M*A*S*H (or simply spelled as MASH) was the television adaptation of the 1970 film of the same name. As in the film, the series followed the antics of the medical personnel assigned to the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. Though set in the Korean War, several of the episodes were meant as an allegory to the then ongoing war in Vietnam. The series aired on CBS for 11 seasons from 1972 to 1983 and its finale was one of the most viewed television programs in history. The series would also inspire two television spinoffs, Trapper John, M.D. and AfterM*A*S*H, although legally, Trapper John, M.D is considered a spinoff of only the film.
The following weapons were used in the series M*A*S*H:
Handguns
Star Model B
For the majority of the series, the Star Model B was used as a substitute for the M1911A1 that would be standard issue, since blank .45 ammo was more rare than 9mm at the time. It is used by many characters throughout the series, notably MAJ Frank Burns (Larry Linville) and (Harry Morgan) as both MG Bartford Hamilton Steele and as COL Sherman Potter. CPT Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce (Alan Alda) disdains guns, though he uses one in Episode 5.10 "Hawkeye, Get Your Gun" to scare Chinese forces. Burns has a Star Model B with pearl handles. As the comic foil, he frequently breaks every rule of gun safety in spades, despite being "regular Army".
Burns "cleaning" his sidearm unstripped with his finger on the trigger, safety off, and a (potentially) loaded magazine, though the slide does appear to be locked back.
Burns with Houlihan as he aims to plink some tin cans--with eyes closed--in Ep. 2.10 "The Sniper".
Burns almost shot someone in the mess tent in Ep. 2.10 "The Sniper".
Major General Steele (
Harry Morgan) draws his Star Model B as Major General Steele in 3.01 "The General Flipped at Dawn". Morgan would later be better known in the series for his role as Col. Sherman T. Potter.
Frank Burns (
Larry Linville) takes the O.D. gun in Ep. 3.03 "Officer of the Day".
Col. Flagg (
Edward Winter) pulls his side arm in Ep. 3.03 "Officer of the Day".
Frank Burns is about to point his service pistol carelessly at the poker players in Ep. 3.20 "Love And Marriage".
Col. Potter committing coup de grâce with his side arm in Ep. 4.05 "Hey Doc".
Burns tries to lower the hammer on his pistol in 5.06 "The Abduction of Margaet Houlihan." Interestingly, the gun is not loaded in this instance (from the slide locking back with the magazine inserted), so this actually shouldn't be necessary. However, the gun still fires and grazes Dr. BJ Hunnicutt (Mike Farrell) offscreen.
Col. Sherman T. Potter (
Harry Morgan) fires his Star Model B in Episode 5.10 "Hawkeye, Get Your Gun".
Hawkeye refusing to fire his weapon in Episode 5.10 "Hawkeye, Get Your Gun". The lack of a grip safety indicates it is a Star Model B.
"Oh, thank you." Potter cocks Hawkeye's Star Model B before firing.
A black marketeer threatens Winchester with his pistol in Ep. 7.13 "Out of Gas".
The black marketeer shoots Winchesters pistol, after he stripped Winchesters gear in the same Episode.
COL. Flagg (
Edward Winter) and his MPs having Star Model Bs in Ep. 7.22 "Rally 'Round the Flagg, Boys".
Colt Commander
The Colt Commander is seen used by characters throughout the series, probably as a substitute for the regular Colt M1911 as the Colt Commander was not a common pistol seen during the Korean War.
In the Episode 1.16 "The Ringbanger" Henry uses his service pistol. In the Episode 2.13 "Deal Me Out" Captain Halloran (Edward Winter) draws his service pistol because of gunfire in the camp (Winter would later become better known in the series as COL Flagg; a popular theory is it was Flagg using an alias). In the same episode, PVT Carter (John Ritter) threatens Frank in the shower.
Colt Combat Commander - .45 ACP
In the Episode 1.16 "The Ringbanger", Henry holds his pistol.
In the Episode 1.16 "The Ringbanger", Henry holds his pistol.
In the Episode 2.13 "Deal Me Out", Captain Halloran (
Edward Winter) holds his pistol.
In the Episode 2.13 "Deal Me Out", Private Carter (
John Ritter) threatens Frank.
In the Episode 2.13 "Deal Me Out", Private Carter (
John Ritter) threatens Frank.
There is a Colt Commander in the weapon storage in Ep. 4.13 "The Gun".
Lieutenant Martinson
(Charles Frank) has a Colt Commander in Ep. 6.19 "What's Up, Doc?".
M1911 Variant
LTG "Iron Guts" Kelly (James Gregory) carries two nickel plated M1911 with pearl grips as his sidearms in Ep. 3.04 "Iron Guts Kelly".
Rock Island Armory M1911A1 Pistol that was bright nickel-plated by the owner (with Pearl grips) - .45 ACP.
LTG "Iron Guts" Kelly (
James Gregory) carries two nickel plated M1911 with pearl grips as his sidearms in Ep. 3.04 "Iron Guts Kelly".
The pearl grips are visible as the General is carried by Hawkeye and Trapper John in Ep. 3.04 "Iron Guts Kelly".
Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket
In Episode 3.2 "Rainbow Bridge" Houlihan (Loretta Swit) gives Burns a Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket with pearl grips for a concealed weapon before going to a wounded pickup in Chinese territory, in spite of the Chinese saying they were not even to have sidearms. Fortunately the Chinese are so amused by the diminutive size they laugh it off.
Colt M1908 Vest Pocket - .25 ACP
Major Houlihan gives Burns her pocket pistol with pearl grips.
"It comes in a box of crackerjacks." Burns displays the M1908 VP.
Colt Single Action Army
In Episode 1.08 "Cowboy," John 'Cowboy' Hodges (Billy Green Bush), a chopper pilot, carries two revolvers which appear to be Colt Single Action Army revolvers with pearl grips as his sidearms.
In Episode 1.08 "Cowboy," a wounded John 'Cowboy' Hodges (
Billy Green Bush) passes out after getting out of his chopper. Note the beautiful western style holsters.
Cowboy plays with his revolver.
Cowboy speaks to Hawkeye und Trapper John over the radio. Note the beautiful western style holster.
Colt New Service
In Episode 4.13 "The Gun" a wounded Colonel arrives at the 4077th with a revolver described as a chromed Colt .45, shiny barrel with bone grips, made in 1884. The year suggests that pistol is supposed to be a Colt Single Action Army, though the actual revolver is an anachronistic Colt New Service model, which wasn't introduced until 1898, 14 years later.
Frank shoots himself in the foot with it, which means that not only did he assume it was unloaded, but that Radar stored it loaded.
Colt New Service - .45 ACP
Shot of the Colt New Service in the storage locker.
Major Margaret Houlihan (
Loretta Swit) admiring the revolver. She reads the year inscribed as 1884, remarking her father had one like it.
Smith & Wesson Model 19/66
COL Potter uses a Smith & Wesson snubnose as a starter revolver in Episode 6.10 "The M.A.S.H. Olympics." They alternate between the blued Model 19 and the stainless Model 66.
Smith & Wesson 19 - .357 Magnum
Smith & Wesson 66 - .357 Magnum
Potter starting the crutch race with the Model 19. Holding the gun near the PA might be redundant.
The revolver changes to a stainless Model 66 for the partner race.
Toy Guns
Hawkeye and Trapper John exchanged Franks Pistol with a water squirting toy in Ep. 2.02 "5 O'Clock Charlie".
Hawkeye and Trapper John exchanged Franks Pistol with a bang flag revolver in Ep. 2.02 "5 O'Clock Charlie".
Submachine Guns
M1928A1 Thompson
The M1928 Thompson is occasionally carried by some soldiers, as a stand-in for the M1.
M1928A1 Thompson - .45 ACP
A gunner uses an M1928 in Episode 2.10 "The Sniper".
The Korean soldier (
Larry Hama) has a M1928 in Episode 5.09 "The Korean Surgeon".
A SSG holding a M1928A1 Thompson with 20-round magazine on patrol in Ep. 5.10 "Hawkeye Get Your Gun." Note the top-mounted bolt actuator.
PPSh-41
Chinese soldiers in Episode 3.2 "Rainbow Bridge" are armed with Soviet PPSh-41 SMGs during the wounded pickup. If they were Chinese-made Type 50s, they would use stick magazines instead of drums, though North Korea did make licensed PPSh copies as Type 49s that only accepted drum magazines.
Soviet PPSh-41, 7.62x25mm Tokarev
Chinese soldiers with the PPSh-41
MP40
A Korean soldier (Soon-Tek Oh) surrenders in Episode 4.06 "The Bus" with an MP40, which MAJ Burns uses while guarding him.
"Didn't I see your picture in the post office?" (Burns with the MP40).
Rifles
M1 Carbine
Several US Army and UN soldiers are seen with M1 Carbines. CPL Maxwell Klinger (Jamie Farr) is seen with an M1 Carbine during patrol in a couple instances. During some Seasons Klinger carries only the M1 Carbine while in other seasons he carries either the M1 Carbine or the M1 Garand.
Korean-era M1 Carbine - .30
1LT Smith (
William Watson) uses his M1 Carbine to demand treatment for his Sergeant in 3.12 "A Full Rich Day."
Radar implies this is an M2 carbine "...that's one of those new rifles, shoots 30 corporals a second." His rifle has the appropriate 30-round magazine though it lacks a selector switch, making this an M1 Carbine.
The Korean soldier at the roadblock has an M1 Carbine in 4.01 "Welcome To Korea".
Klinger with the M1 in Ep. 4.16 "Dear Ma". It appears to be WWII-spec, with a fixed rear sight and no bayonet lug.
Klinger with the M1 in Ep. 4.17 "Der Tag".
Burns with his M1 in Ep. 5.02 "Margaret's Engagement".
Burns hands his M1 to Radar (
Gary Burghoff) in Ep. 5.02 "Margaret's Engagement".
Corpsman Goldman (
Roy Goldman) has a M1 in Ep. 5.06 "The Abduction of Margaret Houlihan", when he relieves Klinger from guard duty.
Corporal 'Boots' Miller (
Hamilton Camp) shooting at imaginary enemy gliders with his M1 in Ep. 6.24 "Major Topper".
Ep. 6.24 "Major Topper" is one of the few episodes were guns were actually fired.
Klinger on guard duty again in Ep. 7.23 "Preventative Medicine".
Radar and his driver encounter a group of soldiers with M1 Carbines in Ep. 8.04 "Good-Bye Radar: Part 1".
The last soldier who enters the bus, carries an M1 Carbine in Ep. 11.16 "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen". Note that there is no magazine attached.
M1 Garand
The M1 Garand also appears as a regular service rifle, used by the Camp's enlisted men on guard duty (notably CPL Maxwell Klinger (Jamie Farr) before he becomes the company clerk), US soldiers and other UN allies.
Klinger on guard duty in S01E04 "Chief Surgeon Who?".
Klinger on guard duty in S01E04 "Chief Surgeon Who?".
The U.S. Soldiers at the front using M1 Garands in S01E12 "Dear Dad".
The U.S. Soldiers at the front using M1 Garands in S01E12 "Dear Dad". Note the muzzle flash, next to the helmet.
Klinger on guard duty with an M1 Garand in S01E19 "The Longjohn Flap".
A South Korean soldier shouldering an M1 Garand in S02E02 "5 O'Clock Charlie".
SGT Condon (
Mills Watson) has an M1 Garand in S02W09 "Dear Dad Three".
Frank Burns has an M1 Garand in S02E21 "Crisis" because he fears the enemy might attack.
Klinger with his new dress in S02E23 "Mail Call".
During the inspection in S03E03 "Officer of the Day".
Klinger is among the soldiers and carries an M1 Garand as well.
Corpsman Goldman (
Roy Goldman) and Corpsman Troy (
Dennis Troy) in S3E03 "Officer of the Day" carry M1 Garands.
Klinger on guard duty in S3E11 "Adam's Ribs".
The MPs carry M1 Garands trough out the episode in S3E18 "House Arrest".
Klinger pulls a M1 Garand from the Jeep in S03E19 "Aid Station".
Klinger is pulling guard duty again in S03E23 "White Gold".
Klinger has an M1 Garand in S05E05 "The Nurses".
Klinger has an M1 Garand in S05E06 "The Abduction of Margaret Houlihan".
Valmet M71
In Episodes 6.12-13 "Comrades in Arms," Korean patrols appear to be carrying Valmet M71 Sporter riles with synthetic furniture and the muzzle brake removed, to represent AK-47s. While this is likely a reference to the Vietnam War, any AK-47 variant used in the Korean War is an anachronism, since even the Soviet Union and China did not issue AK-type rifles until years after the Armistice was signed in 1953.
Korean patrol with unloaded M71s while finding a jeep in Ep. 6.12 "Comrades in Arms (1)".
Korean soldier with the Valmet doing a search in Ep. 6.13 "Comrades in Arms (2)".
Mosin Nagant M91/30
Radar tells his Mum that an North Korean soldier was steeling food in the mess tent in Ep. 4.16 "Dear Ma". A surrendering North Korean soldier (Soon-Tek Oh), who is nicknamed "Ralph" by Hawkeye, as well as a North Korean patrol they encounter appear to be using Mosin Nagant M91 rifles in Episode 8.10 "The Yalu Brick Road."
Mosin Nagant M1891, 7.62x54mmR
The North Korean Soldier in the mess tent in Ep. 4.16 "Dear Ma".
North Korean patrol aiming their Mosin Nagant rifles in Ep. 8.10 "The Yalu Brick Road".
Chinese SKS Type 56
On his way to R&R, Hawkeye is shot at by a North Korean soldier (Mako) who holds him at gunpoint with his Chinese SKS Type 56 rifle, forcing him to treat his wounded comrade S09E01 "The Best of Enemies"
Chinese Type 56 Carbine aka the Chinese SKS rifle - 7.62x39mm
North Korean capturing Hawkeye with SKS
North Korean letting Hawkeye go with SKS
Machine Guns
Browning M1919A4
A Sherman tank in "Hey Doc" (S4E05) has a Browning M1919A4 mounted in a bow pintle mount. A jeep seen in "Bug Out" (S5E01) has one mounted in a pedestal mount.
Browning M1919A4 on an M31C pedestal mount - .30-06 Springfield
In Ep. 4.05 "Hey Doc", the 4077th borrows a Sherman Tank. It has one pintle-mounted M1919A4.
A Browning M1919A4 is mounted on a US Army jeep during the retreat in Episode 5.01, "Bug Out".
Browning M2HB
The Sherman tank in "Hey Doc" (S4E05) has a Browning M2HB mounted on the turret.
Browning M2HB in vehicle mounting - .50 BMG
The Sherman tank in Ep. 4.05 "Hey Doc" has a M2HB mounted on the turret.
The spade grips on the M2.
Shotguns
Double-Barreled Shotgun
MAJ Charles Emerson Winchester III (David Ogden Stiers) managed to get his shotgun sent from home for fowl hunting in Episode 8.12 "Dear Uncle Abdul." It's a hammerless break action side-by-side shotgun. As a nod to his character namesake (and affluence), it is possibly a Winchester Model 21 or 24 though the receiver is never clearly seen. MAJ Margaret Houlihan (Loretta Swit) borrows it during the episode.
Winchester Model 24 Side by Side - 12 gauge
MAJ Charles Emerson Winchester III (
David Ogden Stiers) aiming shotgun in Episode 8.12 "Dear Uncle Abdul".
MAJ Margaret Houlihan (
Loretta Swit) hands the shotgun back to Winchester after she claims that her footlocker saved her from a sniper in Episode 8.12 "Dear Uncle Abdul".
Other
Mk 2 hand grenade
Mk 2 pineapple grenades are occasionally seen on passing GIs. Klinger threatens Father Mulcahy after a dispute with Frank Burns in Ep. 1.12 "Dear Dad". SSG Rizzo (G.W. Bailey) borrows a dummy grenade from PVT Igor to play pranks in Episode 11.15 "As Time Goes By." As another nod to the Vietnam War, these grenades are often painted black. Mk II grenades during the actual Korean War would be olive drab in color.
Mk 2 "Pineapple" High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade
Klinger threathens Father Mulcahy with the Mk II in Ep. 1.12 "Dear Dad".
Burns reinserting a grenade pin after pulling it out while playing soldier in ep 5.02 "Margaret's Engagement".
Private Rich (
David Hunt Stafford) carrying one MK2 grenade on this jacket in Ep. 7.10 "Point of View".
Lt. Hung Lee Park (
Mako) has a pair of Mk 2 grenades on his field jacket in Episode 8.03 "Guerilla My Dreams." These grenades are the proper color for the era.
Eddie (
Richard Lineback) carries two MK2 grenades on his jacket in Ep. 8.12 "Dear Uncle Abdul".
Winchester shocked to discover the Mk 2 is a dud in Ep. 11.15 "As Time Goes By".
3"/23 caliber gun
The 4077th is supplied with a "40mm gun" in Episode 2.2 "5 O'Clock Charlie" when he starts trying to bomb an ammo dump near the hospital. This is actually a Navy 3"/23 caliber gun, similar to the one used in The Sand Pebbles.
M116 Pack Howitzer
In a poker game, Hawkeye wins a jeep from a supply sergeant in "Dear Comrade" (S7E11). However, when he is unable to procure a jeep, the supply sergeant instead delivers what appears to be an M116 pack howitzer. COL. Potter orders Hawkeye to remove it from the camp before it draws enemy fire, and even finds a number of artillery units willing to accept it. Hawkeye instead disables it so it can no longer be used, but does not actually remove it from the camp.
M116 75mm “Pack” howitzer.
Hawkeye, Hunnicut and Potter stand around their new howitzer in "Dear Comrade" (S7E11). Man, those tires are bald.
Hawkeye and Hunnicut decommission the howitzer by removing the firing pin and perform a little "hardening of the artillery" by filling the bore with concrete.
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