The Sign of Four (1987)

The Sign of Four DVD Cover Country UK Directed by Peter Hammond Release Date 1987 Studio Granada Television Main Cast Character Actor Sherlock Holmes Jeremy Brett Dr. John Watson Edward Hardwicke Major Sholto Robin Hunter Mary Morstan Jenny Seagrove Jonathan Small John Thaw Thaddeus Sholto / Bartholomew Sholto Ronald Lacey Tonga Kiran Shah Mrs Hudson Rosalie Williams

The Sign of Four is a British 1987 made for TV detective movie, based on the famous novel by Arthur Conan Doyle and starring Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes and Edward Hardwicke as Dr. Watson. This movie is a part of Granada Television TV series, including also The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984-1985), The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1986-1988), The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (1991-1993), and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1994) TV series, and feature-length The Hound of the Baskervilles (1988).

The following weapons were used in the film The Sign of Four:

Revolvers

Webley RIC No.1 New Model

A Webley RIC No.1 New Model is seen on Holmes' table.

Webley RIC No.1 New Model with 4.5" barrel - .476 Webley

The revolver on Holmes' table. The fluted cylinder allows to identify it as New Model.

Webley RIC Model 83

In several scenes Sherlock Holmes carries a short-barreled Webley RIC Model 83.

Webley RIC Model 83. This is a late model of RIC. Unlike the sample, the screen revolver has a semi-round front sight.

Holmes loads his revolver when preparing for the meeting with the mysterious author of the letter to Ms. Morstan.

Holmes fires at Tonga during the boat chase.

Holmes watches Small's unsuccessful attempts to escape.

Webley .455 Mk VI

During the boat chase Watson carries a Webley .455 Mk VI, not fitting for Victorian era.

Webley Mk VI - .455 Webley

Watson readies his revolver.

Watson kills Tonga.

Watson checks the revolver when the chase is over.

Muskets

Matchlock Musket

In the flashback scenes, depicting the story of Jonathan Small (John Thaw), Small himself and two Sikh soldiers in the Agra fortress are armed with Matchlock Muskets (too antique weapon even for India in mid-19th century). A guard in the scene of Small's prison break is armed with same looking musket.

European Matchlock musket.

Small stands at the gates, musket in hand.

One of the Sikhs with a musket.

Both Sikhs with muskets.

A general view of a musket.

The barrel of Small's musket.

The stock of Small's musket.

A stock of a musket of a prison guard is seen at the background left.

The guard holds a musket.

He aims at escaping Small.

Trivia

A smoothbore muzzleloading cannon is seen in the Agra fortress.