it is a replica non-firing model)
Steve Karnes 1878 Shotgun Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen ) carries an 8 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun in the film, refered to only as "The 8 Gauge" in the dialogue. To handle the vicious recoil of the massive weapon, Everett has a leather pad build into the shoulder of his coat to help absorb it. Since the only existing 8 Gauges today are antiques and are unsafe or too expensive to fire, a genious alternative was made. Armorer and gunsmith Steve Karnes built three "8 Gauges" for Gibbons Ltd. out of reproduction Colt 1878 shotguns, two of which fired 12 Gauge blanks with 8 Gauge sleeves over the barrels to increase the bore diameter and hide its real caliber, while one was built to chamber 8 Gauge inert rounds for scenes in which the gun was loaded, as the size between 8 and 12 Gauge is far too different for no one to notice. To see more on the production of the shotguns, visit the SK 1878 shotgun page, with actual information and images by Steve Karnes.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing SK 1878 shotgun (non-firing version for loading scenes) - 8 Gauge. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colt 1878 shotgun - 12 Gauge. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett (Viggo Mortensen ) kills the third gunman in the bar with his 8 Gauge, which unrealistically throws him back across the bar. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett loads his shotgun with two 8 Gauge shells in a small segment cut from the film. Note how he keeps the shells between his fingers, a method Viggo Mortensen was taught by his father. This is commented on in the audio commentary for A History of Violence Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett closes his 8 Gauge. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett has his 8 Gauge rested on his shoulder while talking with Phil Olson (Timothy Spall ). Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett with his 8 Gauge rested on his shoulder. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett aims his 8 Gauge at Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons ) in his cell when his gang tries to bust him out of jail. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett aims his 8 Gauge shotgun at Bragg in a promotional image. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett aims his 8 Gauge at Ring Shelton (Lance Henriksen ) and his gang from the train. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett with his 8 Gauge when confronting Shelton and his gang in front of the prison. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Close up on the triggers of the 8 Gauge during the credits. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The 8 Gauge and the ammunition belt during the credits. Winchester 1866 "Yellow Boy" Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen ) carries a Winchester 1866 "Yellow Boy" as his rifle in the film. Sheriff Clyde Stringer (Rex Linn ) carries one while escorting Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons ) on the train. One of the Appaches is seen using one with tribal decorations as well.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Winchester 1866 "Yellow Boy" Saddle Ring Carbine - .44 RF. A promotional image of Everett Hitch armed with his Winchester 1866 "Yellow Boy". Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett holds back Bragg's gang with his Winchester 1866 "Yellow Boy". Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sheriff Stringer (Rex Linn ) (right) with a Winchester 1866 "Yellow Boy". Error creating thumbnail: File missing An Apache wields a tribally decorated Winchester 1866 "Yellow Boy" while raiding Ring Shelton's (Lance Henriksen ) camp. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett and Virgil (Ed Harris ) shoot the Apache's pack horse with their Winchester rifles (Everett's a "Yellow Boy", Virgil's a Model 73) so they cannot steal Ring's supplies. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett confronts an Apache while armed with his Winchester "Yellow Boy". Winchester 1873 "Short Rifle" Both Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons ) and Virgil Cole (Ed Harris ) carry Winchester 1873 "Short Rifles" with 20" Octagonal barrels.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Winchester 1873 "Short Rifle" with 20" octagonal barrel - .44-40. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Bragg shoots a deputy at the beginning of the film with his Winchester 1873 "Short Rifle". Error creating thumbnail: File missing Bragg then proceeds to shoot Marshall Jack Bell (Robert Jauregui ) and his other deputy with his Winchester. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Virgil waits to arrest Bragg as he exits his outhouse, armed with his Winchester 1873. Note the octagonal barrel. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Virgil aims his Winchester 1873 at Ring Shelton (Lance Henriksen ) and his gang from the train. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A good shot of the brass dropping block. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Virgil fires his Winchester 1873 at the Appache pack horse. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Virgil points with his Winchester 1873. Bragg aiming his Winchester 1873 from the second floor of the jail house in a promotional image. Single Action Army Virgil Cole (Ed Harris ) carries two Single Action Army revolvers in the film, his main being a 7 1/2" Cavalary model with Stag horn grips and his belt gun a 5 1/2" Artillery. Many other characters use them in the film as well.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colt Single Action 7 1/2" Cavalary - .45 Long Colt. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colt Single Action Army 5 1/2" Artillery - .45 Long Colt. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Virgil points his Single Action Army after dispatching two criminals in the bar. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Instead of holstering his Single Action Army after firing it like in most macho westerns, Virgil dumps out the empty shells (using the ejector rod, something few actors know exists) and reloads before putting it away. Error creating thumbnail: File missing "Colt makes a heavy firearm, that's a fact." Virgil remarks after knocking out a thug's tooth with the butt of his Single Action Army. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Virgil readies his Single Action Army before confronting Ring Shelton (Lance Henriksen ) and his gang outside the prison. Also note his 5 1/2" Artillery in his belt. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen ) places a Nickel Cavalary Single Action Army on the bar counter before challenging Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons ) to a duel. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Bragg picks up and very professionally checks the Single Action Army to make sure he is given a loaded weapon. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The stag grips of Virgil's Single Action Army is seen during the end credits. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A disassembled Single Action Army during the credits. Colt 1872 Open Top Revolver .44 Caliber Conversion Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett Hitch (Viggo Mortensen ) carries a Colt 1872 Open Top Revolver as his sidearm in the film.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett draws his Colt 1872 Open Top when Bragg and his men enter the jail. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett fires his Colt 1872 Open Top after being wounded in front of the jail during the gunfight with Ring Shelton (Lance Henriksen ) and his gang. Luckily both he and Virgil survive the encounter. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Everett reloads his Colt 1872 Open top after the duel at the end of the film, and also shows he knows how to use the ejector rod. Spencer 1860 Carbine Charlie Tewksbury (Corby Griesenbeck ) is seen aiming a Spencer 1860 Carbine from a window of the train.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Spencer 1860 Carbine - .56-56 RF. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Charlie Tewksbury aims his Spencer 1860 Carbine from the train window. 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun A 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun can be seen on the gun rack in the jailhouse. One of Ring Shelton's (Lance Henriksen ) thugs is also seen using one to hold up Allison French (Renée Zellweger ) when trying to force Virgil Cole (Ed Harris ) to give up Randall Bragg (Jeremy Irons ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Charles Parker 1878 shotgun - 12 Gauge. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A double barreled shotgun in the jail house gun rack. Error creating thumbnail: File missing One of Ring's men trains a shotgun on Allie. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A closer shot of the scene. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A shotgun is seen on the dead pack horse along with a Winchester 1873 rifle. Sharps Carbine One of the Apache Indians is seen using a Sharps Carbine of unknown year. It is never seen clearly in the actual film, but luckily is seen in the DVD special features.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sharps 1869 - .52 caliber. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An Apache Indian armed with a Sharps Carbine. Trapdoor Springfield 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine One of the Apache Indians is seen using a Trapdoor Springfield 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine of unknown year. It is never seen clearly in the actual film, but luckily is seen in the DVD special features.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Trapdoor Springfield 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine (Umberti Replica) - .45-70. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An Apache Indian holding a Trapdoor Springfield 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine. 
