The Great Sioux Massacre

The Great Sioux Massacre Theatrical Poster Country United States Directed by Sidney Salkow Release Date 1965 Language English Studio Leon Fromkess-Sam Firks Productions Distributor Columbia Pictures Main Cast Character Actor Captain Benton Darren McGavin Major Reno Joseph Cotten Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer Philip Carey

The Great Sioux Massacre is a 1965 American Western film directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Darren McGavin, Joseph Cotten, and Philip Carey. The film revolves around Custer's Last Stand through the eyes of one of his subordinates. The film is a remake of Salkow's 1954 movie Sitting Bull, with some stock footage from that movie appearing in the film.

The following weapons were used in the film The Great Sioux Massacre:

Revolvers

Colt Single Action Army

Captain Benton (Darren McGavin), Lieutenant Colonel Custer (Philip Carey), Major Reno (Joseph Cotten), and virtually the entire 7th Cavalry are armed with the Colt Single Action Army. Although they are mostly 7.5" barrel models, Dakota (John Matthews) briefly carries a 5.5" barrel model. 7.5" barrel Single Action Army revolvers were the standard sidearm of US Cavalry forces at the time, issued alongside a Springfield Trapdoor Carbine. The 7th Cavalry at Little Bighorn were issued 24 rounds for their revolvers.

Colt Single Action Army w/ 7.5" barrel - .45 Long Colt

Benton carries a Colt Single Action Army during the beginning of the film.

A nice shot of Benton firing his Colt Single Action Army at the natives who escaped from the military fort prison.

Major Reno orders Benton to shoot and kill the Indians, but the latter opposes the order while holding his Colt Single Action Army.

After the Indians spare his life and escort him to an unknown location, their soldiers save Benton just in time.

Custer and his brother are surrounded by Indians, Custer tries to convince his brother to retreat, but the latter stays to fight to the death. While often depicted using a SAA in popular culture, Custer actually carried at least 1, if not a pair of .442 caliber Webley RIC revolvers as his preferred sidearms.

One of the soldiers protecting Lieutenant Colonel Custer is hit by an arrow and brandishes his Colt Single Action Army before collapsing.

Colt 1873 Single Action Army w/ 5.5" barrel - .45 Long Colt

The only appearance of a Colt Single Action Army with a 5.5" barrel in the entire film in the hands of Dakota.

Rifles

Winchester Model 1892

Both US Army soldiers and Native Americans carry Winchester Model 1892 to fight and slaughter each other. Dakota (John Matthews) briefly uses a Winchester Model 1892 at the beginning of the film. This is an anachronism considering the film is based in 1876 and the Winchester Model 1892 was introduced 16 years later. Many of the Native American combatants were armed with a wide array of repeating rifles, from the older Henry 1860 or Winchester Model 1866 to Winchester Model 1873s, one of the most sophisticated small arms in North America at the time.

Winchester Model 1892 w/ 20" barrel - .32-20 WCF

Dakota carries a Winchester Model 1892 during the beginning of the film.

One of the soldiers who accompanies Custer to negotiate with Sitting Bull carries a Winchester Model 1892.

Winchester Model 1892 w/ 24" barrel - .38-40 WCF

Although at first glance it is a bit difficult to distinguish it, one of the natives carries a Winchester Model 1892 with a 24" barrel.

Another Winchester Model 1892 with a 24" barrel is carried by another native before the climactic battle against the United States Army.

One of the soldiers who was cornered by the natives uses a Winchester Model 1892 as a melee weapon to defend himself against a native.

Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor Carbine

True to life, soldiers of the 7th United States Cavalry carry the Springfield Model 1873 Carbine as their service rifles. Native Americans also carry Springfield Model 1873 Carbines to fight against the US Army.

Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor Carbine - .45-70 Government

Two soldiers hold their Springfield Model 1873 Carbines as they make way for one of the judges examining Benton and Reno.

One of the natives guarding Sitting Bull (Michael Pate) holds a Springfield Model 1873 carbine with a white flag tied to it.

A single soldier stands guard, keeping an eye on the natives.
A good side shot of the Springfield Model 1873 Carbine.

A close-up shot of a Springfield Model 1873 Carbine in the hands of a native just as Sitting Bull orders the American soldiers to attack.

One of the soldiers who was cornered by the natives shoots his Springfield Model 1873 Carbine at them.

M1903 Springfield

What appear to be M1903 Springfield rifles are carried by the last soldiers protecting Lieutenant Colonel Custer (Philip Carey) from the natives in the climactic battle of the film. This is an anachronism since the film is set in 1876 and the M1903 Springfield was introduced 27 years later.

Springfield M1903 Transitional (pre-WWII) issue - .30-06 Springfield

A slightly detailed shot of a (presumed) M1903.

Two soldiers carry M1903 rifles to fight against the Native Americans who have cornered them.