Matewan

Matewan (1987)

Matewan is the 1987 film that is a dramatized account of the battle that occurred between miners and their mining company in Matewan, West Virginia in 1920, during a coal strike. The film was written and directed by John Sayles and the cast included Chris Cooper, Kevin Tighe, James Earl Jones, and David Strathairn.

The following weapons were used in the film Matewan:

Handguns

Colt Official Police

Colt Official Police Revolvers in .38 Special are used by Sheriff Sid Hatfield (David Strathairn). Although the Colt Official Police is technically anachronistic, it is most likely standing in for its predecessor, the Colt Army Special. The coal mine company detective Bill Hickey (Kevin Tighe) also uses the Colt Official Police as his main sidearm.

Sheriff Sid Hatfield (David Strathairn) dry fires after cleaning his revolvers. The rounds he uses are shown.

Sheriff Sid Hatfield (David Strathairn) uses 2 Colt Official Police Revolvers in .38 Special during the final shootout scene.

Sheriff Sid Hatfield (David Strathairn) uses 2 Colt Official Police Revolvers in .38 Special during the final shootout scene.

Sheriff Sid Hatfield's (David Strathairn)'s left hand gun is shown in more detail.

Bill Hickey (Kevin Tighe) uses a Colt Official Police during the final shootout.

Smith & Wesson Military & Police

Numerous people involved in the shootout use a Smith & Wesson Military & Police .38 Special revolver, including Griggs (Gordon Clapp).

Smith & Wesson Model M&P Revolver - .38 Special

Tom Griggs (Gordon Clapp) holds a Smith & Wesson Military & Police in .38 Special on Joe Kenehan (Chris Cooper) at the miners' camp.

Tom Griggs (Gordon Clapp) uses a Smith & Wesson Military & Police in .38 Special during the final shootout.

Single Action Army

Colt Single Action Army revolvers in .45 Colt are seen in the hands of both CE Lively (Bob Gunton) and Few Clothes (James Earl Jones).

CE Lively (Bob Gunton) holds a Single Action Army Colt Revolver in .45 Colt while he talks with Joe Kenehan during an establishing scene.

Joe Kenehan (Chris Cooper) talks with Few Clothes (James Earl Jones) who brandishes a Single Action Army Revolver in .45 Colt during a politically tenuous scene.

Rifles

Mauser Karabiner 98K

The Mauser Gewehr 1898 in 7.92 x 57mm calibre appears throughout the film.

Mauser Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm.

Danny Radnor (Will Oldham) uses a Mauser Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm during the final shootout. The image has been reversed, possibly to preserve the scene's line of action. For dramatic purposes the shop appears to have been positioned over rail tracks that show signs of recent use.

A striker fires on the hired guns with a Mauser Karabiner 98K during the final shootout. The left hand side of the same model Mauser is shown in true form.

Mauser Spanish 1916

The 1916 Spanish Mauser in 7 x 57mm calibre appears throughout the film.

The M1916 Spanish Mauser - 7 x 57mm.

At the river's edge, Danny Radnor (Will Oldham) aims a 1916 Spanish Mauser rifle at an escaping hired gun during the final shootout.

Danny Radnor (Will Oldham) with a 1916 Spanish Mauser rifle and Elma Radnor (Mary McDonnell) with a 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun after the final shootout.

Winchester Model 1892

Winchester Model 1892 in .44-40 calibre appears throughout the film

.

A shooter uses a Winchester Rifle Model 1892 in .44-40 calibre during the final shootout scene.

Winchester Rifle Model 1892 "Saddle Ring"

The Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring rifle in .44-40 calibre appears throughout the film.

Winchester 1892 - .38-40

A hired gun armed with an 1892 saddle ring Winchester fires on the miners during the final shootout.

Garate El Tigre

One of the men is seen firing a Garate El Tigre rifle, a Spanish copy of the Winchester 1892 lever action.

The Garate El Tigre Saddle Ring rifle - .44-40 calibre

A striker uses a Garate El Tigre saddle ring Winchester type rifle during the final shootout.

Machine Guns

Browning M1917 Machine Gun

A Browning M1917 machine gun is seen being manned by hired guns.

Browning M1917 .30-06 Machine Gun.

Hired guns wait with a Winchester 1892 rifle and a Browning M1917 machine gun during a strikers' meeting.

Shotguns

Double Barrel Shotgun

Elma Radnor (Mary McDonnell) is seen using a 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun during the final shootout.

1960s Era Commercial Stevens hammerless side by side shotgun - 12 Gauge.

Elma Radnor (Mary McDonnell) discharges a 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun during the final shootout. Note the hammerless boxlock design.

Double Barrel Percussion Shotgun

One of the mountain people is armed with a Percussion Shotgun.

Double Barreled Percussion Shotgun - 10 gauge

A hired gun armed with a Winchester and one of the mountain people armed with a Percussion Shotgun in confrontation at the miners' camp. Note the ramrod visible under the barrels of the shotgun indicating that it is a muzzle loader.