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Raiders of the Lost Ark
S&W M1917 & Mk II Hand Ejector
Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) used two different Smith & Wessons in the movie. One was A .45 ACP Smith & Wesson M1917 Revolver and the other was the Smith & Wesson Mk II Hand Ejector chambered for the .455 Eley (A British round). The .45 ACP Smith & Wesson M1917 Revolver is the one he hands over to Belloq in the beginning of the film. He uses the other throughout the rest of the film. Both guns have barrels cut down to 4 inches. The Smith & Wesson M1917 Revolver originally had a 5 1/2 inch barrel. The Smith & Wesson Mk II Hand Ejector originally had a 6 1/2 inch barrel and was manufactured circa 1915-1917 for the British militry by S&W.
Along with the different barrel lengths, the two guns can be differentiated because the M1917 Revolver has no medallion as part of the grips, and the Smith & Wesson Mk II Hand Ejector does have round nickel S&W medallions.
Below is the actual .45 ACP Smith & Wesson M1917 Revolver that has had the barrel shortened. The first scene we see this gun is when he hands the gun over to Belloq after acquiring the idol. The second scene is when Indy tosses the gun into his suitcase, where you can see a clear closeup of the chip on the grip and other markings. It is NOT the hero firing weapon used by Harrison Ford as "Indiana Jones" later in the film (the firing gun was the Smith & Wesson Mk II Hand Ejector). It was also rumored that this particular gun was also used on the car chase scene in Temple Of Doom but it is now believed that a Colt Official Police was used in Temple of Doom instead.
And this is the actual shortened Smith & Wesson Mk II Hand Ejector which was used for the rest of the film including all of the actual shooting scenes.
Browning P35 Hi-Power
Often mistaken as an Colt 1911 pistol, the gun that Jones pick up is a Browning Hi-Power. It was one of Brownings last designs and were on the drawing board in 1925. The P35, made by FN in Belgium was a common gun in the hands of the Nazi's but not until WW2 broke out. It is very unlikely that Jones would had this gun in 1936. The Hi-Power used in the film was manufactured by Inglis of Canada.
RPG-2
Near the climax of the film, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) points a shoulder-fired anti-tank weapon at the ark while it is being transported by the Nazis and threatens to blow it up. The weapon is actually a Chinese Type 56 copy of the Soviet RPG-2 made to look like a WWII-era German anti-tank weapon (it features a Panzerschreck-style shoulder grip). Since neither the Panzerschreck nor the Panzerfaust existed in 1936 (when the movie takes place), he should not have a weapon like this.
- This should not be listed as an RPG-2. As we all know the RPG series of weapons as we know it were invented years after World War 2. This is a complete fantasy fabricated weapon, perhaps built on a hollywood FAKE rocket launcher, but not an RPG-2 (unless it has been completely covered with the fictional parts as to be unrecognizable). There are just too many fantasy elements for us to know what the prop was built on. (unless there is specific information indicating that an RPG-2 was used as the base for this fantasy weapon). MPM
Nordenfelt gun
A twin barrel Nordenfelt gun is seen mounted at the rear turret of the 'Flying Wing' plane.
These are actually twin mounted MG15 machine guns.
MP40
Many of the Nazis use MP40 submachine guns in this movie, which is not appropriate since the film is set in 1936 and neither the MP40 nor its more expensive predecessor, the MP38, existed at the time.
Mauser C96
Famous Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" pistol of 7.63mm or 9mm calibre with a 10 round magazine. Historically accurate as developed in the 1890's and used by Marion (Karen Allen) to shoot the last Nepalese Nazi Stooge on the bar brawl.
Luger P08
The equally famous 9mm 8 round Luger P08 pistol developed in the late 1890s and adopted by the German Army in 1908. Used by various baddies in the film & again historically accurate
Karabiner 98k
Bolt action rifle used by German Soldiers and Egyptian henchmen in the film. The Mauser Karabiner 98k was began manufacture in 1935 so it is conceivable that it would be out of the country by 1936, however the German soldiers would be more likely be carrying Gewehr 98s.
MG 38 machine gun
Belt fed machine gun seen mounted on various Nazi vehicles in the film (with optional 50 round 'snail' type magazines). An anachronism as not developed until 1938
Walther P38
Used by various Nazis throughout the film. The Walther P38 9mm Parabellum 8 round pistol was not produced until 1938 and as such is an anachronism in the film.
A few hammerless prototypes extisted in 1935, but still unlikely any nazi's would have had this gun.
Remington 1875
"Barranca" tries to shoot Indy with a Remington 1875 in the opening jungle scene. Indy uses his whip to "snatch" the gun out of Barranca's hand.
