Question about identification of revolver

[moewadle]

I was watching just the tail end of a 1968 western film with James Stewart on the TV today and as the climax occurred the Stewart character was shot in the leg, down in the dirt, and trying to reload his empty SAA style revolver. I did not get much of a look but I did notice that the gun had a swing out cylinder for loading and I am almost positve it also had a lanyard loop screwed right into the center bottom of the grip frame. So, based on that information and knowing it may have not have been a "real" gun what model of revolver would you say this was.?? Thanks in advance for perhaps helping me learn something. To clarify, the setting of this film was the 19th century American West. The movie, by the way, was FIRECREEK also starring Henry Fonda.

 

[Jim Watson]

I don't recall the individual movie, but the prop departments had all manner of modern guns faked up to look like period pieces. Either for faster reloading to keep the action moving or DA for easier use by a non-enthusiast actor.

I had an old article with pictures from the Stembridge gun rental agency. They had such things as Colt New Service and S&W Hand Ejectors with dummy ejector rod housings; some with butts recontoured to SAA plowhandle shape, some not. One even cut to look like a Lightning butt. Also Colt SAAs and Colt and S&W DAs with webs added under the barrel to look like 1858 or 1875 Remingtons. The old TV Annie Oakley had a Colt Police Positive, nickel plated with plastic stag grips, dummy ejector rod housing, and a SAA style front sight.

 

[Ron James]

It's been a couple of years but if I remember right James Steward was not trying to load a SSA, but rather he was attemping to load a double action revolver, either a Colt or Smith & Wesson. I do remember the firearm was correct for the time period which was around the the begining of the 20th century. I also remember that Henry Fonda played a great bad guy. It was refreshing to see a movie that used something other than Colts and Winchesters.

 

[Archie]

I think I remember the movie...

As I recall, when I saw that portion of the film, I said to myself, "Dang! That's a Colt New Service he's loading there. Probably in .44-40, considering the time frame..."

I suppose I could be wrong, and it's been a while, but I remember thinking it was a New Service.

 

[Jim K]

In the bar room gunfight scene in "Shane", Alan Ladd's SAA suddenly becomes what looks like a Colt New Service. Ladd was a small man and could not handle an SAA at the speed the director wanted, so they gave him a DA revolver.

Today, of course, the special effects folks would just fake the shooting, but in those days they used blanks to make the noise and flash.

Jim