Sniper
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Original Poster
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Country
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USSR
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Directed by
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Semyon Timoshenko
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Release Date
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1931
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Language
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Russian
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Studio
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Soyuzkino
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Sniper is a Soviet 1931 B&W movie directed by Semyon Timoshenko. During World War I, a Russian soldier (Pyotr Sobolevsky) serves in the Russian Expeditionary Force in France where he is chosen for his marksmanship and trained as a skilled sniper. After the Russian Revolution, the soldier returns home while his commander (Boris Shlikhting) fights against the newly-founded Soviet Union. In 1930, the former soldier works in a factory and is also the instructor at a shooting club. His town near the Soviet border is attacked by foreign troops (the hostile state isn't named, but the uniforms of the soldiers resemble ones worn by the Finnish). The character meets his former commander once more, who now serves in the invading forces.
The following weapons were used in the film Sniper (1931):
Revolvers
Nagant M1895
Most revolvers, seen in the hands of Russian, French, and British officers during WWI, appear to be Russian Nagant M1895s.
Russian Nagant 1895, produced 1920s. The rounded front sight is a sign of revolvers produced from 1890s until 1930 - 7.62x38N
A French officer leads his soldiers in attack with a revolver and a sword in hands.
A British officer holds a revolver during the attack.
A French officer in charge of a firing squad holds a revolver.
The Captain (
Boris Shlikhting) holds a Nagant during the battle in the final scene.
The Captain is shot by The Soldier.
Unidentified revolver
In one scene, a British officer is seen with a revolver. This scene is supposed to be documentary footage.
A British officer holds a revolver.
Rifles
Ross M1910
The Soldier (Pyotr Sobolevsky) and The Captain (Boris Shlikhting) both use Ross M1910 rifles with sniper scopes. Standard Ross rifles are also seen in hands of Russian and British soldiers. The moviemakers most likely made use of the large stock of Ross M1910s that were captured during the Russian Civil War and used in the USSR for target shooting in the 1920s and 1930s.
A soldier trains with a Ross rifle in sniper school.
A close-up view of the trigger.
The Soldier takes a Ross with a sniper scope during training.
Ross rifles are seen in the hands of British soldiers.
A Russian soldier holds a Ross rifle during close combat.
The Soldier cleans his Ross. The bolt is removed and seen on the table next to The Soldier.
The Captain fires at Russian soldiers who declined to participate in the war.
The Soldier shows the bolt and sniper scope of the Ross to his students at the shooting club.
During the battle in the final scene, one of the civilian volunteers fires a Ross rifle with removed rear sight.
The Soldier aims in the final scene.
Mauser Gewehr 1898
Imperial German Army soldiers are armed with Mauser Gewehr 1898 rifles. Mauser 98 rifles are also seen in the hands of Triple Entente troops.
Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
The German sniper (
Pyotr Kirillov) leaves his hidden position. He holds a Mauser 98 rifle.
A Mauser 98 is seen next to the sniper's body. Note the bolt handle.
A British soldier holds a Mauser 98 rifle during the close combat.
Another British soldier with a Mauser 98 in attack.
German soldiers in gas masks attack with Mauser 98 rifles in hands.
Mosin Nagant M1891
During the battle in the final scene, Red Army soldiers and civilian volunteers carry Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry rifles.
Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry Rifle - 7.62x54mm R
Russian soldiers of the Expeditionary Force carry M91 Infantry rifles. This is incorrect as they were armed in France with French weapons, mostly
Berthier rifles.
A civilian volunteer holds an M91 Infantry rifle with early model sights.
Another volunteer is armed with an M91 Infantry with M1910 sights.
Red Army soldiers fire Mosin Nagant rifles.
Enfield P14
Some Enfield Pattern 14 rifles are also seen in the hands of British soldiers.
Pattern M1914 (P 14) Enfield - .303 UK
What appears to be an Enfield P14 is seen at the left.
Another view of the supposed P14 in center.
A British soldier in attack with an Enfield rifle.
Winchester Model 1895
A Winchester Model 1895 rifle is seen in the hands of a Russian soldier.
A Russian contract Model 1895 in 7.62x54 Russian. Note the loading bridge over the reciever
TOZ-1
During training at the shooting club in 1930, numerous small caliber rifles are seen. They are supposed to be .22 caliber single-shot TOZ-1 rifles that were used in the late 1920s to the early 1930s for basic shooting training, until replaced with the improved TOZ-7.
A drawing of TOZ-1 - .22LR
Five small caliber rifles.
Young men and women at the shooting range.
Kropatschek Mle 1884-1885
Rifles that appear to be French Kropatschek Mle 1884 are seen in several scenes.
Kropatschek Mle 1884 - 11 x 59mm Gras.
The Soldier (
Pyotr Sobolevsky) in the trenches. The rifle, seen next to him, looks like a Kropatschek.
A French firing squad executes mutineers. The soldiers are armed with rifles that appear to be Kropatschek.
In the scene in 1930, a border guard of the hostile state carries a rifle that also appears to be a Kropatschek.
An enemy soldier fires at a Soviet border guard.
An enemy soldier with a rifle in action.
Machine Guns
Maxim M1910
Maxim M1910 machine guns are used during the battle in the final scene by both Red Army soldiers and the invading troops.
Maxim 1910, simplified version with smooth water jacket - 7.62x54mmR
An enemy soldier fires his machine gun. Next to him, The Captain (
Boris Shlikhting) is watching with binoculars for the results of the shooting.
A closer view of the muzzle.
Red Army soldiers move a Maxim into position.
Maxim-Tokarev
In the scene of the attack by the Russian troops in Summer 1917, a Maxim-Tokarev machine gun stands in for a German machine gun.
Maxim-Tokarev light machine gun - 7.62x54mm R
A closer view of the barrel.
Other Weapons
Flamethrower
In one scene, a flamethrower is seen in the hands of a British soldier. It is hard to identify the exact model.
A soldier checks his weapon prior to attack.
Livens Projector
In one scene, a British soldier loads a Livens Projector mortar with a gas bomb. It could be a genuine weapon, not a mockup (although the bomb is a dummy of course).
A soldier brings a bomb to the projector that is seen in center.