Blackadder Goes Forth

Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)

Blackadder Goes Forth is the fourth and final series of the critically acclaimed historical television comedy Blackadder, set in 1917 World War I on the Western Front. Captain Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) joined the British Army when it was "little more than a travel agency for gentlemen with an abnormally high sex drive." Now he's twenty yards away from a lot of heavily armed people who want to kill him. Worse still, his fellow officer Lt. George (Hugh Laurie) is a man whose family brain cell is gathering dust in a pawn shop in Dunstable, and his valet Baldrick (Tony Robinson) is in charge of cooking. As he gets closer and closer to the big push, Blackadder attempts to cook up numerous schemes to escape the trenches and his idiotic commanding officer, General Melchett (Stephen Fry). The famous final episode was more dark and somber than people expected, dealing with the futility and waste of war, with a poignant ending.

The following firearms were seen in the British comedy series Blackadder Goes Forth:

Webley Mk VI

The Webley Mk VI revolver, the main service revolver of the British Army in World War One, is used by Captain Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson), Lt. George (Hugh Laurie), Captain Darling (Tim McInnerny, General Melchett (Stephen Fry) and other characters throughout the series. The most notable use of the Webley is when Captain Blackadder uses one to shoot General Melchett's personal carrier pigeon which results in him being court-martialed in "Corporal Punishment" and when Melchett pulls one out and shoots Captain Darling in the foot so he can go undercover in the field hospital in the episode "General Hospital". Lord Flashheart (Rik Mayall) uses one, in the episode, "Private Plane" notably, just holding it around while boasting.

Webley Mk. VI - .455 Webley

Captain Blackadder looks upon his brand new Webley in "Captain Cook."

"...and Captain Blackadder definitely did not shoot this delicious plump-breasted pigeon!"

Lord Flashheart holds his Webley on Blackadder, mistakenly believing he was behind German lines.

Captain Darling holds his Webley on the man he believes is the German spy.

Blackadder loads his Webley before going over the top in "Goodbyeee."

Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk III*

Private S. Baldrick (Tony Robinson), the only one of the main characters whom is not an officer, is seen with the Lee-Enfield No.1 MkIII* rifle throughout the series. Blackadder's Company use them in drill in the opening credits of each episode.

Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk. III* - .303 British

The men of the real Royal Anglian Regiment march with Lee-Enfields during the opening credits.

Blackadder's firing squad prepare to execute him in "Corporal Punishment." (Notice that the rifle is not cocked.)

Private Baldrick holds his rifle on the suspected German spy, Nurse Mary Fletcher-Brown (Miranda Richardson), in "General Hospital."

Lewis Gun

A Lewis Gun is mounted on a British biplane flown by Capt. Edmund Blackadder and Private Baldrick in the episode "Private Plane." The flying scenes use stock footage from the film Aces High.

Aircraft mounted Lewis Gun - .303 British

The Lewis gun is mounted above the wing on this Belgian Stampe SV.4.

Maxim MG08/15

A Maxim MG08/15 machine gun is seen mounted on the plane flown by the Red Baron Von Richthofen (Adrian Edmondson). Like Blackadder's plane, this is also stock footage from the film Aces High.

Maxim MG08/15 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

The Maxim appears to be a flame spewing prop rather than a real blank-firing machine gun.

Mills Bomb

A pair Mills Bomb hand grenades (referred to by General Melchett as "Pineapples") are part of a painting brushed by Captain Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) in one of his numerous attempts to get out of the trenches.

Mills Bomb High-Explosive Fragmentation Hand Grenade

Blackadder's painting in "Captain Cook." He presents it as Lt. George's painting.