The Way of Bones (Drumul oaselor)

The Way of Bones (Drumul oaselor) Original Theatrical Poster Country Romania Directed by Doru Nastase Release Date 1980 Language Romanian Studio Casa de Filme 5 Main Cast Character Actor Margelatu Florin Piersic Agatha Slatineanu Marga Barbu Capitan Baroncea Ion Marinescu Pana Gradisteanu Iurie Darie Sturzu Remus Margineanu Moroiu Ernest Maftei Aga (chief of police) Villara Petre Gheorghiu-Dolj Stroe Gradisteanu Toma Dimitriu

The Way of Bones (Drumul oaselor) is a Romanian 1980 adventure movie directed by Doru Nastase. It starts the series of six films about the adventures of noble brigand Margelatu "The Yellow Rose" (Florin Piersic) in the Principality of Wallachia (modern Romania) before the Revolution of 1848. The revolutionary organisation "Justice and Brotherhood" need money for purchasing weapons for planned uprising. They get a word about the hidden treasures of Tudor Vladimirescu, the leader of Wallachian uprising of 1821. A group of revolutionaries, assisted by Margelatu, goes for the treasures in a remote place in Carpathian Mountains. But one person in the group, noble Pana Gradisteanu (Iurie Darie) plans to get the treasures for himself. He teams with actress Agatha Slatineanu (Marga Barbu), adventuress and agent of the chief of police.

The following weapons were used in the film The Way of Bones (Drumul oaselor):

WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Handguns

Margelatu's Pepperbox

In all six movies Margelatu (Florin Piersic) carries his signature weapon, an eight-barrel pepperbox. The gun is a custom prop, generally resembling Lefaucheux and Francotte models but with separate barrels, like on Mariette Pepperbox.

For a trivia about the gun see the page for the second film.

Margelatu's pepperbox on table in the opening scene.

Margelatu fires at pursuing police.

Margelatu fires the pepperbox during the shootout in the Way of Bones gorge. It looks like several barrels "fire" simultaneously.

Margelatu surprises treator Pana Gradisteanu.

Margelatu shoots in air.

Pinfire Double Barreled Pistol

During the shootout in the Way of Bones gorge Margelatu uses a Pinfire Double Barreled Pistol (a very modern weapon for mid-1840s) instead of his pepperbox revolver. In the final scene same pistol is seen in hands of Agatha Slatineanu (Marga Barbu).

Pinfire double barreled pistol, Belgian manufacture - .58 caliber

Margelatu holdfs a double barreled pistol. The lever under barrels can be seen.

Margelatu fires at soldiers.

A close view of the pistol.

Agatha holds a double barreled pinfire pistol in right hand and a percussion cap pistol in left hand.

Percussion Dueling Pistol

Percussion Dueling Pistols with typical long faceted barrels are used by revolutionaries Capitan Baroncea (Ion Marinescu) and Sturzu (Remus Margineanu), boyar (noble) Pana Gradisteanu (Iurie Darie), and Aga (chief of police) Villara (Petre Gheorghiu-Dolj) and his second-in-command Sfranciog (Adrian Stefanescu). During the shootout in the Way of Bones gorge Baroncea's, Sturzu's and Gradisteanu's pistols often switch to different models of percussion pistols (see below).

Modern replica of Lepage percussion dueling pistol.

Sturzu confronts Pana Gradisteanu, suspecting him in treachery.

Margelatu disarms Sfranciog and holds him at gunpoint with his own pistol.

Another view of the scene.

Margelatu with Sfranciog's pistol.

Pana Gradisteanu holds a pistol.

Sfranciog holds the pistol.

Sturzu with two long-barreled pistols.

Villara cocks the hammer of his pistol in the final scene.

Chatellerault Cavalry Model 1822 Pistol

Percussion cap pistols that appear to be French Chatellerault Cavalry Model 1822 are seen in hands of Capitan Baroncea (Ion Marinescu) and Sturzu (Remus Margineanu).

Chatellerault Model 1822 T Percussion Cavalry Pistol - .69 cal

Sturzu holds a pistol that matches Chatellerault Cavalry Model 1822. The hole for ramrod is seen in the stock.

Same looking pistol in hand of Baroncea.

Sturzu fires his pistol when the company breaks through an ambush on the road.

Percussion Cap Pistol

Percussion Cap Pistols of various models are seen in hands of Capitan Baroncea (Ion Marinescu), Sturzu (Remus Margineanu), Pana Gradisteanu (Iurie Darie), Margelatu (Florin Piersic) and Agatha Slatineanu (Marga Barbu).

Italian (Kingdom of the Two Sicilies) Percussion cap pistol, converted from flintlock, circa mid-19th century - .69 caliber (17.7mm)

Baroncea readies the pistol for the assassination attempt on Aga Villara.

An gendarme from Villara's guard fires at Baroncea. Note the sparks on the lock, small enough for percussion cap lock.

Baroncea holds a pistol.

Another view of Baroncea's pistol.

Margelatu holds a percussion cap pistol with a relatively short barrel and military-style wide grip. In next scene it is replaced with a pinfire double barreled pistol.

Another view of Margelatu's pistol.

Pana Gradisteanu holds a pistol at the background.

Agatha fires a percussion cap pistol in the final scene.

Shotguns

Single Barreled Shotgun (visually modified)

Single Barreled Shotguns, visually modified by adding a long handguard and additional barrel bands, stand for muskets of soldiers. Some are fitted with fake percussion cap locks, others lack any mockup locks.

A soldier aims.

A soldier at the foreground holds a fake musket. Typical outlook of break-open shotgun is seen.

The gun is fitted with a fake percussion cap lock. It doesn't move when the gun "fires".

The external hammer of the shotgun can be seen.

Sturzu (Remus Margineanu) takes a musket of slain soldier.

A fake musket on the body of a soldier.

Muskets

Percussion Cap Musket

Some percussion cap muskets, used by soldiers, turn out to be genuine guns of first half of 19th century.

For comparison: Charleville Mle 1763 flintlock musket - .69 caliber. Such musket, converted to percussion cap lock, looks similar to the screen gun.

A soldier at the left holds a long musket that seems to be an authentic gun.

A closeup of the percussion cap lock.

A musket of slain soldier. It appears to be an authentic gun.

Margelatu uses a musket to make a deadly trap.

A genuine looking musket in hands of a revolutionaty in the final scene.