Matewan

Matewan Home Video Poster Country United States Directed by John Sayles Release Date 1987 Language English Studio Cinecom Pictures Distributor Cinecom Pictures Main Cast Character Actor Joe Kenehan Chris Cooper Few Clothes James Earl Jones Danny Radnor Will Oldham Hickey Kevin Tighe Chief Sid Hatfield David Strathairn C.E. Lively Bob Gunton Griggs Gordon Clapp

Matewan is a 1987 American historical drama film that dramatizes the 1920 Battle of Matewan, the culmination of hostilities between striking miners and hired guns in the coal mining town of Matewan, West Virginia. 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.

Colt Official Police - .38 Special

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

Sheriff Sid Hatfield (David Strathairn) uses two Colt Official Police revolvers during the final shootout.

Sheriff Sid Hatfield (David Strathairn) draws his dual revolvers.

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 the Smith & Wesson Military & Police, including Griggs (Gordon Clapp).

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

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

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

Single Action Army

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

Colt Single Action Army - .45 Long Colt

C.E. Lively (Bob Gunton) holds a Single Action Army 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 during a politically tenuous scene.

Shotguns

Double Barrel Shotgun

Elma Radnor (Mary McDonnell) uses 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 during a confrontation at the miners' camp. Note the ramrod visible under the barrels of the shotgun indicating that it is a muzzle loader.

Rifles

Mauser Karabiner 98K

Anachronistic Karabiner 98ks appear throughout the film. They are likely standing in for various period-correct Mauser rifles.

Mauser Karabiner 98k - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Danny Radnor (Will Oldham) uses a Mauser Karabiner 98k during the final shootout. This 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 Mauser is shown in true form.

1916 Spanish Mauser

The 1916 Spanish Mauser appears throughout the film.

1916 Spanish Mauser - 7x57mm Mauser

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

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

Winchester Model 1892

The Winchester Model 1892 appears throughout the film.

Winchester 1892 - .38-40

A shooter uses a Winchester Rifle Model 1892 during the final shootout.

A few Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbines also appear throughout the film.

Winchester 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine - .38-40

A hired gun armed with a Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine fires on the miners during the final shootout.

Garate El Tigre

One of the miners fires a Garate El Tigre, a Spanish copy of the Winchester Model 1892.

Garate El Tigre - .44-40

A striker uses a Garate El Tigre during the final shootout.

Machine Guns

Browning M1917 Machine Gun

A Browning M1917 is manned by hired guns.

Browning M1917 .30-06 Machine Gun.

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