Question Just For Fun: Indiana Jones' Rifle

[Dave DeLaurant]

I believe Roy Chapman Andrews, an early 20th century archeologist, and one time head of the American Museum of Natural History in NYC, primarily carried Savage lever and bolt action rifles, and Colt or Smith & Wesson revolvers. He is credited by many as being the inspiration for the Indiana Jones character.

You scooped me Stan. Last year I read a bio of Chapman called Dragon Hunter:



I read somewhere that Chapman owned and liked his Mannlicher Schoenauer, but he managed to negotiate Savage sponsorship for some of his work in Mongolia, getting them to provide rifles in exchange for publicity. He was often photographed with either Model 99 or 20:




As you can see, he claimed to be a big fan of the Newton-designed .250 Savage cartridge.

 

[db_tanker]

I could see him swinging around an M1921 Thompson with the Cutts Comp and FBI style case to carry it around to go with a nice 1911 that he SHOULD have carried in my Indy movies lol

 

[kBob]

Peacemaker 1873.....and both were mid war guns.

-kBob

 

[tmd16556]

I believe he’d carry the Savage model of 1920 in 250-3000 with a Lyman sight and a few brass Mauser clips to load it from if things got ugly. I have one and it’d be my go to. Anything too big for the 250-3000 you should probably be running from anyway.

Also, there are only 3 Indiana Jones films. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. That is the way.

 

[WestKentucky]

Classic, and classy, but beat to hell. I’m thinking one of two things, and calling them a long gun is a stretch... Broomhandle with long barrel and shoulder stock, or artillery Luger with stock.

 

[Varminterror]

In my perspective, the scene in Berlin with the sub-machine gun firing from the hip is the embodiment of how I expect Indiana Jones would relate to “rifles.” Despite his scholarly day-job, never in the films does he display a studious nature or steady hand; never adopting a pensive approach, but rather always jumping to the first rash notion which jumped into his head. Not a rifleman. But sure, grab a sub-gun and blast away from the hip, that suits the character.

So PERSONALLY - I think it out of character entirely to consider Indy with any rifle, as his persona simply doesn’t align with any trait of a rifleman.

 

[DocRock]

My proposals are in descending order of imaginary likelihood:

Browning Auto 5 12 ga
Thompson subgun 45acp
Winchester 1894 carbine 30-30
Savage 99 carbine 300 Savage
SMLE 303 Brit

 

[Varminterror]

Since @DocRock brought up scatterguns, I suppose in a modern iteration, separated by sufficient history from the production of the original Terminator film, I could envision Indy carrying a short barreled Win 1887 lever action, or possibly an 1897 Trench gun. Although I’m conflicted whether I picture it more apt having a short shoulder stock or a club pistol grip.

 

[herrwalther]

Well he uses an M1 Carbine in Crystal Skull. So that is an Indiana Jones rifle already. Personally I think he would go with a SMLE No 1. Out and in usage about when all his major adventures happen, early to mid 1930s. Certainly no Mausers. But I considered his Webley or S&W Mk II to be just as iconic and fitting to the character as his whip was.

 

[jmorris]

So PERSONALLY - I think it out of character entirely to consider Indy with any rifle, as his persona simply doesn’t align with any trait of a rifleman.

Yeah, the character was more of a run in a zigzag or jump type than pick them off from a distance, type.

He did use some things that were a bit before their time though.

 

[trekker73]

they made him a 20th century gunslinger with the attitude of a 17th century boarding party. I dont see a long arm in his past or future. maybe the closest is a mares leg he can hide under a coat or on his back.....sort of.

A full length battle rifle like an SMLE, no way. He has too many catacombs and love scenes to get through to have anything like that getting in the way

 

[bassjam]

If Indy carried a rifle, it'd get lost in the first scene or two. He only takes what he can easily carry as he's crawling and jumping through ancient tunnels. If he gets caught off-guard and needs to run, his first priority is his hat, and he often barely has time to get that so a rifle wouldn't last long in his hands.

 

[kBob]

...and Bassjam has it!!!!

Gunachronisms drive me nuts though I have stopped getting upset over Browning style Winchesters in the 1870's and before or Single Action Army Colt revolvers before 1873 after only 60 years of being furious over them.

Almost drove me as crazy as the folks that said it took four or five minutes to load a musket when most armies expected troops to load and fire four times in one minute!

Watch some skirmishers at a board of clay pigeons sometime and tell me about four minutes to load!!!!!

I still get a bit miffed at things like M4 rifles showing up in the 1960's in place of "CAR-15" (XM-177 series).

Oh I know guns do tend to get places that are a bit odd. One of my favorite VN error (yep spelled that like I wanted) pictures was some women in a fortified village being taught to use the MP 40 and the guns appeared HUGE in their hands and another photo of women in the Delta learning to use S&W M1917s that appeared cartoonish in those women's hands. Those however were at least possible....don't get me started on what one may encounter in East Africa!

But guns are not time travelers......

-kBob

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Cavary carbine Krag.

Maybe a 99 in .303.



Todd.

 

[StrawHat]

It seems to me that given a choice Jones would probably carry a lever action carbine. It's light, easy to maneuver in tight spots & has good round capacity. He may even switch his revolver to a 45 LC so his ammo would fit the rifle & the handgun.

Probably not, the lever action rifle chambered for the 45 long Colt cartridge did not happen until the last part of the 20th Century.

Sorry.

Kevin

 

[High Plains]

I think he would have a Savage 99 in 303 British. The nearly world-wide spread of that particular ammunition would be a huge benefit.

 

[dcloco]

The modern version for Indy:

Circuit Judge (rossiusa.com)

 

[WisBorn]

Winchester Model 1907 in .351 Self Loading. Just because he was a bit eccentric.

You read my mind!!!

 

[codytrucker]

A savage 99 takedown , with a handy little leather case or satchel that slung over his back and out of the way until needed. one with a compass in the stock most likely.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

...Also, there are only 3 Indiana Jones films. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. That is the way.

In our house there are only two...
1 and 3.