The Sons of Great Bear (Die Söhne der großen Bärin)

The Sons of Great Bear (Die Söhne der großen Bärin) DVD Cover Country East Germany Yugoslavia Directed by Josef Mach Release Date 1966 Language German Studio DEFA Bosna Film Main Cast Character Actor Tokei-Ihto Gojko Mitic Jim Fred 'Red Fox' Clark Jirí Vrstala Tobias Rolf Römer Major Smith Hans Hardt-Hardtloff Lt. Roach Gerhard Rachold Kate Karin Beewen Pitt Hannjo Hasse Ben Helmut Schreiber

The Sons of Great Bear (German title Die Söhne der großen Bärin; literally "The Sons of the Great She-Bear") is a 1966 East German-Yugoslavian adventure film, starring Gojko Mitic as Tokei-Ihto, chief of Lakota tribe. The movie started the genre of the "Ostern" or "Red Western".

The following weapons were used in the film The Sons of Great Bear (Die Söhne der großen Bärin):

Revolvers

Colt Single Action Army

Cavalry Model

Single Action Army revolvers of Cavalry model are seen in numerous scenes, used mostly by mercenaries. It appears to be that a pair of similar looking revolvers, both without front sights, is reused throughout the movie.

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Colt Single Action Army with 7.5" barrel known as the "Cavalry" model - .45 Long Colt

Mercenary Jok's (Rolf Ripperger) revolver on table. Note the lack of the front sight.

A closer view of Jok's SAA.

Gunfighter Pitt (Hannjo Hasse) holds a SAA revolver. In previous scene he had a Webley Mk VI (see below).

Mercenary Bill (Jozo Lepetic) holds a SAA during the attack of Tokei-Ihto's warriors on wagons with ammunition. The Cavalry barrel is seen; note the lack of the front sight.

Another view of Bill's Cavalry revolver.

Jok holds a revolver (in center) during the arrest of Tokei-Ihto while another mercenary (at the right) holds the Lacota chieftain at gunpoint with his SAA Cavalry revolver.

A blurry, due to fast motion, view of an SAA revolver in hand of scout Adams (Horst Jonischkan).

Fred Clark alias Red Fox (Jirí Vrstála) holds an SAA revolver.

Lt. Roach (Gerhard Rachold) carries an SAA revolver in holster. In previous scene he had a Webley, and later his SAA switches to a Smith & Wesson Double Action (see below).

Artillery Model

In the scene in saloon a revolver of Artillery model is seen.

Colt Single Action Army with 5.5" barrel known as the "Artillery" model - .45 Long Colt

A revolver of a saloon patron is seen on bar counter.

Colt 1851 Navy

Volunteer scout Adams (Horst Jonischkan) carries a Colt 1851 Navy in holster (in one scene he is seen with a Single Action Army (see above) due to a continuity error).

Colt 1851 Navy - .36 caliber.

A part of the barrel with loading lever can be seen. These features look close enough to Colt 1851 Navy.

The grip is seen.

Smith & Wesson Victory Model

Out of time Smith & Wesson Victory Model revolvers are used by settlers, mercenaries and US Army officers. The grey parkerized surface allows to differ Victory from Military & Police model. Most revolvers have 5" barrels though at least a single gun with 4" barrel is also seen.

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Smith & Wesson Victory Model - .38 S&W

One of men, escorting wagons with ammunition, fires his revolver. This is a model with 4" barrel.

Another man with a revolver with 5" barrel in same scene.

The revolver fires with flame from barrel and cylinder.

A lanyard ring on the grip of Tobias' (Rolf Römer) revolver is seen.

The commandant of the fort Maj. Smith (Hans Hardt-Hardtloff) holds a Smith & Wesson with 5" barrel. In previous moment he had a Webley revolver. It's worth noting that while the character is credited as Major, he has Colonel insignia.

Mercenary Jok (Rolf Ripperger) holds a Smith & Wesson with 5" barrel (at the left).

A settler at far left carries a Smith & Wesson in holster. Note the plain wooden grips and lanyard ring.

A close though slightly blurry view of Fred Clark's (Jirí Vrstála) revolver.

Fred Clark holds a revolver during the grapple with Tokei-Ihto.

A mercenary is shot by Tokei-Ihto. Plain grips of the revolver are seen.

Smith & Wesson Double Action

Lt. Roach (Gerhard Rachold) and several mercenaries are armed with Smith & Wesson .44 Double Action revolvers (supposedly a European version rather than original S&Ws).

Smith & Wesson .44 Double Action - .44 Russian

The barrel of Pitt's (Hannjo Hasse) revolver is seen at the left during the arrest of Tokei-Ihto.

Another view of same scene.

Pitt puts the revolver back in holster.

What appears to be same revolver is seen in Fred Clark's holster.

Lt. Roach holds a revolver.

Smith & Wesson No.3 Russian Model

Scout Delaware Tobias (Rolf Römer) and some soldiers carry Smith & Wesson No.3 Russian Model revolvers.

Smith & Wesson No. 3 Russian Model (modern replica) - .44 Russian/.45 Long Colt

A soldier of the escort of wagons with ammunition holds a revolver at the left.

Another view of the revolver.

A Sergeant at the right carries a revolver in holster.

Tobias carries a Smith & Wesson Russian model revolver at the background. The finger spur on trigger guard is seen. In next scene Tobias' revolver switches to a Smith & Wesson Victory model.

Webley Mk VI

Out of time Webley Mk VI are widely used by US Army officers, mercenaries, settlers and Lakota warriors, including the main character of the movie, war chieftain Tokei-Ihto (Gojko Mitic).

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Webley Mk VI - .455 Webley

Jok (Rolf Ripperger) fires his Webley at attacking Lacota warriors. In previous scene Jok had a Single Action Army revolver.

Wagon driver Thomas (Horst Kube) holds a Webley revolver.

Pitt (Hannjo Hasse) fires a Webley.

A view of Pitt's revolver from another side.

Maj. Smith (Hans Hardt-Hardtloff) with a Webley. In next moment his revolver switches to a Smith & Wesson Victory.

Lt. Roach (Gerhard Rachold) is shot in hand and drops his gun.

Pitt fires at Tschetansapa.

Schonka (Martin Tapák) picks up the revolver.

Tokei-Ihto with Clark's revolver.

A closeup of the revolver in hands of Tokei-Ihto.

Nagant M1895 (visually modified)

A Nagant M1895 revolver, fitted with elongated barrel and wide grips, is seen in hands of Maj. Smith's daughter Cate (Karin Beewen). It appears to be the same prop, used in another DEFA production, Meine Stunde Null (1970).

Nagant M1895 - 7.62x38R Nagant. Note the angular front sight which was used from 1930s.

Cate Smith draws the revolver.

She examines the gun.

Cate counters Tokei-Ihto.

Custom grips are seen.

Same looking gun is seen in hands of a settler.

The settler is shot and drops his gun.

Rifles

Winchester Model 1873

Tokei-Ihto (Gojko Mitic) carries an inlaid Winchester Model 1873 carbine. Standard Winchester 73s are seen in hands of mercenaries and Lakota warriors.

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Winchester Model 1873 carbine - 1st generation rifle - 44-40 Winchester

Tokei-Ihto raises his Winchester.

Tschetansapa (Jozef Majercík) holds a Winchester Model 1873 during the attack on wagons with ammunition. After the attack he is seen with a Winchester Model 1866 (see below).

Tokei-Ihto aims.

Adams (Horst Jonischkan) holds Tobias' rifle.

Treator Schonka (Martin Tapák) holds Tokei-Ihto's Winchester.

Tokei-Ihto gets back his rifle.

Pitt holds a Winchester Model 1873. The saddle ring can be seen. Later his Winchester switches to a Spencer carbine.

A close view of Pitt's Winchester.

Fred Clark fires at Tokei-Ihto.

Winchester Model 1892

One of Fred Clark's men and one of Lacota warriors carry Winchester Model 1892 rifles (likely same prop reused), out of time for 1870s when the story is set.

Winchester 1892 -.32WCF/.38-40/.44-40/.25-20.

One of Tokei-Ihto's warriors holds a rifle that appears to be a Winchester 1892.

A Winchester 1892 is seen on the wall of the saloon.

A man at the right carries a Winchester 1892 across his saddle.

Same character in center; the barrel of the rifle is seen closer.

Winchester Model 1866

Lacota warrior Tschetansapa (Jozef Majercík) and one of Clark's men carry Winchester Model 1866 carbines. Winchester Model 1866 muskets are seen in hands of wagon driver Theo (Walter E. Fuß), Lacota warrior Schonka (Martin Tapák) and mercenary Jok (Rolf Ripperger).

Winchester Model 1866 Carbine

Winchester 1866 "Yellow Boy" Carbine - .44 RF

Tschetansapa (at the right) holds a Winchester 1866 carbine.

Tschetansapa's "Yellow Boy" is seen in another scene.

One of Clark's men (at the left) raises a Winchester 1866 carbine.

Winchester Model 1866 Musket

Winchester 1866 Musket - .44 RF

Theo's musket (see below) switches to a Winchester 1866 musket.

Another view of Theo's Winchester.

The bronse receiver of the "Yellow Boy" is seen. Theo's brother Thomas (Horst Kube) holds a Webley revolver (at the left).

Musket barrel is seen.

Schonka on guard with a Winchester 1866 musket.

Spencer 1860 Carbine

Mercenaries, notably Pitt (Hannjo Hasse), and US soldiers are also armed with Spencer 1860 Carbines. No less than three props are used in the movie.

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Spencer Model 1860 Carbine - .56-56 Spencer rimfire

Pitt (Hannjo Hasse) holds a Spencer carbine.

Ben's (Helmut Schreiber) Spencer carbine is seen when Ben is wounded.

A Winchester 1873 (see above), confiscated from Tobias, switches to a Spencer (seen at the right).

The funeral of Maj. Smith. At least three soldiers at the left are armed with Spencer carbines.

Soldiers on guard.

In the scene in bear cave Pitt's Winchester 1873 switches to a Spencer carbine.

Saddle ring of Pitt's carbine is seen.

One of Clark's men with a Spencer.

Remington Rolling Block

Two of Clark's men are armed with Remington Rolling Block rifles.

Remington Rolling Block Militarized - .45 caliber

A man at the left holds a long gun that appears to be a Remington Rolling Block.

Another man (at the background, in white shirt) fires a Remington Rolling Block.

Unidentified long guns

Theo (Walter E. Fuß) holds with a long gun that is seen only partially. The shape of top barrel band resembles mid-19th century muskets. Later in same scene Theo's gun switches to a Winchester 1866.

For comparison: Springfield Model 1847 Sapper's Musketoon - .69 Smoothbore. The top barrel band of the screen gun has similar outlook.

The barrel of Theo's gun (at the right) is seen. The shape of the top barrel band allows to guess that this gun is a musket of some kind.