The Grissom Gang

The Grissom Gang (1971)

The Grissom Gang is a 1971 crime drama directed by Robert Aldrich (The Dirty Dozen) that revolves around the Grissoms, a demented backwoods family who steal a kidnap victim (Kim Darby) from another gang of outlaws in Depression-era Missouri (around 1931, according to clues in the film). The matriach "Ma" Grissom (Irene Dailey) is bent on killing the girl once the ransom has been collected, but her dimwitted son Slim (Scott Wilson) has fallen for her and blindly defends her from his family as the girl herself begins to develop a case of Stockholm syndrome. "Ma" Grissom is slightly based on the public's perception of "Ma" Barker, whom J. Edgar Hoover tried to promote as the leader of the infamous Barker-Karpis kidnapping gang during the Depression. The film contains a good variety of period-accurate firearms before another period-piece gangster film Miller's Crossing.

The following firearms were used in the film The Grissom Gang:

WARNING! This article may contain a few spoilers in the descriptions of the pictures.

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless

Frankie Connor (Michael Baseleon) draws and fires a blued Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless during the kidnapping of heiress Barbara Blandish (Kim Darby). Sam (Alvin Hammer), another kidnapper, draws a Colt 1903 during the confrontation at Johnny's house. During the second half of the film, Slim Grissom (Scott Wilson) begins carrying a Colt 1903 in a shoulder holster in addition to his switchblade.

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless Pistol Blued - .32 ACP

Frankie Connor fires his Colt 1903.

Slim Grissom draws his Colt 1903 as he and Barbara are chased by a motorcycle policeman.

Slim fires his Colt 1903 at a rural gas station.

Slim fires his Colt 1903 at police from the barn.

double-barreled shotgun

Johnny Hutchins (Dots Johnson) carries a Double Barreled Shotgun with exposed hammers during the film, as does Woppy (Joey Faye), one of the Grissom gang.

J. Stevens and Company Side by Side Shotgun (Circa 1878) exposed hammers and designed to fire Black Powder shotgun shells - 12 Gauge

Woppy sits inside the car with a double-barreled shotgun.

Johnny answers the door with his shotgun in his hand.

Mace and Woppy watch as Slim talks to Frankie and Bailey.

Dave Fenner (Robert Lansing) takes Johnny's shotgun away from him.

Colt Official Police

Joe Bailey (Matt Clark), another of Barbara's original kidnappers, carries a Colt Official Police with him. It is taken from him by Eddie Hagan (Tony Musante) at Johnny's house.

Colt Official Police - 5" Barrel

Bailey demands that Johnny opens his door for them.

Bailey with his Colt Official Police.

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless (Nickel)

Eddie Hagan (Tony Musante) carries a nickel Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless in a brown leather shoulder holster throughout the film.

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless Pistol Nickel - .32 ACP

Eddie and Slim talk to Frankie and Bailey.

Eddie's Colt pistol.

Eddie sits down with his Colt, watching Slim dote over Barbara.

Eddie holds his Colt on Barbara as Slim approaches.

Eddie's Colt in his shoulder holster.

Colt Police Positive

Mace (Ralph Waite) and Woppy (Joey Faye) each carry a Colt Police Positive. Woppy attaches a suppressor onto his Police Positive in a nightclub bathroom. Some of the Kansas City policemen are also seen with Police Positives.

Colt Police Positive - .38 Special.

Mace and Woppy fire their guns at Sam.

Woppy draws his Police Positive, holding it with the shotgun in his other hand.

Bailey spots Mace's dropped Police Positive.

Mace picks up his dropped Police Positive.

Woppy attaches a suppressor to his Police Positive.

Woppy fires his suppressed Police Positive.

Smith & Wesson Model 1913

Frankie's dancer girlfriend Anna Borg (Connie Stevens) has a .35-caliber Smith & Wesson Model 1913 that she draws several times during the film.

Smith & Wesson Model 1913 - .35-caliber

Anna opens her drawer to reveal a S&W Model 1913.

Anna with the S&W Model 1913 in her hand.

Anna draws her S&W Model 1913 on Eddie Hagan (Tony Musante).

Anna's S&W Model 1913 makes Eddie understandably nervous. He disarms her later in the scene, unloading the pistol himself.

Colt M1911A1

Private investigator Dave Fenner (Robert Lansing) carries a Colt M1911A1 in the film, although it switches to a Star Model B when he fires it.

World War 2 issued Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP

Fenner puts his 1911A1 to Johnny's head.

Fenner pulls back the 1911A1's hammer, alerting Johnny to his presence.

Thompson M1921AC

Slim Grissom (Scott Wilson) and Woppy (Joey Faye) fire Thompson M1921AC submachine guns at Fenner while at Johnny's house. Gladys "Ma" Grissom (Irene Dailey) and Mace (Ralph Waite) also fire Thompsons during the police siege on their nightclub. The Kansas City police also use Thompsons. Almost every Thompson seen used in the film has a fifty-round drum magazine.

Colt M1921AC Thompson with 50-round drum magazine - .45 ACP.

Woppy opens fire inside Johnny's house.

Slim's Thompson M1921.

Slim prepares to fire inside the house himself.

Slim retreats after Fenner's shots scare him away.

Ma Grissom pulls two Thompsons from the gang's hidden gun cabinet after hearing that the police are approaching.

Ma Grissom prepares to take on the Kansas City police with her Thompson.

A Kansas City policeman fires at Rocky's.

Ma fires through a slot on her steel door created just for that purpose.

Mace next to his Thompson.

Star Model B

When firing his 1911A1, Dave Fenner's (Robert Lansing) pistol is now a 9 mm Star Model B. This substitution was common in films of this era (such as The Wild Bunch, The Getaway, and later The Untouchables.

Star Model B Pistol, blued finish - 9mm. This is a screen used Star Model B from the 1987 film The Untouchables.

Fenner fires the Star Model B at Woppy and Slim.

Fenner takes cover inside Johnny's house with his Star Model B.

Winchester Model 1897

Several Kansas City policemen carry Winchester Model 1897 shotguns.

Winchester Model 1897 - 12 gauge. This is an imported copy of the non-take down version of the Winchester 1897 Shotgun (a Norinco 97W shotgun, imported by IAC).

A policeman enters Johnny's house with a Winchester '97.

A policeman behind Fenner and Chief McLaine has a Winchester '97.

A policeman with a Winchester '97 approaches the barn where Slim is hiding.

A policemain aims his Winchester Model 1897.

Smith & Wesson Model 10

Some of the Kansas City policemen have Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolvers.

Smith & Wesson Model M&P Revolver - .38 Special

A Kansas City policeman preparing to raid the Grissoms' nightclub, Rocky's, draws his Model 10 in an alley.

Winchester Model 70

A Kansas City police sniper uses a somewhat anachronistic Winchester Model 70 to fire a shot at Slim Grissom at the barn, scaring him.

Pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 - .30-06

The police sniper with the barrel of his Model 70.

The police sniper aims his Winchester Model 70.

Mk 2 hand grenade

When trying to lure Fenner out of hiding in Johnny's house, Woppy (Joey Faye) hands Slim (Scott Wilson) a Mk 2 hand grenade when the latter asks for "the pineapple". It blows up part of Johnny's house.

Mk 2 training grenade (the blue training color has been painted to look like live Mk II) and also note the slight difference between the training dummy's body shape and the real thing. This is the most common version seen in films since no movie uses live ordnance and many productions don't bother trying to get mockups that look exactly like the live Mk II.

Woppy hands Slim the "pineapple".

The grenade rolls into Johnny's house.