Dances with Wolves is a 1990 historical drama directed by and starring Kevin Costner, based on the 1988 novel of the same name by Michael Blake.
In the aftermath of the American Civil War, US Army lieutenant John J. Dunbar requests a posting at a distant outpost in the undiscovered West, seeking solitude and a chance to see the frontier before civilization eventually arrives. After finding the outpost abandoned, Dunbar befriends the Sioux tribes in the land and soon learns about their ways. The film would subsequently be nominated for twelve Academy Awards and would receive seven, including the Awards for Best Picture and Best Director for Costner (in his directorial debut).
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 also seen in the hands of some high-ranking Union officers. Dunbar's revolver is actually converted to fire metallic cartridges, which is safer then using blanks on a percussion revolver. 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, as metallic cartridge-firing revolvers would only come into common use in the 1870s. 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, making it 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 caliberError 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.Error creating thumbnail: File missingBauer with the revolver, now clearly not the Remington he had been holding earlier.
Lt. John J. Dunbar (Kevin Costner) keeps a polished brass frame Henry 1860, or as the Rebels called it, "that damned Yankee rifle you load on Sunday and shoot all week", as his rifle of choice throughout the film.
Confederate soldiers both carry Springfield 1861 (and variants) and Enfield 1853 rifles during the opening Civil War battle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingSpringfield 1861 - .58 caliber Minié ballError 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 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
During the film's beginning, Sgt. Pepper (Tom Everett) can be seen loading an Enfield 1853, not a Springfield 1861 as previously thought.
The rifle 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 Minié ball before preparing to ram the powder down the barrel.
Dunbar is seen arming many of the Sioux with the Sharps Saddle Ring carbine, also appearing to be the 1863 model. These models are later seen in the hands of the US Cavalry, notably when they takes shots at Dunbar's pet wolf, Two Socks.
A Double Barreled Percussion Shotgun is first seen in the hands of Confederate soldiers at the beginning of the film. Timmons (Robert Pastorelli) keeps one at his side while driving Dunbar in his coach. After Timmons is murdered by Pawnee, one of the warriors takes his shotgun. These shotguns are noted as muzzle loaders based on the ramrod slung under the barrels.
