The Road Warrior

The Road Warrior / Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)

The Road Warrior, later Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior is the 1981 sequel to Mad Max. The movie's initial US release did not announce it as a sequel, since the original film did not get a lot of exposure in the US market. The sequel to the film had the advantage of a much higher budget and a distribution deal with a major American distributor, ensuring that it would appear in many more theaters across the country. Released in the US under the title The Road Warrior, this film was largely responsible for launching the parade of 'post-apocalyptic' sci-fi films of the period. The movie's advertising campaign heavily implyed that it was not a sequel but a standalone film, even though a prologue at the beginning recounts Max's backstory from the first movie. The Road Warrior was a financial success and paved the way for the third film in the series, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, released in 1985. This article uses the original US release title; following the franchise's success, it was re-linked to the original movie, and modern editions are titled Mad Max 2 or Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior.

The following guns were used in the film The Road Warrior

Smith & Wesson 29

A Smith & Wesson Model 29, fitted with an optical scope, is the personal weapon of Lord Humungus (Kjell Nisson). He very rarely uses it, since the ammunition is rare and precious in the post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max.

Smith & Wesson Model 29 revolver with 8 3/8" barrel - .44 Magnum

As Max is approaching with a semi to the compound. Lord Humungus draws his S&W Model 29 and loads up one round.

Humungus fires a round into the semi's radiator.

Humungus loads up all his remaining rounds before the final chase with Max.

Humungus fires two shots at the semi, only to find the front end is now reinforced.

Sawed-off Double Barrel shotgun

Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) uses a sawed-off double barrel shotgun from his MFP days throughout the film.

Airsoft version of the Road Warrior shotgun made by Hudson Industry Co. of Tokyo, modeled after the original prop. There are two versions of this replica, one with a real wood stock and the other with a cheaper plastic stock.

Max readies his shotgun after a short high speed chase. The shotgun is a bluff, as Max is out of shells at the time.

Max's shotgun, in the hands of a rather unusual operator.

After finding what he thinks is one good shell, Max fires it at Humungus, only to have it backfire in his face.

Max draws his shotgun and drills the driver of a pursuing car through the windshield.

Max fires his shotgun at one of the men on the roof of the semi.

Max swapping out the spent shells.

C02 volley gun

A Nordenfelt-style CO2-powered volley gun is mounted on a pickup truck and used to shoot down the gyrocopter with flechette darts. The same weapon is also used by Wez (Vernon Wells) to shoot the 'Warrior Woman' played by Virginia Hey.

C02 volley gun mounted on the red pickup truck.

Crossbow

Wez uses a forearm-mounted crossbow throughout the film. There are also numerous other standard crossbows used by other marauders and the refinery defenders.