Hell on wheels

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bcarver

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So if you watch the show, Mr. Bohansen shoots this guy with a revolver in the railyard. What kind of gun is used in the show and is it accurate for the time period?
 
I've not kept up on the show, but I do remember that in the first episode, Bohannon is recognized as an ex-Confederate by the fact that he carries a "Griswold" which I can only assume is a Griswold & Gunnison which was a percussion revolver made in small numbers by the Confederacy until the factory was bombed beyond repair by Union forces.

I would not be surprised if Bohannon continued to use the Griswold in later episodes, but like I said I've not kept up on the show.
 
The first season he carried an anachronistic brass framed 1860 Army pattern revolver and CALLED it a Griswold & Gunnison.
The G&G was really an 1851 Navy type with "brass" (bronze) frame and Dragoon round barrel.

Looks like he shot the brother of the guy he had already shot with a Remington pattern revolver.
 
The first season he carried an anachronistic brass framed 1860 Army pattern revolver and CALLED it a Griswold & Gunnison.
The G&G was really an 1851 Navy type with "brass" (bronze) frame and Dragoon round barrel.
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Yep!
 
Love that show for their accuracy. There was a whole feature on the period firearms on the channel... can't find it now. Their advisers appeared very knowledgeable.
-SS-
 
Not 'that' accurate. As posted, the G&G used by Cullen is actually a brass framed 1860, which is a fantasy weapon. Since this is supposed to be taking place right after the war, Elam's Colt 1871-1872 Open Top .44 rimfire is a wee bit early. Same for the Sharps 1874. The Winchester 1866 is period correct but would not have been issued to cavalry troops, as depicted in the show. It's more accurate than most westerns up through the `60's and `70's but far from perfect.
 
What I "like" about those movies and TV shows is that there is always some "expert" who talks about how the producer/director made sure the coat buttons have the right insignia and the shoe soles have the correct number of stitches, then they show an Model 1873 trapdoor in the Civil War or a Model 1861 rifle-musket in the Revolution.

I saw a CW show the other night, with a bunch of modern re-enactors. Guys, I love you, and know you do your best to keep history alive, but darned few Confederate or Federal soldiers had big pot bellies and white beards. War, then as now, is a young man's "game".

Jim
 
I was very disappointed in their prop man's (limited) expertise.

The transcontinental railroad was under construction 1865-1869.
 
Bohannon's using a Remington now.


War, then as now, is a young man's "game".
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Re-enacting, unfortunately, is not. It is sad when far more old fat guys care enough about history to go through the effort of reliving it than young people. No old fat guys, no re-enactments.
 
Re-enacting, unfortunately, is not. It is sad when far more old fat guys care enough about history to go through the effort of reliving it than young people. No old fat guys, no re-enactments.
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People my age either have no money or no time. Well, at least for the most part. The last 8 months I had a lot of time with no money. I expect to have a little bit of money and no time for the foreseeable future. When I am an old, fat, pot bellied, retiree I may try my hand at re-enacting :)
 
record it to watch every week... don't worry about too much of the historical accuracy, as long as it's within the correct era...

did you see the one the baby was stolen, & Bohannen handed the baby thieves the lil top break revolver... told him save the last 2 rounds for both of them, if they were attacked by indians
 
Caught season one and two on netflix, and enjoyed them. I think they do better than most on the gun stuff. Haven't seen any 15 shot revolvers. I did think it was kind of funny that in the scene where the indian races the train, his horse has shoes.
 
Amazing how many of them have 1866 Winchesters! Does anybody
remember seeing even ONE Spencer?

There have been a couple of incidents where they showed what appeared
to be a cartridge converted Remington. Centerfire cartridges. Might be
a couple of years early for that.

That said, I like the show. It's getting a little too much drama lately, but
still better than all of the reality TV shows.

Even the big dollar movies with high dollar arms consultants screw up
on a regular basis--HOW hits it pretty close.
 
Looks like a Colt Navy .38 converted to fire cartridges.
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No, in one of the episodes, he was popping the caps off the nipples with a pocket knife.

And at least they're using open top Colt's instead of Peacemakers.
 
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A real letdown on the prop man's part. Italian copyguns of the G&G did exhist at the time of the show and he could have ordered one since it was so important to the script.
JMHO
BPDave
 
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