The Great is a British-American comedy "anti-historical" (as it is described by the releaser) TV series about the Russian Empress Catherine the Great. The series stars Elle Fanning as Empress Catherine II and Nicholas Hoult as Emperor Peter III.
Season 1 was released on Hulu streaming platform on May 15, 2020, and Season 2 on November 19, 2021. In January 2022, the third season was announced.
The following weapons were used in Season 1 of the television series The Great:
Considering the series takes place around the marriage of Catherine and Peter III it should be assumed the setting is around 1745 for chronological and historical context.
Pistols
A large number of various Flintlock Pistols are used throughout the series. In most cases the exact model can be identified. Of course, the screen guns are modern replicas. It should be noted that the majority of pistols used is of British or French origin which is historically inaccurate. For the Russian setting in this period, Russian or Germanic pistols would be more fitting.
Peter III and King Hugo of Sweden (Freddie Fox) hold Tower Sea Service Pistols in "Meatballs at the Dasha" (S01E08). Peter also holds a Sea Service pistol in "The Beaver's Nose" (S01E10). Emperor's bodyguard Tartar Nick (Christophe Tek) carries a Sea Service pistol in "Love Hurts" (S01E09).
Count Arkady (Bayo Gbadamosi) shows several long flintlock pistol to Peter III in "The Great" (S01E01). He explains that the sights of such pistols allow to hit the target as far as 50 meters (nearly twice in comparison with common flintlock pistols of 18th - early 19th centuries). Judging by the length and details of these pistols, they are Prussian Dragoon 1731 model or more precisely a non-firing replica misnamed as "M-1780".
Leo Voronsky (Sebastian De Souza) is armed with an anachronistic French Model 1763/66 Flintlock Pistol in "The Beaver's Nose" (S01E10). This model is anachronistic by more than a decade.
What appears to be some kind of a replica of Hadley of London 1760 Flintlock Pistol is used by General Velementov. It looks like replicas made by Denix or Kolser.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing"1830" marked flintlock pistol non-firing replica by unknown Spanish manufacturer. Most likely Denix. It appears to be one of the many "Hadley of London 1760 Flintlock Pistol" replicas.Error creating thumbnail: File missingDuring the coup, General Velementov's (Douglas Hodge) Light Dragoon pistol (see above) switches to a Hadley of London 1760. Note the "bird's-beak" grip that looks more similar to Kentucky flintlock pistol and Denix replicas and differs from standard grip of Kolser replicas.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAnother view of Velementov's pistol.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe pistol is seen on a promotional image. The smoke around the non-firing gun appears to be special effect.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingTwo courties hold flintlock pistols in "The Great" (S01E01). Count Arkady (Bayo Gbadamosi) (at the background center) holds a nondescript pistol, while Count Grigor Dymov (Gwilym Lee) (at the right) holds a long pistol, resembling British Tower Sea Service Long Model.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAnother view of Dymov's pistol. While it resembles Tower Sea Service, the barrel is even longer, and the head of the ramrod looks different, more in French style.Error creating thumbnail: File missingDymov holds a pistol (possibly same gun that he had in earlier episodes) during the attempt to kill Leo Voronsky on hunt in "The Beaver's Nose" (S01E10).Error creating thumbnail: File missingArkady fires at Leo Voronsky in the same scene.
Russian soldiers are armed with French Charleville Muskets. This is actually wrong as the design of Russian Army muskets in the 18th century was different and unique. The muskets should have been the Russian Model 1737 or earlier but since these are rare and obscure several different versions of Charleville Musket are seen instead.
