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Sherlock Holmes (2009)

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Sherlock Holmes
Movie poster
Country Error creating thumbnail: File missing United States
Error creating thumbnail: File missing United Kingdom
Directed by Guy Ritchie
Release Date 2009
Language English
French
Studio Silver Pictures
Village Roadshow Pictures
Distributor Warner Bros.
Main Cast
Character Actor
Sherlock Holmes Robert Downey Jr.
Dr. John Watson Jude Law
Irene Adler Rachel McAdams
Lord Blackwood Mark Strong
Inspector Lestrade Eddie Marsan
Dredger Robert Maillet
Mary Morstan Kelly Reilly
Constable Clark William Houston
Ambassador Standish William Hope
Lord Coward Hans Matheson


Sherlock Holmes is the 2009 feature film adaptation of the famous literary character created by author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Directed by Guy Ritchie, the film stars Robert Downey Jr. as the legendary detective and Jude Law as his assistant Watson. The weapons were supplied by UK-based movie armourers Bapty and Co. (with stunt versions by Tarver Productions). The sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows was released in 2011.


The following weapons were used in the film Sherlock Holmes (2009):


Error creating thumbnail: File missing WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!


Revolvers

Webley No. 5 "Express" Revolver

Sherlock Holmes' (Robert Downey Jr.) revolver, though of a style colloquially termed a 'Webley RIC' (after 'Royal Irish Constabulary'), is technically a Webley No.5 'Express' model by the same maker. This was available from the 1880s onwards in either .360 or .38 caliber. Holmes' has a 4" barrel, an early-style deeply-fluted cylinder (deeper front-to-rear than either the Bulldog or the true RIC), and a contoured frame at the lower edge ahead of the trigger guard. It also features a flattened swivel-type rammer, squared-off butt with lanyard ring, and a nickel finish.

Holmes carries it in the sewers beneath Parliament, and Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) uses some of his cartridges to improvise a demolition charge. Later, during the fight on the bridge, she pulls it on Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong), who knocks it out of her hand, then picks it up and tries to shoot Holmes with it.

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Nickle-plated Webley No.5 with Adams type ejector.
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Webley No.5 'RIC' - .360 caliber
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Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) unloads Holmes' Webley No.5 'RIC'.

Webley Bulldog

Several characters in the film employ Webley Bulldog Revolvers. Based upon their short 2.5" barrels and lack of a rammer/ejector, those wielded by Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) and American Ambassador Standish (William Hope) are most likely to be No.3 'R.I.C.' models in .442 calibre. These weapons fired a black powder cartridge and were gate loaders, unlike the later and more memorable "top break" Webleys.

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Webley Bulldog - .32 caliber
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Holmes and Watson fire with their revolvers.
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Watson (Jude Law) with revolver. This one does have an ejecting rod.
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Ambassador Standish (William Hope) with his revolver before being set ablaze by "black magic".
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Holmes and Watson with their Webleys as featured in a promotional still.
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In a publicity photo, Watson aims his revolver.
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In a flashback, Luke Reordan (Oran Gurel) loads Standish's Webley Bulldog with specially rigged blanks.

Pryse revolver

On the carriage ride to the "raid" in the opening scene of the movie, Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan) can be seen loading a Pryse patent revolver. Based upon the form of the front part of the frame, it is most likely the model of 1877, and may be a Webley-built gun, or any number of licencees and copyists.

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Webley-Pryse No. 4 revolver
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Lestrade (Eddie Marsan) snaps shut his Pryse revolver
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Lestrade's Pryse revolver after snapping it shut.

Enfield Mark II Revolver

A henchman disarmed by Holmes in the opening scene is armed with an Enfield Mk II .476 caliber revolver with its distinctive lower frame, designed to accommodate a cylinder which slides forward to allow reloading.

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Enfield Mk II revolver - .476 Enfield
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The henchman fires his Enfield II at Holmes, but accidentally hits one of his comrades.
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Enfield Mark II being held by Blackwood's henchman before being disarmed by Holmes.

Belgian Bulldog Pocket Revolver

It appears that Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) uses a Belgian Pocket Revolver with foldable trigger and what appears to be pearl grips. The screen-used piece is in an unknown caliber, but .38 is likely based on the frame size. An image of the resin/rubber stunt versions used in the movie can be seen at the Tarver Productions website (link below).

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A Belgian version of Webley Bulldog with folding trigger - .320
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Adler abruptly sabotages Holmes' attempt to use stealth on Blackwood's henchmen by initially firing at them.
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Adler (Rachel McAdams) shoots at Dredger, but only puts holes in his bowler hat.
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A publicity photo gives a better angle on the revolver.

Webley Mk I

A police constable can be seen wielding the Webley Mk I revolver. The actual police sidearms of 1891 were the older Webley M.P. Model in .450 Adams. They are partially supplemented by the Army issue Webley Mark I (in .442 Enfield).

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Webley Mk I - .455 Webley
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Police with long arms and revolvers
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To Lestrade's left, Constable Clark (William Houston) with a revolver.

Nagant M1895

The Russian Nagant M1895 revolver is used by Sherlock Holmes when he "draws" on the wall by shooting "VR" monogram. This would normally allow the weapon to be effectively suppressed due to the Nagant's gas seal design. However, Holmes' homemade suppressor seems to be ineffective, as it can be heard booming throughout the apartment, possibly due to the improperly-fitted gas seal of a homemade design. This type of weapon is anachronistic for this film, seeing as it is set in 1891; apparently M1895 stands in for the earlier Nagant models, such as M1887. The prop used was a 1941 Tula-made example.

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Nagant M1895 with Bramit suppressor (modern replica) - 7.62x38mm Nagant
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Holmes's home-made (and rather ineffective) suppressed Nagant revolver - note Tula star and 1941 date. Does this depiction of a drug-addled character portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. who is making an ineffectual suppressor for a revolver remind you of anything?
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The holes made by the bullets of Holmes' Nagant revolver form the initials "V.R.".
Trivia: The initials stand for "Victoria Regina" (better known as Queen Victoria, or Queen Alexandrina Victoria), the monarch that ruled the United Kingdom during the time period this movie is set in (i.e. 1891). This habit of Holmes's is referenced in the story "The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual", and also reproduced in Season 1 of the series Sherlock.
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Holmes's homemade suppressed Nagant revolver on his desk.

Pistols

Howdah Pistol

The Home Secretary, Lord Coward (Hans Matheson) has a large-caliber (most likely .577) centerfire Howdah Pistol by one of the usual makers (e.g. famed shotgun makers Purdey).

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Howdah - .577 pistol
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Coward loads his Howdah pistol.
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Coward (Hans Matheson) searches for Holmes.

C. Sharps Pepperbox

Professor Moriarty (actor's identity unknown) is seen deploying, from a concealed wrist-mounted rig, an Uberti replica of C. Sharps patent Model 1A four-barreled pepperbox type pistol in .22 rimfire with engraved brass frame. It's interesting, that an Uberti replica of Sharps Pepperbox was used in another Holmes movie - The Hound of The Baskervilles in 1988.

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Uberti replica of Sharps Pepperbox - .22 Short
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Moriarty aims his Sharps Pepperbox at Holmes (in disguise as a beggar).

Shotguns

Winchester 1887

In the carriage in the beginning, a police constable is briefly seen loading a Winchester Model 1887.

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Winchester 1887 shotgun - 12 gauge
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Police officer readies his shotgun. It does appear to be a Winchester Model 1887. He quickly chambers a plastic shell, introduced in 1960.
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Police with longarms and revolvers
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To Lestrade's right, a police constable with a Winchester Model 1887.

External Links

Bulldog Webley at the Holmes Museum

LeStrade's Pryse and Adler's Belgian pocket revolvers seen at the website of the stunt prop supplier for the movie.