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M*A*S*H (TV Series)

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MASH (1972-1983)


M*A*S*H (or simply spelled as MASH) was the television adaptation of the 1970 film of the same name. As in the film, the series followed the antics of the medical personnel assigned to the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. Though set in the Korean War, the series was meant as an allegory to the then ongoing war in Vietnam. The series aired on CBS for 11 seasons from 1972-1983 and its finale was one of the most viewed television programs in history.

The following weapons were used in the series M*A*S*H:


Handguns

Star Model B

For the majority of the series, the Star Model B was used as a substitute for the M1911A1 that would be standard issue, since blank .45 ammo was more rare than 9mm at the time. It is used by many characters throughout the series, notably MAJ Frank Burns (Larry Linville) and (Harry Morgan) as both MG Bartford Hamilton Steele and as COL Sherman Potter. CPT Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce (Alan Alda) disdains guns, though he uses one in Episode 5.10 "Hawkeye, Get Your Gun" to scare Chinese forces.

Star Model B - 9mm

Burns has a Star Model B with pearl handles. As the comic foil, he frequently breaks every rule of gun safety in spades, despite being "regular Army."

Burns "cleaning" his sidearm unstripped with his finger on the trigger, safety off, and a (potentially) loaded magazine.
Burns with Houlihan as he aims to plink some tin cans--with eyes closed--in Ep. 2.10 "The Sniper."
Potter fires his Star Model B.
Hawkeye refusing to fire his weapon. The lack of a grip safety indicates it is a Star Model B.
"Oh, thank you." Potter cocks Hawkeye's Star Model B before firing.

Colt New Service

In Episode 4.13 "The Gun," a wounded Colonel arrives at the 4077th with a revolver described as a chromed Colt .45, shiny barrel with bone grips, made in 1884. The year suggests a Colt Single Action Army, though the actual revolver appears to be an anachronistic Colt New Service model, which was made 14 years later.

Colt New Service - .45 ACP
Shot of the Colt New Service in the storage locker.
Houlihan admiring the revolver. She reads the year inscribed as 1884, remarking her father had one like it.

Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket

In Episode 3.2 "Rainbow Bridge" Houlihan gives Burns a Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket with pearl grips for a concealed weapon before going to a wounded pickup in Chinese territory, in spite of the Chinese saying they were not even to have sidearms.

File:Colt1908 Ni.jpg
Colt M1908 Vest Pocket - .25 ACP
"It comes in a box of crackerjacks." Burns displays the M1908 VP.


Rifles

M1 Carbine

Several US Army and UN soldiers are seen with M1 Carbines. CPL Maxwell Klinger (Jamie Farr) is seen with one during patrol in a couple instances. 1LT Smith (William Watson) uses one to demand treatment for his Sergeant in 3.12 "A Full Rich Day."

Korean-era M1 Carbine - .30
Radar implies this is an M2 carbine "...that's one of those new rifles, shoots 30 corporals a second." His rifle has the appropriate 30-round magazine...
...though it lacks a selector switch, making this an M1 Carbine.

M1 Garand

The M1 Garand also appears as a regular service rifle, used by Klinger and other UN allies.

M1 Garand - .30-06
A South Korean soldier shouldering an M1 Garand in Ep. 2.02.
Klinger holds his Garand to block Winchester from entering camp.


Valmet M71

In Episodes 6.12-13 "Comrades in Arms," Korean patrols appear to be carrying Valmet M71 Sporter riles with synthetic furniture and the muzzle brake removed, to represent AK-47s. While this is a reference to the Vietnam War, any AK-47 variant used in the Korean War is likely an anachronism, since even the Soviet Union and China did not issue AK-type rifles until years after the Armistice was signed in 1953.

Valmet M71 - 5.56x45mm
Korean patrol with unloaded M71s while finding a jeep.
Korean solider with the Valmet doing a search.

Mosin Nagant M91/30

A surrendering North Korean soldier (nicknamed "Ralph" (Soon-Tek Oh) by Hawkeye) and a Korean patrol they encounter appear to be using Mosin Nagant M91 rifles in Episode 8.10 "The Yalu Brick Road."

Mosin Nagant M1891, 7.62x54mmR
North Korean patrol aiming their Mosin Nagant rifles.
"Ralph" with his M1891.

Submachine Guns

M1928A1 Thompson

The M1928 Thompson is occasionally carried by some soldiers, as a stand-in for the M1.

M1928A1 Thompson - .45 ACP
A gunner uses an M1928 in Episode 2.10.
A SSG holding a M1928A1 Thompson with 20-round magazine on patrol in "Hawkeye Get Your Gun." Note the top-mounted bolt actuator.


PPSh-41

Chinese soldiers in Episode 3.2 "Rainbow Bridge" are armed with Soviet PPSh-41 SMGs during the wounded pickup. If they were Chinese-made Type 50s, they would use stick magazines instead of drums, though North Korea did make licensed PPSh copies as Type 49s.

Soviet PPSh-41, 7.62x25mm Tokarev
Chinese soldiers with the PPSh-41


Shotguns

Double-Barreled Shotgun

MAJ Charles Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) managed to get his shotgun sent from home for fowl hunting in Episode 8.12 "Dear Uncle Abdul." It's a hammerless break action side-by-side shotgun. As a nod to his character namesake (and affluence), it is possibly a Winchester Model 21 or 24 though the receiver is never clearly seen. MAJ Margaret Houlihan (Loretta Swit) borrows it during the episode.

Winchester aiming shotgun.
Houlihan hands the shotgun back to Winchester.

Other

Dummy Mk 2 hand grenade

Mk 2 pineapple grenades are occasionally seen on passing GIs. SSG Rizzo (G.W. Bailey) borrows a dummy grenade from PVT Igor to play pranks in Episode 11.15 "As Time Goes By." As another nod to the Vietnam War, this grenade is painted black. Mk II grenades during the actual Korean War would be olive drab in color.

Winchester shocked to discover the Mk II is a dud.

3"/23 caliber gun

The 4077th is supplied with a "40mm gun" in Episode 2.2 "5 O'Clock Charlie" when he starts trying to bomb an ammo dump near the hospital. This is actually a Navy 3"/23 caliber gun, similar to the one used in The Sand Pebbles.

Side view of the AAA.
Firing the AA gun.

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