The Wild Geese

The Wild Geese Cinema Poster Country UK Switzerland Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen Release Date 1978 Language English Studio Richmond Film Productions (West) Distributor Allied Artists Pictures Main Cast Character Actor Col. Allen Faulkner Richard Burton Lt. Shawn Fynn Roger Moore Capt. Rafer Janders Richard Harris Lt. Pieter Coetzee Hardy Krüger Sgt. Blake Jesse John Kani Keith Percy Herbert Jock McTaggart Ronald Fraser Esposito Glyn Baker R.S.M. Sandy Young Jack Watson Tosh Donaldson Ian Yule

The following weapons were used in the film The Wild Geese:

Handguns

Walther P38 with and without Suppressor

Lt. Shawn Fynn (Roger Moore) uses a suppressed Walther P38 during the scene when his team takes control of the airport. Another P38 is used by a mafia hitman during their hunt for Shawn Fynn. Col. Faulkner also uses a P38 to perform a mercy-killing later in the movie.

Walther P38 with unmounted suppressor - 9x19mm

Lt. Shawn Fynn fires his silenced Walther P38.

Closeup of the pistol, proving that it is a silenced Walther P38.

Walther P38 WWII dated with black grips - 9x19mm

Col. Faulkner preparing his P38 for a mercy killing.

One of mafia hitmen is armed with a P38.

Colt M1911

Sgt. Major "Sandy" (Jack Watson) uses a Colt M1911 to discipline a soldier during training. He later uses it during the final shootout at the airfield. Another 1911 is used by a mafia hitman (Leslie Schofield) during the Shawn Fynn rescue.

Colt M1911 (dated 1913) - .45 ACP

Sandy preparing his 1911 to discipline a broken soldier during physical training.

A very horrified private soldier after Sandy fires his Colt next to his ear.

Sandy using his Colt to fire at approaching soldiers.

A hitman (Leslie Schofield) brandishing his Colt.

SIG P210

Shawn Fynn (Roger Moore) uses a SIG P210 during the mafia-related scenes.

SIG P210 - 9x19mm

Shawn Fynn (Roger Moore) pointing his SIG P210 at the "snot-nosed" mafioso kid (David Ladd, the son of actor Alan Ladd).

His SIG P210 pointed at a less-than-amused Colonel Faulkner at Shawn's casino hideout.

Shawn and Faulkner at the casino hideout, Shawn brandishing his SIG P210.

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Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub Nose

Colonel Faulkner (Richard Burton) and Rafer (Richard Harris) both carry a Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub Nose during the mafia raid on the casino.

Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snubnose - .357 Magnum

Shawn and Rafer with the latter showing his Model 19 Snub.

Faulkner at the casino hideout, Faulkner brandishing the S&W Model 19 Snub.

Colt Python

One of the mafia hitmen (Tim Condren) uses a Colt Python revolver during the casino scenes.

Colt Python - .357 Magnum

One of mafia hitmen is armed with a Colt Python.

Beretta M1934

Col. Faulkner brandishes a suppressed Beretta M1934 when confronting Sir Edward Matherson (Stewart Granger).

Beretta Model 1934 - .380 ACP

Faulkner with his suppressed Beretta M1934.

A closeup of the M1934.

Tokarev TT-33

The East German military advisor at the airport carries what is most likely a Tokarev TT-33.

Tokarev TT-33 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

The East German officer runs out with his Tokarev in hand.

Submachine Guns

Uzi

Col. Allen Faulkner (Richard Burton) and Capt. Rafer Janders (Richard Harris) use the Uzi Submachine Gun. Lt. Shawn Fynn (Roger Moore), Sgt. Jesse Blake (John Kani), Medical Orderly Arthur Witty (Kenneth Griffith), and a few other mercenaries also use the Uzi Submachine Gun.

IMI Uzi used by Richard Burton in the film. One of five identical Uzis used on set. Photo courtesy of the Long Mountain Outfitters

Col. Allen Faulkner (Richard Burton) with his Uzi submachine gun - 9mm

Lt. Shawn Fynn (Roger Moore) readies his Uzi submachine gun - 9mm

President Limbani (Winston Ntshona) and Jesse with his Uzi.

Sa 23

A Czechoslovakian Sa 23 is seen in the parachute harness of a mercenary as they prepare to do a jump from the C-130 transport plane. Later, it is seen being used by the 4th NCO, Derek (Joe Cole), as the mercenaries capture Zembala airport. Derek is still carrying it when Lt. Fynn's detachment capture the battered old Dakota DC-3.

It is the 23 model because it is 9mm Parabellum, the later 7.62x25mm Tokarev model has a slanted pistol grip and magazine hence the ammunition. While it might be unusual for one of the mercenaries to be carrying a communist weapon during the Cold War, the design was actually sold to and adopted by South Africa during that time period. Some may think it is a South African Sanna-77 submachine gun. The Sanna-77 was a semi-automatic SMG issued to white Afrikaans farmers during the Aparthied era as a protection weapon, however many claim that is was merely an updated Sa 25 (folding stock 9mm). This is unlikely since the Sanna-77 was only manufactured as a folding stock version.

Sa 23 - 9x19mm

A mercenary carries a Sa 23.

Sa 25

One mercenary can be seen with a Sa 25 submachine gun, indicated by its folding stock.

Sa 25 - 9x19mm

A mercenary in the foreground carries a Sa 25.

Madsen M50

Some of the mercenaries use the Danish Madsen M50 Submachine Gun.

Madsen M50 - 9x19mm

Mercenary in front runs holding a Danish Madsen M50 Submachine gun - 9mm

Sterling L2A1

RSM Sandy Young (Jack Watson) uses a Sterling L2A1 submachine gun. Several other mercenaries use the Sterling as well.

Sterling Submachine Gun - 9mm

Sandy on the left with his Sterling.

Sandy Young fires his Sterling submachine gun.

MAC-10

One of the members of the hit team sent to kill Shawn Fynn (Roger Moore) uses what appears to be a MAC-10.

MAC-10 Submachine Gun - .45 ACP

One of the mafia killers (stuntman George Leech) sent to terminate Shawn Fynn carries a MAC-10 submachine gun.

The same bounty hunter firing his MAC-10 at a door's lock.

Rifles & Carbines

L1A1 SLR

There is a huge mix of all manners of FAL rifles in the film. The Mercenaries use a mix of FAL 50.00 and L1A1 SLR models. Some of them are firing semi auto and others are firing fully automatic.

British Inch Pattern L1A1 SLR (Self Loading Rifle) chambered in 7.62x51mm

Mercenaries all fire the L1A1 SLR (Self Loading Rifle) chambered in 7.62x51mm. Medical Orderly Arthur Witty (far left) carries an Uzi during his jump, uses an L1A1 during the first battle, and then switches back to an Uzi for the rest of the film. Actor Percy Herbert (middle) is also seen using an L1A1.

Mercenary Samuels (Brook Williams on the left) uses an L1A1 during the barracks attack, while Esposito on the right (Glyn Baker son of famous actor Stanley Baker) uses a full auto FN FAL 50.00 rifle.

FN FAL 50.61

Some of the Mercenaries and nearly all of the Simbas (General Ndofa's crack troops) carry the FN FAL 50.61 paratrooper rifle. This is odd, since the junta's forces are being aided by the Soviet Bloc (note the Cuban and East German military Advisors), thus it would have been more likely that the junta's soldiers are issued AK-47s or other Combloc weapon. However, the number of FN FALs available for the production is logical as the movie was filmed in South Africa and used South African weapons.

FN FAL 50.61 paratrooper rifle - 7.62x51mm

A Simba Guard patrols with his FN FAL 50.61 paratrooper rifle.

All of the pursuing Simba soldiers carry FN FAL 50.61 paratrooper rifles.

Clearer shot of the bottom half of the weapon.

FN FAL

A lot of the Mercenaries carry the FN FAL automatic rifle with a wooden stock and metal foreend. Faulkner is seen holding an FAL for one of the soldiers while the latter cuts through a barb wire fence. Note the slim folded bipod.

FN FAL with G1/StG 58 foreend and wooden buttstock - 7.62x51mm NATO. Note the folded bipod.

Col. Allen Faulkner (Richard Burton) holding Keith's (Percy Herbert) FN FAL while the latter is assisting cutting the barb wired fence.

Mercenary Keith (Percy Herbert) fires his FN FAL. Note the slim folded bipod just left of his left hand.

FN FAL 50.00

Hardy Krueger as Lt. Pieter Coetzee uses an FN FAL 50.00 with a wooden buttstock, like many of the other mercenaries.

FN FAL 50.00 7.62x51mm NATO

Pieter Coetzee (Hardy Krueger) with his FN FAL 50.00.

Coetzee walks with his FN FAL 50.00 whereas Sgt. Jesse Blake (John Kani) carries a different FN FAL. Later, Jesse is seen carrying and using the Uzi for the remainder of the film.

Custom L1A1 Battle Carbine

Ex-SAS member Tosh Donaldson played by Ian Yule uses a custom chopped down L1A1 SLR converted to full auto fire and equipped with a Singlepoint SP220 reflex sight and flash hider (and 40 round 7.62x51mm magazines). The actor Ian Yule was a former real life mercenary in the Congo during the 1960s under the command of Major Mike Hoare. For many years, fans of the film assumed the weapon was a South African R1 Variant, but information directly from the actor reminds us that there was an arms embargo against South Africa during the 1970s (because of apartheid). This was a custom made L1A1 carbine that came from a UK Movie armory.

British Inch Pattern L1A1 SLR (Self Loading Rifle) chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO - Variation of the FN FAL rifle. British & New Zealand SLRs were later fitted with black fibreglass furniture as seen here.

Custom shortened L1A1 SLR (Self Loading Rifle) as used in The Wild Geese (photoshopped image) - 7.62x51mm

Tosh Donaldson (Ian Yule) fires his Custom L1A1 Battle Carbine at the attacking plane.

SIG SG 510

During the attack on the barracks, a mercenary carries a StG 57/SIG SG 510 battle rifle. It is also seen fired in the prone position during the final firefight.

Swiss StG 57. The 7.62x51mm version is called the SG 510

Mercenary carries a Swiss StG 57. Most likely a SG 510 being that the 510 is chambered for 7.62x51mm

Mercenary readies his SG 510.

Mercenaries run for the plane, one carrying an SG 510. The one in front carries his FN MAG-58.

Machine Guns

Bren Gun

The Bren Gun is used by some of the mercenaries and Simbas, both in .303 and 7.62.

Bren Mk2 - .303 caliber

Private Esposito (Glyn Baker) (right) with his Bren.

Sgt. Tosh Donaldson (Ian Yule) holds his Blindicide Rocket Launcher while another mercenary fires his Bren gun

Sgt. Tosh Donaldson (Ian Yule) takes over the Bren Gun

A Simba soldier firing his Bren.

Vickers Gun

A Vickers Machine Gun is used by the mercenaries in the final firefight with the Simbas, manned first by Sgt. Jock McTaggart and then by Capt. Rafer Janders. This weapon was most likely scavenged by the mercenaries at the airport (by Colonel Faulkners orders) since it's not a light-weight weapon (55.12 lb, 25.00 kg) and was probably not parachuted in with the Mercenaries, who according to the plan, were not expected to remain for more than a few hours.

Vickers gun with ribbed water jacket - .303 British

Mercenaries ready their Vickers Machine Gun.

FN MAG-58

The FN MAG-58 is used by some of the mercenaries and RSM Sandy Young (Jack Watson).

FN MAG 58 7.62x51mm NATO

RSM Sandy Young (Jack Watson) whips quickly around with an FN MAG-58.

Mercenary takes cover with his FN MAG-58.

Fire Support

RL-83 Blindicide Rocket Launcher

Tosh Donaldson (Ian Yule) carries and uses a Belgian RL-83 Blindicide multiple times during the final firefight. Tosh's rocket launcher does not have the blast shield installed.

Blindicide RL-83 - 83mm

Tosh fires his RL-83 Blindicide.

Frontal view.

Reloading the launcher. This looks more like a mortar round than a genuine RL-83 rocket.

Mk II hand grenade

The Mk II Hand Grenade is mostly seen used by Rafer Janders (Richard Harris) when he and Allan Faulkner (Richard Burton) rescue Shawn Fynn (Roger Moore). They are also carried by all of the mercenaries during the mission.

Mk 2 "Pineapple" High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade

An American Mk II hand grenade of WW2 vintage is used by Rafer Janders.

Mills Bomb

At least one mercenary is seen with the British Mills Bomb of World War 1 heritage but updated and still manufactured even as late as the 1980s.

No. 36M Mk.I "Mills Bomb" High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade.

Private Esposito with a Mills Bomb hanging from his chest pocket.