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Zulu Dawn
Zulu Dawn is a 1979 prequel to the 1964 film Zulu directed by Douglas Hickox (Brannigan) starring Peter O'Toole, Burt Lancaster, Simon Ward and Denholm Elliott. It dramatized the events at and leading up to the Battle of Isandlwana, which occurred right before the Battle of Rorke's Drift, which occurred later that day.
The following weapons were used in the film Zulu Dawn:
Webley Mk VI
The Webley Mk VI is carried by British officers and NCOs. Like the earlier film, Zulu, the Webley Mk VI stands in for the earlier Webley and Adams models which were either standard issue or privately purchased.
Webley Pryse
Colonel Pulleine (Denholm Elliott) carries a Webley Pryse as his service weapon. This weapon was commonly privately purchased by officers during this period. Mr. Fannin (Don Leonard), the Boer merchant who is chased by Zulu warriors, also appears to have this model pistol.
Martini-Henry
Some of the British troops are armed with Martini-Henry rifles.
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Martini-Enfield Carbine
Both cavalry and infantry use the Martini-Enfield Artillery carbine during the film, likely due to a shortage of .450 blanks. This is inaccurate as the infantry used the rifle version shown above. Mention is made that Col. Durnford's cavalry is wholly equipped with these weapons which is also inaccurate as in reality they were largely equipped with Sniders or Westley Richards carbines.
Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE)
During several of the battle scenes SMLEs can be seen being used by British troops. This is incorrect as these weapons were not produced until 1902.
Pattern 1914 Enfield
In the same scene, one soldier is seen with a Pattern 1914 Enfield rifle. This is also an anachronism.
Winchester Model 1892
The reporter Norris Newman (Ronald Lacey) carries a Winchester Model 1892 rifle. The rifle is anachronistic since the movie is set in 1879.
Double barreled Rifle
William Vereker (Simon Ward) uses an unidentified side hammer double barreled rifle to demonstrate his riding and shooting skill to Col. Durnford (Burt Lancaster).
Snider Enfield Cavalry Carbine
A few of the Zulus are seen with Snider Enfield Cavalry Carbines.
Hale Rocket
The British are armed with a battery of Hale Rockets.
Cannon
The artillery appears to be 9pdr RML Mk 2’s which are incorrect as the actual weapons used in the battle were much smaller 7pdr cannon.
Goofs
There are many goofs in this film, in many scenes British soldiers switch from Henry Martini rifles and carbines between shots. During the battle only some of the British troops have bayonets fitted to their rifles when they should all have fitted them before the battle began. Many of the bayonets are either incorrectly fitted or obviously made of rubber. Also evident are the fact that many of the Henry Martini rifles are actually wooden props.
