| A Bullet for the General
|
|
Cinema Poster
|
| Country
|
 Italy
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| Directed by
|
Damiano Damiani
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| Release Date
|
1966
|
| Language
|
Italian
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|
|
A Bullet for the General (original title El Chuncho, quién sabe? or simply Quién sabe?, Spanish for Who Knows?) is a 1966 Italian Spaghetti Western directed by Damiano Damiani. The story takes place during the Mexican revolution (1910-17).
The following weapons were used in the film A Bullet for the General:
Revolvers
Single Action Army
The Single Action Army is used by several characters, including El Chuncho (Gian Maria Volonté), most of his men, and Mexican Army Lt. Ferreira (Aldo Sambrell).
Colt Single Action Army w/ 5.5" barrel known as the "Artillery" model - .45 Long Colt.
The grip of the revolver is seen.
El Chuncho (
Gian Maria Volonté) with his "Artillery" model SAA revolver in the final scene.
El Chuncho's men with "Artillery" model SAA revolvers.
A closer view of a Single Action Army.
Smith & Wesson Military & Police
The personal weapon of Bill Tate (Lou Castel), known as "Niño" ("The Kid") by his Mexican comrades-in-arms, is a Smith & Wesson Military & Police that he carries in a shoulder holster. Military and Police revolvers are also seen in the hands of several Mexican officers. The movie was filmed in Spain so these revolvers are likely Spanish copies of the Military & Police (like the "Ruby Extra" by Gabilondo, "Alfa" by Armero Especialistas Reunidas, and various models by Orbea Hermanos).
Smith & Wesson Model M&P Revolver with 5" Barrel - .38 Special
Bill Tate (
Lou Castel) holds his revolver on the train.
A closer view of Tate's revolver.
Tate shows how to shoot a revolver with chained hands.
The grip of Tate's revolver can be seen.
Tate shoots his revolver at a governmental officer.
A Mexican officer, who is in charge of the firing squad, fires his S&W at the man sentenced to death after the soldiers missed.
A Mexican officer aims his revolver at a bound El Chuncho.
Rifles
Spanish Mauser M1893
Most Federal troops and guerrillas are armed with Spanish Mauser M1893 rifles.
1893 Spanish Mauser - 7x57mm Mauser
Mexican soldiers with Mauser M93s. A closer view of the bolt.
Mexican soldiers with Mauser M93s rifles on the train.
Another close-up on the bolt.
El Chuncho (
Gian Maria Volonté) aims his rifle at a Mexican Army officer. Note the raised rear tangent sight, common practice in real life but rarely seen in movies.
A rifle with an open breech.
A soldier with a Mauser rifle with bayonet.
El Chuncho trains peasants on how to handle a rifle.
Spanish Mauser M1895 Carbine
Bill Tate uses the M1895 Carbine.
1895 Spanish Mauser Carbine - 7x57mm Mauser
Bill Tate aims his carbine loaded with a golden bullet (see
trivia section).
The carbine is seen better on a promotional image.
Winchester Model 1873
Several of El Chuncho's men are armed with Winchester Model 1873s.
Uberti replica of a Winchester 1873 rifle
One of El Chuncho's men with a Winchester Model 1873.
Garate El Tigre
Many of El Chuncho's men are armed with Garate El Tigre rifles. These Spanish copies of the Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine are often seen in Spaghetti Westerns.
Garate El Tigre - .44-40 WCF
One of El Chuncho's men with a Garate El Tigre.
A closer view of a Garate El Tigre.
A boy with a Garate El Tigre.
Machine guns
Hotchkiss M1914
A Hotchkiss M1914 is captured by El Chuncho's band and used against Federal troops. This machine gun is most likely the Spanish version in 7x57mm caliber which is historically plausible because the same model was used during the Mexican Revolution. In one scene, El Chuncho correctly states that this machine gun uses Mauser cartridges.
The process of loading and firing this machine gun is depicted very accurately, making this appearance among the best depictions of the Hotchkiss in cinema.
M1914 Hotchkiss Machine Gun with Tripod.
Bill Tate (
Lou Castel) readies the Hotchkiss M1914 for battle. El Chuncho (
Gian Maria Volonté) lubricates the 24-round strip. This process was necessary for the proper functioning of the machine gun. The caliber looks strangely small even for Spanish 7mm.
El Chuncho loads the Hotchkiss.
Bill Tate fires the machine gun.
El Chuncho reloads the machine gun.
Bill Tate hand-loads a 24-round strip.
Other weapons
Unidentified Grenade
During the attack on Fort El Santo (Klaus Kinski), uses "Pineapple"-style grenades. It is hard to identify which kind specifically.
El Santo (
Klaus Kinski) throws a grenade at government soldiers.
Trivia
The Golden Bullet
The cartridge with the golden bullet.
Bill Tate (
Lou Castel) loads his Mauser with the golden bullet.
The golden bullet taken out of the body of the man killed by Tate. Gold, being a very soft metal, would likely heavily deform or shatter upon contact with a human body if fired from a rifle.
Original poster
Origial Italian poster for the movie.
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