Matewan

Matewan Home Video Poster Country United States Directed by John Sayles Release Date 1987 Language English Studio Cinecom Pictures Distributor Cinecom Pictures Main Cast Character Actor Joe Kenehan Chris Cooper Few Clothes James Earl Jones Danny Radnor Will Oldham Hickey Kevin Tighe Chief Sid Hatfield David Strathairn C.E. Lively Bob Gunton Griggs Gordon Clapp

Matewan is a 1987 American historical drama film that dramatizes the 1920 Battle of Matewan, the culmination of hostilities between striking miners and hired guns in the coal mining town of Matewan, West Virginia. The film was written and directed by John Sayles and the cast included Chris Cooper, Kevin Tighe, James Earl Jones, and David Strathairn. In 2023 it was listed in the National Film Registry.

The following weapons were used in the film Matewan:

Handguns

Colt Official Police

Sheriff Sid Hatfield (David Strathairn) carries and uses two Colt Official Police revolvers in .38 Special, Baldwin-Felts Agent Bill Hickey (Kevin Tighe), as well as a few strikers use the Colt Official Police as their primary sidearms as well. Though technically anachronistic, the Colt Official Police it is most likely standing in for its predecessor, the Colt Army Special.

Colt Official Police (6" Barrel)

One of Sherriff Sid Hatfield's (David Strathairn) two revolvers that he carries throughout the film is a Colt Official Police with 6" barrel and notably uses it during the final shootout. Several strikers are seen using 6" barrel Colt Official Polices during the final shootout as well.

Colt Official Police, 6" Heavy Barrel - .38 Special

Sheriff Sid Hatfield (David Strathairn) cleans and aims one of his Colt Official Police revolvers, the .38 Special rounds can be seen on the table sitting next to two more revolvers, which are more than likely Colt Official Police revolvers as well.

Sheriff Sid Hatfield's (David Strathairn) two Colt Official Police revolvers are seen holstered on his gun belt.

Sheriff Sid Hatfield (David Strathairn) draws his dual revolvers.

Sheriff Sid Hatfield's (David Strathairn)'s left handgun is shown in more detail.

One striker blindly fires his Colt Official Police during the final shootout.

The same striker goes down giving a better view of his Colt Official Police.

Colt Official Police (4" Barrel)

Sheriff Sid Hatfield (David Strathairn) carries a second Colt Official Police, only this one has a 4" barrel. Bill Hickey (Kevin Tighe) also carries a Colt Official Police with a 4" barrel as his main sidearm, a striker is also seen using one during the final shootout.

Colt Official Police - 4" Barrel - .38 Special

Sid Hatfield (David Strathairn) wields his two revolvers; the revolver in his left hand has a visibly shorter barrel as compared to the one in his right hand.

A better shot of Sid Hatfield's (David Strathairn) Colt Official Police revolvers, clearly showing the two different barrel lengths.

Bill Hickey (Kevin Tighe) with his Colt Official Police during the final shootout.

One of the strikers fires his Colt Official Police during the final shootout.

Smith & Wesson Military & Police

Numerous people involved in the shootout use the Smith & Wesson Military & Police, including Griggs (Gordon Clapp).

Smith & Wesson Model M&P - .38 Special

Tom Griggs (Gordon Clapp) holds a Smith & Wesson Military & Police on Joe Kenehan (Chris Cooper) at the miners' camp.

Tom Griggs (Gordon Clapp) uses a Smith & Wesson Military & Police during the final shootout.

Smith and Wesson Safety Hammerless

During the final shootout, one of the strikers can be seen firing a Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless.

Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless "Lemon Squeezer" - .38 S&W

One of the strikers aims and fires his Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless (circled in red) during the final shootout. Though it is hard to make out, you can see the slanted backstrap, lack of a visible hammer, and the distinct front sight of the Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless.

Single Action Army

Single Action Army revolvers are seen in the hands of both C.E. Lively (Bob Gunton) and Few Clothes (James Earl Jones).

Colt Single Action Army - .45 Long Colt

C.E. Lively (Bob Gunton) holds a Single Action Army while he talks with Joe Kenehan during an establishing scene.

Joe Kenehan (Chris Cooper) talks with Few Clothes (James Earl Jones), who brandishes a Single Action Army during a politically tense scene.

Shotguns

Double Barreled Shotgun

Elma Radnor (Mary McDonnell) uses 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun during the final shootout.

1960s Era Commercial Stevens hammerless side by side shotgun - 12 gauge

Elma Radnor (Mary McDonnell) discharges a 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun during the final shootout. Note the hammerless boxlock design.

Double Barrel Percussion Shotgun

One of the mountain people is armed with a Percussion Shotgun.

Double Barreled Percussion Shotgun - 10 gauge

A hired gun armed with a Winchester and one of the mountain people armed with a Percussion Shotgun during a confrontation at the miners' camp. Note the ramrod visible under the barrels of the shotgun indicating that it is a muzzleloader.

Percussion Cap Fowler Shotgun

One of the mountain people is seen wielding a 19th century single-shot "Fowler" shotgun and most notably keeps it trained on Tom Griggs (Gordon Clapp). The man mentions he got the shotgun during the "War Between the States" (American Civil War) given that its a 19th century shotgun, its not too farfetched to assume it was used during the Civil War.

Antique Percussion Cap Fowler

The Mountain Man keep his Fowler trained on Tom Griggs.

The Mountain Man with his Fowler.

Rifles

Mauser Karabiner 98k

Anachronistic Karabiner 98ks with late-war barrel bands appear throughout the film. They are likely standing in for various period-correct Mauser rifles.

Mauser Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Danny Radnor (Will Oldham) uses a Mauser Karabiner 98k during the final shootout. This image has been reversed, possibly to preserve the scene's line of action. For dramatic purposes, the shop appears to have been positioned over rail tracks that show signs of recent use. It should also be noted that later on Dannys Karabiner 98k switches to a 1916 Spanish Mauser.

A striker fires on the hired guns with a Mauser Karabiner 98K during the final shootout. The left-hand side of the Mauser is shown in true form.

One of the strikers takes aim with his Karabiner 98k during the final shootout.

Another striker takes aim with his Karabiner 98k during the final shootout.

Another striker hip fires his Karabiner 98k during the final shootout, this would likely be a bad decision in a gunfight considering he is using a bolt-action rifle and has no ability to aim properly, also trying to manipulate the bolt would be extremely cumbersome.

Mauser Model 1916

The 1916 Spanish Mauser appears throughout the film.

Fusil corto Modelo 1916 - 7x57mm

At the river's edge, Danny Radnor (Will Oldham) aims an 1916 Spanish Mauser at an escaping hired gun during the final shootout. Earlier during the gunfight Danny was firing a Karabiner 98k and it is now switched to a 1916 Spanish Mauser.

Danny Radnor (Will Oldham) with a 1916 Spanish Mauser and Elma Radnor (Mary McDonnell) with a 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun after the final shootout.

Winchester Model 1892

The Winchester Model 1892 appears throughout the film.

Winchester 1892 - .38-40

A shooter uses a Winchester Rifle Model 1892 during the final shootout.

Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine

A few Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbines also appear throughout the film.

Winchester 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine - .38-40

A hired gun armed with a Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine fires on the miners during the final shootout.

Winchester Model 1894

At least one Winchester Model 1894 is carried by a Baldwin-Felts Agent.

Winchester Model 1894 - .30-30 WCF

A Baldwin-Felts Agent armed with a Winchester Model 1894 finds himself on the wrong end of a Percussion Shotgun wielded by one of the Hill Folk.

Garate El Tigre

One of the miners fires a Garate El Tigre, a Spanish copy of the Winchester Model 1892.

Garate El Tigre - .44-40

A striker uses a Garate El Tigre during the final shootout.

M1841 Mississippi Musket

The lead mountain man is seen carrying an M1841 Mississippi Musket over his shoulder, but is never seen using it. Given that this movie takes place in West Virginia, it is very possible that this rifle could have been produced at the U.S. Armory at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia.

M1841 Mississippi rifled musket - .58 caliber Minié ball

The man keeps his musket on his shoulder

The man keeps his musket on his shoulder

Kentucky Rifle Percussion Cap Conversion

One of the mountain men is seen carrying a Kentucky-style percussion cap rifle, at first, it almost looks to be a genuine Kentucky Flintlock Rifle with a half stock, however when the rifle comes into full view, the percussion cap is visible. Its possible this is a conversion done on an original Kentucky Rifle.

Kentucky plains flintlock musket

The Mountain Man with his rifle.

Machine Guns

Browning M1917A1

A Browning M1917A1 is manned by hired guns.

Browning M1917A1 - .30-06 Springfield

Hired guns wait with a Winchester Model 1892 and a Browning M1917A1 during a strikers' meeting.

A Browning M1917 sits at the ready.