Thunderheart

Thunderheart (1992)

Thunderheart is a 1992 thriller directed by Michael Apted (The World Is Not Enough) starring Val Kilmer, Sam Shepard and Graham Greene. Kilmer plays a young F.B.I. agent of partial Native American heritage, partnered with a seasoned veteran (Shepard) to investigate a murder on a Sioux reservation.

N.B. While the exact year of the film's events is not given, a portrait of Richard M. Nixon hanging in an F.B.I. field office indicates the early 1970's, and no later than 1974. Based on this assumption, several of the film's weapons are anachronistic, as are several other minor aspects, including a character listening to Bruce Springsteen's "Badlands" (released in 1978) while driving in a 1983 Ford Mustang.

The following weapons were used in the film Thunderheart:

Handguns

Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub Nose

Agents Ray Levoi (Val Kilmer) and Frank Coutelle (Sam Shepard) carry Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub Nose revolvers as their service weapons.

Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub Nose (right side) - .357 Magnum

Levoi aims his S&W 19.

Coutelle points his S&W 19 at Jimmy Looks Twice (John Trudell).

Levoi lowers his S&W 19.

Smith & Wesson Model 36

Levoi's backup gun is a Smith & Wesson Model 36 carried in an ankle holster. He draws it on two occasions.

Smith & Wesson Model 36 - .38 Special

Levoi draws his S&W 36 during the drive-by.

Levoi with his S&W 36 when questioning Richard Yellow Hawk (Julius Drum). The ankle holster he drew it from is visible here as well.

Colt Government Model

Walter Crow Horse (Graham Greene) carries a Colt Government Model as his service weapon.

Colt Government Model M1911A1 - .45 ACP

Walter Crow Horse with his Colt Government.

Walther Crow Horse prepares to surrender his weapon.

Smith & Wesson Model 10HB

A reservation police officer is seen firing a Smith & Wesson Model 10HB.

Smith & Wesson Model 10 HB (heavy barrel) revolver (Post 1950s Model) - .38 Special

Colt Single Action Army

A GOON (Guardians of the Oglala Nation) carries a Single Action Army in a holster.

Colt Single Action Army w/ 4.75" barrel, case colored and blued, referred to as "Quick-Draw" or "Civilian" model.

Shotguns

Ithaca 37

Levoi, Coutelle and other characters use Ithaca 37 shotguns.

Ithaca Model 37 riot version - 12 Gauge

Coutelle with his Ithaca 37.

Levoi with his Ithaca 37.

Single Barreled Shotgun

Various characters are seen with Single Barreled Shotguns.

Harrington & Richardson Topper Shotgun - 12 gauge

Jack Milton (Fred Ward) with a single barreled shotgun.

Richard Yellow Hawk opens the door with his single barreled shotgun.

Levoi takes Richard's shotgun.

Double Barreled Shotgun

Various characters are seen with Double Barreled Shotguns.

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

A GOON's shotgun on the roof of a car.

Walter Crow Horse with a sawn-off double barreled shotgun tied to the handlebars of his bike.

Possibly the same GOON as from above in a later scene.

Browning BPS

Jack Milton (Fred Ward) carries a Browning BPS for much of the latter half of the film.

Browning BPS Hunter Model - 20 Gauge

Rifles/Carbines

Winchester Model 1894

A GOON is armed with a Winchester Model 1894 at a checkpoint.

Winchester 1894 - .30-30.

Remington Model 7400

A GOON is armed with a scoped Remington Model 7400 at a checkpoint.

Remington 7400 - .308 Winchester

Springfield Model 1873 Cavalry Carbine

A cavalry trooper is seen with a Springfield Model 1873 Cavalry Carbine during Levoi's Wounded Knee nightmare.

Replica Springfield Model 1873 Cavalry Carbine "Trapdoor Springfield" built by Uberti Arms - .45-70

Unknown M16-type

Levoi is seen with an unknown M16-type rifle. Not much of the gun is seen however.

M16 aka SP1 (flat "slab side receiver") with A2 style handguards used to impersonate the M16A2 - 5.56x45mm

Levoi with his rifle.

M16A1

At least one of the GOONs is armed with an M16A1 with A2 handguards.

M16A1 with A2 style handguards - 5.56x45mm

The GOON in the foreground with the M16A1.

Colt AR-15A2 Sporter II

FBI agents are seen with Colt AR-15A2 Sporter II rifles, as identified by their slabside lower receivers, A1 upper receivers and A2 furniture.

Colt AR15A2 Sporter II (Model 6500), early model with A1 upper receiver - 5.56x45mm NATO

A good shot of all the identifying features on the rifle, note forward assist, slabside lower receiver, and A2 handguards.

MGC M-16 Model Gun Corp Replica Rifle

One of the GOONs appears to be armed with a MGC M-16 Model Gun Corp Replica Rifle.

The MGC M16 Assault rifle: a non firing metal replica built by the Model Gun Corp of Japan and one of the most used non firing replicas of the M16 in movies and television. The 'forward assist' on the early models like the one imaged here are bolt inserts to keep the receiver together. Modern MGC M16 replicas have improved by third parties over the years (like adding A1 flash hiders) making it more accurate to the real thing making it harder for 'Connoisseurs' to identify

The GOON to the rear appears to be aiming a replica.

Colt AR-15 Sporter Carbine

The alleged murder weapon is a Colt AR-15 Sporter Carbine modified to appear as a XM177.

Late 1970s model AR15 Sporter 1 Carbine - converted into an XM177 Lookalike for the film The Dogs of War - 5.56x45mm

Levoi with the fake XM177.

Remington Model 700

Coutelle carries a Remington Model 700 with a Starlight scope.

Remington Model 700 BDL - .300 Win. Mag.

Levoi spots Coutelle's rifle in his car.

Coutelle with his rifle.