Trail of the Falcon (Spur des Falken)

Trail of the Falcon Cinema Poster Country East Germany USSR Directed by Gottfried Kolditz Release Date 1968 Language German Studio DEFA Gruziya-film Main Cast Character Actor Farsighted Falcon Gojko Mitic Bludgeon Hannjo Hasse Catherine Emerson Barbara Brylska James Bashan Rolf Hoppe Sam Blake Helmut Schreiber Pat Patterson Holger Mahlich Peter Hille Fred Delmare Jim 'Bad Face' Milan Jablonsky

Trail of the Falcon (Spur des Falken) is a 1968 East German-Soviet "Red Western" movie, directed by Gottfried Kolditz and starring Gojko Mitic as Farsighted Falcon, the chieftain of Dacota tribe who counter the activities of hard-hearted land speculator Bludgeon (Hannjo Hasse) and his gang.

The following weapons were used in the film Trail of the Falcon (Spur des Falken):

Revolvers

Colt 1851 Navy Percussion

Lt. Forsythe (Dietmar Richter-Reinick), Bludgeon's henchmen Fletcher (Hartmut Beer), Bashan (Rolf Hoppe), and saloon patron Dick (Sepp Klose) use Colt 1851 Navy revolvers. These are authentic percussion revolvers (cylinder has slots for percussion caps). Likely two props are used.

Colt 1851 Navy - .36 caliber

Lt. Forsythe holds a Colt 1851 Navy during the attack of the Indians on train. Later Forsythe is seen with a Smith & Wesson Victory and Colt Single Action Army revolvers.

Fletcher (in center) holds a Colt 1851 Navy.

Fletcher's revolver is seen at the right.

Bashan is disarmed by Sam Blake's whip. Slots for percussion caps on cylinder are seen.

Bashan's revolver on ground.

Dick fires at Indians from saloon window.

Fletcher with a Colt 1851 Navy and a Single Action Army revolvers.

Fletcher fires after Bludgeon who treacherously abandoned his henchman.

Colt 1851 Navy Cartridge

Cartridge versions of Colt 1851 Navy revolvers are used by Bludgeon (Hannjo Hasse), several of his henchmen, Capt. Ronald (Giorgi Tatishvili), and Catherine Emmerson (Barbara Brylska). Farsighted Falcon (Gojko Mitic) uses a pair of revolvers, taken from Bashan (Rolf Hoppe). These revolvers have brass frame and barrel and white cylinder. The lack of the pin that fixes the barrel with the frame on original Colt 1851 allows to guess that screen guns are replicas, originally made for metallic cartridges, likely of European production.

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For comparison: Colt 1851 Navy with a cartridge conversion. This is a reproduction of the gun used by Eli Wallach in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and imported by Cimmaron Arms.

One of the passengers of the train fires at attacking Indians. His Colt lacks the pin on the frame. Loading gate for cartridges can be seen.

Catherine Emmerson threatens Bludgeon with his own revolver.

Farsighted Falcon with two Bashan's revolvers (in previous scenes Bashan carries a Colt 1851 Navy and Colt Single Action Army revolvers).

Farsighted Falcon fires.

Bludgeon fires at escaping Indian.

A good view of a revolver in hand of Bludgeon's unnamed henchman.

Another henchman with a revolver. Loading gate is seen. In previous scene this character had a Single Action Army.

Another unnamed henchman fires a revolver.

A good view of Bludgeon's revolver.

A close view of the cylinder with loading gate.

Colt Single Action Army

Cavalry Model

Single Action Army revolvers of Cavalry model often switch with Colt 1851 Navy revolvers due to continuity errors. They are seen in hands of Bludgeon (Hannjo Hasse), his henchmen, including Bashan (Rolf Hoppe) and Fletcher (Hartmut Beer), Peter Hille (Fred Delmare), and Lt. Forsythe (Dietmar Richter-Reinick). The revolvers that are seen close enough seem to lack spring-loaded ejector rods, and rod housings are empty. At least a single of SAA revolvers lacks its front sight.

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

Bashan carries a SAA revolver in holster.

He draws the gun when Sam Blake caught him stealing ammunition.

A good view of a Cavalry SAA in hand of Bludgeon's unnamed henchman (in next scene this character, shot by an arrow, drops a Colt 1851 Navy revolver).

Peter Hille puts his revolver back in holster.

Saloon patrons fire at Farsighted Falcon who hides behind the counter. Both Single Action Army and Colt 1851 Navy revolvers are seen. An SAA revolver, hold by a gloved hand, lacks the front sight.

Bludgeon's Colt 1851 Navy switches to a Single Action Army revolver.

Fletcher with a Colt 1851 Navy and a Single Action Army revolvers.

An unnamed henchman with a Cavalry SAA.

Another view of Bashan's revolver.

Lt. Forsythe (at the right) holds a Cavalry SAA revolver. Captain Ronald (Giorgi Tatishvili) (in center) is armed with a Colt 1851 Navy revolver.

Artillery Model

A single Artillery Model revolver is used by one of Bludgeon's henchmen.

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

A man in red shirt at the left holds an Artillery SAA revolver.

Smith & Wesson Victory Model

Bludgeon's (Hannjo Hasse) Colt 1851 Navy switches to a Smith & Wesson Victory Model due to a continuity error. Fletcher (Hartmut Beer), Lt. Forsythe (Dietmar Richter-Reinick), Sgt. McDryden (Fritz Mohr) and some other minor characters use revolvers that appear to be Victory Model. Most screen revolvers have 4" barrels.

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Smith & Wesson Victory Model - .38 S&W.

A passenger of a train ((Ernst-Georg Schwill) fires at attacking Indians.

A good view of Sgt. McDryden's revolver.

Lt. Forsythe holds a Smith & Wesson.

Fletcher holds his revolver during the attack on Dakota settlement.

Bludgeon's Colt 1851 Navy switches to a Smith & Wesson.

Bludgeon's revolver switches once more, now to a Smith & Wesson with 6" barrel. The lanyard ring is seen.

Rifles

Winchester Model 1892 Carbine

Farsighted Falcon (Gojko Mitic) and some of his warriors use Winchester Model 1892 carbines.

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

A Dakota warrior at the right holds a Winchester 1892.

Farsighted Falcon holds a Winchester 1892.

A close view of the rifle.

Farsighted Falcon holds a Winchester 1892.

Farsighted Falcon holds his rifle while dancing a ritual dance.

Farsighted Falcon reloads his rifle when he fires in air, dispersing cavalry horses.

A pile of rifles, get by Farsighted Falcon's warriors from Blake's wagon. A Winchester 1892 is seen at the right.

Farsighted Falcon holds his Winchester 1892 during the final confrontation with Bludgeon. In next moment his rifle switches to a Winchester Model 1873.

Gojko Mitic holds a Winchester 1892 on a promotion image.

Winchester Model 1873 Carbine

Farsighted Falcon (Gojko Mitic) uses a Winchester Model 1873 carbine in several scenes, including the climactic scene when his previously seen Model 1892 switches to Model 1873. Winchester 73s are also seen in hands of Indian warriors, Bludgeon's henchmen and settlers.

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

Indian scout Bad Face (Milan Jablonský) fires a Winchester 1873 at Dakota warriors, attacking the train.

A pile of rifles, get by Farsighted Falcon's warriors from Blake's wagon. A pair of Winchester 1873s is seen (on the top and in center).

A Dakota warrior examines a Winchester.

Bludgeon's henchman fires at Indian envoys.

Farsighted Falcon fires his Winchester during the attack on the town.

Farsighted Falcon holds his rifle in same scene.

Farsighted Falcon with his Winchester 1873 during the attack on the town.

Farsighted Falcon's Winchester Model 1892 switches to a Model 1873 during the final confrontation with Bludgeon.

Gojko Mitic holds a Winchester 1873 on a promotion image.

Winchester Model 1876

During the attack on the train, one of the employees of the railway company fires a rifle that looks similar to Winchester Model 1873 but has a longer stock and barrel. Winchester Model 1876 sporting rifle seems to be a good guess.

Winchester Model 1876 "sporting" configuration in 45-60 WCF with 26 inch barrel

A railwayman with his rifle.

Martini Action Schuetzen Rifle

Single shot Martini action Schuetzen rifles, popular German target and hunting guns, are used by US soldiers and Dakota warriors.

German manufactured Martini Action Schuetzen Rifle

Martini-Stahl system Schuetzen Rifle - 8.15x46mm R

Rifles of gold prospectors Chat (Horst Kube) and Pat Patterson (Holger Mahlich). Later both characters are seen with Kessler rifles.

A cavalryman at the right fires a Martini Schuetzen rifle during the attack on the train. His comrade-in-arms holds a Kessler Schuetzen rifle.

Bad Face (Milan Jablonský) holds a Martini rifle. In previous scene he was armed with a Winchester 1873.

Chat's or Pat's rifle is seen at the left. In next scene both gold prospectors are again seen with Kessler rifles.

A pile of rifles, get by Farsighted Falcon's warriors from Blake's wagon. Several Martini Schuetzen are seen.

A Martini rifle is seen at the left in hands of a Dakota warrior, dancing a ritual dance. Two other men also hold Schuetzen rfifles, but of unclear models.

A cavalryman with Martini rifle.

Kessler Schuetzen Rifle

Kessler Schuetzen rifles (an improved version of Martini system) are most widely used by Farsighted Falcon's warriors. Some soldiers and gold prospectors Chat (Horst Kube) and Pat Patterson (Holger Mahlich) also use Kessler rifles. The typical feature of Kessler rifles that allows to differ this model from other similar guns is a one-piece wooden stock.

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German Kessler Schuetzen rifle

Pat holds a Kessler rifle.

A cavalryman at the left fires a Kessler rifle during the attack on the train. His comrade-in-arms holds a Martini action rifle.

Chat and Pat with Kessler rifles during the confrontation with Bludgeon's men.

Pat fires.

A Dakota warrior examines a Kessler rifle.

A Kessler rifle in hands of Springing Water (Albert Giorgadze).

A Kessler rifle is seen at the right.

Springing Water fires at Fletcher.

Kessler rifles in hands of Indians.

Aydt Schuetzen Rifle

Aydt system Schuetzen rifles are also seen in hands of soldiers and Indians.

German Aydt Schuetzen rifle - 8.15x46R mm

A cavalryman fires an Aydt rifle during the attack on the train.

A railwayman holds an Aydt rifle.

An Indian on horseback in center holds an Aydt rifle.

An Indian with Aydt rifle asleeps while on guard.

An Aydt rifle is seen in hands of a Dakota warrior during the attack on the town.

A soldier with an Aydt rifle.

Unidentified Rifles

Some Indian warriors are armed with rifles that resemble bolt action battle rifles of late 19th century with removed bolt handles.

An Inidan warrior on horse holds a rifle.

A rifle is seen in hands of another warrior. The shape of top barrel band, the stock grip and the groove on stock bear resemblance with Arisaka Type 38 but not enough to make a positive identification.