Rough Riders

Rough Riders was a made for TV movie, released in 1997, starring Tom Berenger as Teddy Roosevelt. It chronicled the history of the Rough Riders, especially their military actions in the Spanish American War.

The following weapons can be seen in Rough Riders:

Colt Peacemaker

Used by (Tom Berenger) as Teddy Roosevelt and other U.S. Army officers. In reality Roosevelt used a 38 caliber double action Colt revolver that had been recovered from the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor after it was sunk (see Colt 1889). But John Milius, the director, wanted him to carry the Peacemaker since Roosevelt is considered to be the "Cowboy President".

Colt Single Action Army w/ 5" barrel known as the "Artillery" model. The most common of the SAA revolvers as it is just the right length. .45 Long Colt

Colt 1878 Double Action

Carried by (Gary Busey) as Major General Fighting Joe Wheeler.

Colt 1878 Double Action - .45 Colt

Merwin-Hulbert Frontier

Carried by George Neville (Buck Taylor) ,Henry Nash's partner, while robbing a stagecoach with Nash (Brad Johnson]]).

Merwin, Hulbert SA First Model Frontier Army .44MH caliber with early "humpback" hammer and shortened barrel.

Neville (Buck Taylor) orders the stagecoach crew to throw down the money box.

Neville (Buck Taylor) orders the passengers to hand over their valuables. That is Henry Nash (Brad Johnson) on his right.

Smith & Wesson No.3 Russian Model

Major Frederick Funston ([[Pablo Espinoza]) displays a nickle-plated S&W Russian Model when asked about the Cuban Artillery corps.

Smith & Wesson No.3 Russian Model - .44 Russian

Major Funston (Pablo Espinoza) displays the Cuban "artillery" to General Wheeler (Gary Busey)

Major Funston (Pablo Espinoza) during a more tense moment.

Mauser C96 Broomhandle

Used by German military advisors to the Spanish Army, Spanish officers and Henry Nash (Brad Johnson) during the Battle for Kettle and San Juan Hills.

Pre-War dated Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" Commercial Version - 7.63x25mm Mauser.

Nash (Brad Johnson) captures a German military advisor and commandeers the German's C96 Mauser Broomhandle.

Nash (Brad Johnson) uses the Mauser C96 to force the German to explain how the Maxim works to Col. Roosevelt (Tom Berenger).

A Spanish officer advances against Col. Roosevelt (Tom Berenger) right at the end of the Battle for San Juan Hill.

Roosevelt (Tom Berenger) stops him with his Colt revolver.

After the battle is finished Nash (Brad Johnson) greets a fellow soldier from the 10th U.S. Cav, the famed "Buffalo Soldiers. For a brief moment both men forget that it is 1898 and they are white and black. They're both glad to be alive.

Winchester Model 1895 Rifle

Used by Teddy Roosevelt (Tom Berenger) throughout much of the fighting on Cuba. Hands it to one of his soldiers during the attack up Kettle Hill. The assumption is that the rifle is chambered in 30-40 Krag.In reality the Winchester Model 1895 rifle used in the filming is the personal property of director John Milius (a fan of the 1895 Winchester)and chambered in 35 Winchester.

Sporting version of the 1895. Similar to the model carried by Tom Berenger.

Winchester Model 1895 Carbine

Used by several of the regiment's officers to include Bucky O'Neill (Sam Elliott). After O'Neill (Sam Elliott) is killed his Winchester is used by Henry Nash (Brad Johnson) during the Battle for Kettle and San Juan Hills. Like the 1895 rifle the assumption is the carbines are also chambered for 30-40 Krag. The pair on the show was chambered in .30-40 Krag and was supplied by Ellis Mercantile.-Phoenixent

Winchester Model 1895 carbine .30 Cal - Commercial. Among the various calibers the 1895 was chambered for was the 30/40 Krag.

Model 1896 Krag-Jorgensen Carbine

Krag-Jorgensen M1896 Carbine is used by most of the Ist Volunteer U.S. Cavalry soldiers (i.e. Rough Riders) in the movie. A few use the Winchester Model 1895 and the regimental cook Eli (Geoffrey Lewis) opts for a double barrel shotgun.

1896 U.S.Krag-Jorgensen carbine

The 1St Volunteer U.S. Cavalry recieves it's first training session for the Model 1896 Krag-Jorgensen carbine.

The instructor demonstrates the accuracy of the carbine.

The Rough Riders begin their basic rifle training with the Krag-Jorgensen M1896 carbine.

One of the regiment's officers takes aim during the unit's first firefight.

Nash (Brad Johnson) with his Krag-Jorgensen carbine.

One of the regiment's troopers uses improvised aiming sticks during a firefight.

Lt. Castillo (Francesco Quinn) advances under Spanish fire during the Battle for Kettle Hill.

A Rough Rider provides cover fire near the climax of the Battle of San Juan Hill.

Goodrich (Titus Welliver) stares briefly at a Spanish solider that he just shot.

Craig Wadsworth (Chris Noth) with his Krag-Jorgensen M1896 Carbine at the end of the Battle for San Juan Hill.

Chilean Model 1895 Mauser - 7x57mm

The show was supplied with Chilean 1895 Mauser rifles in 7x57mm by both Stembridge Gun Rentals and Ellis Mercantile.

Mauser 1895 Rifle - 7x57mm Mauser

Springfield 1879 Trapdoor

Replica Springfield Model 1873 "Trapdoor Springfield" built by Uberti Arms - .45-70. Some differences between the 1873 and 1879 but pretty close.

Winchester 1873

Carried by several Rough Riders ,when first reporting for duty, and by Major Frederick Funston (Pablo Espinosa).

Winchester 1873 Carbine - .44-40

Major Fredrick Funston (Pablo Espinosa) leads General Wheeler and another American officer on a scouting patrol.

Remington Model 1889 Double Barreled Shotgun

The regiment's cook Eli (Geoffrey Lewis) carries a cut down Remington Model 1889 double barrel shotgun. Appears to be either 12 gauge or 10 gauge.The 1889 could be had in either gauge.

Remington SPR220 Shotgun exposed hammers. A fairly good resemblance to the Model 1889.

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Eli (Geoffrey Lewis) advances with his unit.

During his first firefight Eli trips and falls on his rear end. He empties both barrels and is now hurrying to reload.

Hamilton Fish (Holt McCallany) provides cover fire while Eli (Geoffrey Lewis) is struggling to reload under Spanish fire.The strained expression is a nice touch.

While advancing up Kettle Hill Eli (Geoffrey Lewis) takes out a Spanish soldier.

Eli (Geoffrey Lewis) looks stressed. A nice touch of realism.

Colt 1873 Gatling Gun

Used by the American Army during the Battle for San Juan Hill.

An 1865 Gatling Gun.

Colt Model 1895 Automatic Machine Gun

Two Colt Model 1895 Machine Guns are used by the Rough Riders for fire support. The script has that the two 1895's are a gift from Lewis Tiffany.Unknown if this is factual. The pair on the show were actually Model 1914 made by Marlin and chambered in 7.62 x 54mmR Russian and supplied by Stembridge Gun Rentals.

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Colt 1895 machine gun in 30-40 Krag

While still in training the Rough Riders tryout their new Colt 1895 Machine Guns

The Colt mcahine gun in action for the first time in Cuba.

One of the Colts guarding the perimeter while the commander of the Rough Riders, Col. Leonard Wood (Dale Dye) scans with his binoculars.

One of the Colts in action during the Battle for Kettle Hill.

Both of the Colts and a captured German Maxim machine gun are used to provide fire support from Kettle Hill against the Spanish fortifications on San Juan Hill while other American forces are attacking San Juan.

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William Tiffany (James Parks) mans one of the Colts.

1895 Argentine Maxim Machine Gun

Though inaccurate it was used for dramatic effect and to forshadow World War One. The machinegun (in the film supposedly provided by German Advisors to the Spanish Army) was supposed to be an 1884 Maxim Prototype gun (the type distributed by Hiram Maxim to warring parties in conflicts like the Transvaal "Boer War"), but there is little proof that Maxims were used by the Spaniards in the war.After taking Kettle Hill the Rough Riders use the Maxim along with their Colt machine guns to fire on San Juan Hill.

Artillery

There are multiple screecaps of the artillery used by both the Spanish and American forces during the Battle for San Juan Hill. I am unable to identify the various pieces so I will leave it for somebody more familiar with field artillery than I am. I can tell you that according to the August 1997 issue of Guns & Ammo the artillery pieces were two breech loaded 1891 2.5 inch Krupp field guns, an altered French 75mm gun (the steel splinter shield was removed), a two pounder Hotckiss mountain gun and a Hotchkiss revolving cannon.

Group Photos

The survivors gather on top of San Juan Hill after the battle is over. Included is a recreation of the famous photo of Roosevelt and the Rough Riders.