Pavel Korchagin
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Original Theatrical Poster
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Country
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USSR
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Directed by
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Aleksandr Alov Vladimir Naumov
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Release Date
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1956
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Language
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Russian
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Studio
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Kiev Film Studio
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Pavel Korchagin is a Soviet 1956 historical drama directed by Aleksandr Alov and Vladimir Naumov and based on the novel How the Steel Was Tempered ("Kak zakalyalas stal") by Nikolai Ostrovsky (1932-1934). The protagonist, Pavel ("Pavka") Korchagin (Vasiliy Lanovoy), is a young man from small Ukrainian town of Shepetovka (currently Shepetivka) who joins Reds during the Russian Civil war and after the civil war participates in the building of a railroad to save the countryside from famine in hard winter. Trying to overcome mortal illness, nearly loosing his sight, Korchagin writes memoirs about his youth.
This movie is the second screen adaptation of the original novel, preceded by 1942 movie How the Steel Was Tempered (Kak zakalyalas stal) and followed by same title 1973 TV series, reworked in 1975 into two-part theatrical version. The novel was also adapted for screen in Yugoslavia in 1988 and in China in 2000.
The following weapons were used in the film Pavel Korchagin:
Revolvers
Nagant M1895
A Nagant M1895 revolver is seen in hands of Bolshevik Tokarev (Dmitri Milyutenko).
Nagant M1895 Revolver - 7.62x38R Nagant. Note the angular front sight which was used from 1930s.
A closeup of Nagant holster of an Ukrainian officer.
A Nagant is seen in hands of Tokarev in the scene in stormy night.
Another view of the same scene.
Rast-Gasser M1898
In several scenes Chekist Kholyava (Leonid Parkhomenko) and Komsomol activist Franz Klavichek (Lev Perfilov) carry Rast-Gasser M1898 revolvers.
Rast-Gasser M1898 Revolver - 8x27mm Gasser
Kholyava holds a Rast-Gasser revolver.
Deadly wounded Klavichek tries to fire at attacking bandits.
Kholyava holds a Rast-Gasser in center.
A Rast-Gasser revolver is seen (on top) during the night shootout with bandits of
Batka Orlik.
Smith & Wesson Victory
A Smith & Wesson revolver is used by Pavel Korchagin (Vasiliy Lanovoy). It appears to be the same Smith & Wesson Victory Model that is seen in a number of productions of Kiev/Dovzhenko Film Studio.
Smith & Wesson Victory Model, a modified and parkerized version of the
Smith & Wesson Military & Police. The sample is a British "Lend Lease" version chambered in .38 S&W
Pavel Korchagin holds the revolver.
Pistols
Mauser C96
Mauser C96 pistols are used by various characters, notably Ivan Zharkiy (Vladimir Marenkov), Nikolay Okunev (Aleksandr Lebedev), Kholyava (Leonid Parkhomenko) and Fyodor Zhukhrai (Pavel Usovnichenko).
Pre-War dated Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" Commercial Version - 7.63x25mm Mauser
A Red Army man at the left (tall, in brown jacket) carries a Mauser C96 in wooden holster.
The head of the railway station (
Nikolay Grinko) carries a Mauser in holster.
He surrenders his pistol to Ivan Zharkiy.
Kholyava holds a Mauser, taken from sick Korchagin.
Korchagin's Mauser is now in hands of a
Komsomol activist (
Valentin Kobas) who accompanies sick Korchagin.
A thug in train (
Yevgeny Morgunov), disguised as a sailor, carries a Mauser in holster. In previous scene he carried a mockup of a Mauser (see below).
Korchagin's companion with a Mauser.
Zhukhrai carries a Mauser in holster.
Mauser C96 mockup
In several scenes a wooden mockup of Mauser C96 in holster can be seen. It appears to be the same prop that was used several years earlier in Restless Youth (Trevozhnaya molodost).
A Red Army man (second from the left) carries a wooden mockup of holstered Mauser C96.
A thug in train (
Yevgeny Morgunov), disguised as a sailor, carries same mockup Mauser. Later this character is seen with a real Mauser.
Same mockup Mauser is now seen carried by a head of a railway station (at the left).
CZ 27
An out of time CZ 27 is seen in hands of Pavel Korchagin (Vasiliy Lanovoy) in the scene, set in 1924.
CZ 27 - 7.65x17mm (.32 ACP)
Korchagin draws a CZ 27 pistol in the scene in train.
He plans to commit suicide.
Rifles
Mosin Nagant M1891
Red Army men and soldiers of Ukrainian National army are armed with Mosin Nagant M1891 rifles. Both Infantry and Dragoon versions can be seen.
Note: see additional images on talk page.
Russian Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry Rifle - 7.62x54mm R
Russian Mosin Nagant M1891 Dragoon Rifle - 7.62x54mm R
Convoy of arrested Fyodor Zhukhrai holds an M91 rifle with bayonet.
Pavka Korchagin (
Vasiliy Lanovoy) attacks the convoy in order to help Zhukhrai to escape and fights for the rifle.
Pavka Korchagin and Sergei Bruzzhak (
Yevgeniy Mikhalyov) pick up rifles and greet Red troops. The rifle at the left seems to be Dragoon model while the one at the right looks more like Infantry model.
Reds defend the train. Most rifles are of Dragoon model; some are fitted with bayonets, attached backwards.
A closer view of Korchagin's rifle in the same scene.
Another view of the same battle scene.
A Red sailor with rifle on a railway station.
Mannlicher M1895
Most soldiers of Ukrainian National army are armed with Mannlicher M1895 rifles.
Original Austro-Hungarian Steyr Mannlicher M1895 - 8x50mmR Mannlicher
Soldiers at the right hold Mannlicher M95 rifles.
Mannlicher rifles are seen in hands of retreating soldiers.
Machine Guns
Maxim M1910/30
Both Red Army and Ukrainian National troops use Maxim M1910/30 machine guns, standing for original M1910s. Both pre- and post-1940 versions are seen.
Maxim 1910/30 machine gun - 7.62x54mmR
Ivan Zharkiy at the machine gun on the top of railway wagon.
Another view of the machine gun on the top of the railway wagon.
Maxim 1910/30, post 1940 manufacture with top hatch on cooling jacket - 7.62x54mmR
A Maxim of post-1940 version is mounted on Red
tachanka.
Ukrainian National troops fire a Maxim and rifles at attacking Reds.
A close view of the machine gun.
Ivan Zharkiy fires a Maxim at attacking bandits of
Batka Orlik.
Maxim mockup
A pair of Maxim machine guns on Red
tachanka appear to be mockups (the barrels seem to be wooden).
Other Weapons
Hand Grenade
In one scene a Red sailor carries a large stick hand grenade, possibly a mockup.
The grenade lacks any signs of fuze and safety and seems to be a mockup, generally based on
RG-14.
Trivia
Symon Petliura (uncredited), the President of the Ukrainian National Republic, carries a holster for compact pistol.