Guns of Lonesome Dove?

[TNHillbilly]

This past Sat. CMT ran the whole LD series most of the day in, I guess, Hi Def. I've seen it several times and have a copy, but the clarity made it seem brand new. The question: What pistol is Gus carrying? At one point it looks like a Walker (based on the grip design), in another close-up, looks like it could have been some kind of cartridge conversion (didn't know that was ever done in the Walker era). I noticed they never showed them reloading! Of course great shots of the Henry, and the Sheriff's side kick's Paterson. What else did I miss?

 

[guad42]

Duvall carries a Walker that was Hollywood Converted to fire 5-in-1 blanks. This is often done with Percussion revolvers for film work.

Generally, principal actors have a number of "back-up" versions of their guns - this helps in case one breaks down. But on BP period films, the time it takes to load each pistol costs too much money - so often most of the shooting is done with blank conversions - while the real Cap and Ball guns are kept for the close-ups.

Duvall's gun is not a true "Conversion" in the sense of the Post Civil War cartridge conversions of Colts and other weapons. Instead, most of these guns are retrofitted for 5-in-1 blanks (they are called that as as they are intended to be fired from five different calibered weapons).

During the big Indian fight in Dances with Wolves -one can see a similar blank converted Navy Colt as used by Kevin Costner.

As to the rest of the guns in Lonesome Dove, there are a weird array - Barry Corbin carries a Patterson, Gus a Henry rifle, there are a few honest Colt Conversions, Springfield Trapdoors, '92 Winchesters made to look like Henrys, a Remington Rollingblock or two, and the list goes on.

 

[TNHillbilly]

Nice explanation, thanks! Glad to know my eyes weren't deceiving me. We all have our favorite Westerns, this one's mine!

 

[mtcurman]

Here's Gus with his Walker.

Check imfdb (Internet Movie Firemarm DataBase) to see all the guns from Lonesome Dove. There's some nice ones!

~Ben

 

[Zonie]

Ah'd be real careful ta make sure ma gun was loaded iffen ah were him.

Pointin at unloaded gun at someone like he's a doin' mite get him killed iffen it were to upset um.

I guess those 5 in one blanks must be pretty small because those chambers look empty to me.

 

[TNHillbilly]

Great shot Ben! I'll have to check that site out. My other favorite scene is Gus cranking up the sights on the Henry. At least in that scene the Henry's loaded! I have a Henry and must say it's the best shootin' rifle I have. I did a little looking and found there's a 2008, 'digitally remastered'/surround sound version......I ordered one! Must have been what was on TV the other day. I drug out my old DVD, full screen version.....no comparison! And, that Walker does look mighty sparce on lead!

 

[mtcurman]

Thanks! I can't beleive it, but I haven't seen Lonesome Dove all the way through. :shake: Seen bits and peices of it, but never sat down and watched it.
But speaking of Gus's Henry, here it is.

Oh what the heck, here's his Walker again.

And yeah, I wouldn't want to face charging Kiowas with an empty gun either! :haha: At least with a Walker, if they got close enough, you could inflict some SERIOUS pain with it! Be about like a ball-peen hammer!! :haha:

 

[Nifeman]

Ben, it'd be like a big ball-pein. Them Walkers weighed in at about 3 pounds :shocked2: ...Bud

 

[mtcurman]

Yeah, they're hogs for sure. Actually, I think it's about 4 and a half lbs, so an extra large ball-peen!! :shocked2: I've always aspired to have one.

 

[lakota]

I love this movie! Gus was the reason I bought my Uberti Henry.

Off topic, but I recall reading somewhere that the original casting was Tommy Lee Jones as Gus and Robert Duvall as Call but they decided to change at the last minute. Any one else read that anywhere?

 

[Snow on the Roof]

Lonesome Dove is on my all time favorites list, recommend reading McMurty's original text as well.

A couple of things which have always bugged me: ever wonder the reality of a 300 yard ramp sight on a rifle, which in its original chambering, fired the very ineffective .44 rimfire? Not a long range cartridge. Or how about the guy who carries a Henry or '92 Winchester, which fires a short cased cartridge, yet the actor wears a badelaro filled with 45/70's :hmm:. A classic cinema goof!

Snow

 

[Golfswithwolves]

In the book the author says the revolver Gus carries is a Dragoon. Gus likes it because it has been useful for whacking drunks on the side of their heads.

 

[jimmytheshank]

I have an Uberti Walker that I want to get converted like Gus's someday. I also traded for a Model 66 Uberti "Trapper" that I use for Texas Ranger reenacting. As far as the cast goes, when Lonesome Dove was first being written into screenplay, John Wayne, James Stewart,and Henry Fonda were to be the main stars. But they all backed out on advice from John Ford if you can believe it.

 

As far as the cast goes, when Lonesome Dove was first being written into screenplay, John Wayne, James Stewart,and Henry Fonda were to be the main stars. But they all backed out on advice from John Ford if you can believe it.

Although John Wayne was a "Star", he was not a good actor. He pretty much could only play the same guy in any movie. No depth of character or ability to convince you that he was someone other than "John Wayne". He's right up there with Steven Segal. Same guy, different plot.

 

[GreyWhiskers]

Off topic, but I recall reading somewhere that the original casting was Tommy Lee Jones as Gus and Robert Duvall as Call but they decided to change at the last minute. Any one else read that anywhere?

Still off topic- I saw an interview with Duvall. He said that he was originally asked to play Call's character. After reading the script he said he would only play the part of Gus.

GW

 

[goon]

I think 5 in one blanks are meant to work in .44-40, .45 Colt, .38-40, .30-30... and something else.

 

[buford87]

I am under the belief that the 5-in-1 blanks are to fit the .45 colt, .44-40 pistol, .44-40 rifle, .38-40 pistol, and .38-40 rifle. I have no idea if they would fit a .30-30.............watch yer top knot.............

 

[tg]

I think several movies have showed what looked like Walkers but considering how many were made the Dragoon would be a more likely type and also a pretty hefty handgun.

 

[guad42]

The 5-in1 blanks do not feed in 30-30s. They are intended for use in pistols and rifles of a common chambering, the various 45lcs, 44-40s. etc.

 

[Capt Augustus]

Did you notice what pistol Gus used when they hit Blue Duck's camp in the dark? A hint: It wasn't the Walker.