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Zulu Dawn

From Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
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Nice, but where's the trigger?

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The following weapons were used in the film Zulu Dawn:


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Zulu Dawn (1978)



Webley MkVI

Used by British Officers. Like the earlier film, Zulu, the Webley mark IV stands in for the earlier Webley and Adams models which were either standard issue or privately purchased.

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Webley Mk IV in "Zulu Dawn"
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Webley Mk IV in "Zulu Dawn". In reality NCO's would have been issued Adams revolvers.


Webley Pryse

Colonel Pulleine (Denholm Elliot) uses a Webley Pryse before he is killed. This weapon was commonly privately purchased by officers during this period. Mr Fannin (Don Leonard), the Boer merchant who is chased by Zulu warriors, also appears to have this model pistol.

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Webley Pryse in "Zulu Dawn"
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Webley Pryse in "Zulu Dawn"

Martini-Henry

Used by some British Troops.

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Martini Henry rifle in "Zulu Dawn"

Martini-Enfield Carbine

Both cavalry and infantry use the Martini-Enfield Artillery carbine during the film, likely due to a shortage of .450 blanks. This is inaccurate as the infantry used the rifle version shown above. Mention is made that Col. Durnford's cavalry is wholly equipped with these weapons which is also inaccurate as in reality they were largely equipped with Sniders or Westley Richards carbines.

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Martini-Enfield Artillery Carbine - .303 British
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Martini Henry carbines in "Zulu Dawn". Also note the Webley Mk IV in the foreground.
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Martini Henry carbines in "Zulu Dawn".

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE)

During several of the battle scenes SMLEs can be seen being used by British troops. This is incorrect as these weapons were not produced until 1902.

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Lee Enfields in "Zulu Dawn".

Winchester Model 1873

The reporter Norris Newman (Ronald Lacey) carries a Winchester rifle possibly a '73 model.

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Winchester in "Zulu Dawn".

Unidentified Shotgun

Lt. William Vereker (Simon Ward) uses an unidentified side hammer double barrel shotgun to demonstrate his riding and shooting skill to Col. Durnford (Burt Lancaster).

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Unidentified shotgun in "Zulu Dawn".

Zulu Weapons

Zulu warriors use several different types of rifle during the film, many of which are seen briefly and are hard to identify, these include:

Martini Henrys, many Zulus use these weapons throughout the film and whilst this is acceptable at the end of the battle when they could have been taken from the dead, it is unlikely the Zulus possessed any at the start of the conflict as British and European traders only released or sold older rifles and muskets to the Zulus. Many of the rifles used at the throughout the battle are clearly Martini Henrys, but I could not obtain decent screen caps of them.

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Martini Henry carbine in "Zulu Dawn".
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Martini Henry carbine in "Zulu Dawn".

Snider Carbine

Used by Zulus in several scenes.

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Snider carbine in "Zulu Dawn" being used by a Zulu scout.
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Snider carbine in "Zulu Dawn".

Hale Rocket

Used by British Troops at the movies climax.

Hale Rocket Launcher
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Hale rocket about to fire in "Zulu Dawn".
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Hale rocket firing in "Zulu Dawn".

Artillery

The artillery appears to be 9pdr RML Mk 2’s which are incorrect as the actual weapons used in the battle were much smaller 7pdr cannon.

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Artillery in "Zulu Dawn".

Goofs

There are many goofs in this film, in many scenes British soldiers switch from Henry Martini rifles and carbines between shots. During the battle only some of the British troops have bayonets fitted to their rifles when they should all have fitted them before the battle began. Many of the bayonets are either incorrectly fitted or obviously made of rubber. Also evident are the fact that many of the Henry Martini rifles are actually wooden props.

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C.S.M. Williams (Bob Hoskins) saves his son in law Pte. Williams (Dai Bradley), note the private has a rifle with no bayonet fitted.
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Seconds later it becomes a carbine with a rather floppy looking bayonet!
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The rifle in the foreground has either been chewed by something or is still covered in bark!
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If you watch this scene carefully the poor quality of the wooden props is evident.