Sabata is a 1969 Italian-Spanish Spaghetti Western film directed by Gianfranco Parolini. The film stars the legendary actor Lee Van Cleef as the titular "Sabata".
Sabata, a mysterious, deadly, andsomber shooter, arrives in the town of Daugherty, Texas, just as a group of robbers pull off a heist of the local bank during the night. After recovering the safe and receiving financial compensation from the army, he meets an intriguing individual known as "Banjo" who claims to know him personally. Initially, unbeknownst to Sabata, a group of important people, led by the subtle and elegant Stengel, benefit from the city's crimes.
Sabata marked a revolution in the Spaghetti Western genre, being the second success of Gianfranco Parolini (who had just directed the first film of the iconic character "Sartana"), and gave way to a trilogy of films that would continue with Adios, Sabata and ending with Return of Sabata.
Like other fictional Spaghetti Western characters such as Django, Ringo, Sartana, or the Man with No Name, Sabata was used by other directors for their films, to take advantage of the massive success of the original film.
The following weapons were used in the film Sabata:
Pistols
Remington 1866 Derringer
When Sabata (Lee Van Cleef) arrives at Daugherty's tavern, Ferguson (Antonio Gradoli) attempts to arm himself with his Remington 1866 Derringer when he feels threatened by Sabata.
Remington 1866 Derringer Type 3 w/ stainless steel finish - .41 Short Rimfire
Ferguson tries to arm himself with his Remington 1866 Derringer upon noticing Sabata's presence, but the latter skillfully manages to stop him and humiliate him at the same time.
Sabata's Derringer
For much of the film, Sabata (Lee Van Cleef) uses a particular prop Derringer with four barrels and three additional smaller barrels at the bottom of the grip with an "S" (for Sabata) marked. This derringer is the most iconic weapon in the Sabata trilogy (along with the harmonica rifle used by Yul Brynner).
Although the general public thinks that the Sabata Derringer is a fictional gun made only for the film, there are testimonies that claim that the Sabata Derringer existed as a project by an Austrian gunsmith who replicated the pistol seen in the film to be used as a real weapon, using an unspecified .38 caliber for the four barrels and .22 for the grip barrels, which could fire like in the movie.
Sabata fires his Derringer at the legs of Ferguson's chair to prevent him from pulling out his Remington 1866 Derringer and humiliate him in the process in front of everyone.
Sabata draws and fires his Derringer in his first confrontation with Stengel's men.
Sabata draws his Derringer, believing that Banjo came to kill him, but holsters it again when Banjo reveals that he came to warn him of something.
Sabata shoots a barrel of water, knowing that Slim was hiding in that particular place after escaping from him.
Sabata blackmails Judge O'Hara with his Derringer in front of all his powerful associates.
A perfect side shot of Sabata's Derringer revealing the pistol's exaggeratedly large grip and Sabata's "S" mark on it.
Sabata reveals to Banjo the three additional barrels on the handle of his weapon to keep Banjo's rifle away from him.
Stengel's Single Shot Pistol
Stengel (Franco Ressel) uses two single-shot pistols during the formal duels that occur in his mansion. Stengel's pistol appears to be a hybrid between a percussion pistol and a metallic cartridge firing weapon, as in the film Stengel loads the weapon both ways. Like most of the weapons used in the film, Stengel's single-shot pistol is just an prop designed to fire blanks.
Stengel presents Oswald with a case where he keeps his dueling pistols, giving the latter a not-so-subtle indication of what will happen next.
Revolvers
Colt Single Action Army
The Colt Single Action Army is used by the vast majority of the film's secundary characters, mostly by the Stengel's men. The characters that stand out the most are Carrincha (Ignazio Spalla) who carries a “Cavalry” variant and Slim (Spartaco Conversi), one of Stengel's trusted men. Non-genuine replicas of the Colt Single Action Army with brass trigger guards and some with target sight are were used in the film.
Colt 1873 Single Action Army w/ 7.5" barrel - .45 Long Colt
Sharky (Marco Zuanelli) practices his aim with his Colt SAA, before being hired by Ferguson to kill Sabata.
Sharky confronts Sabata with his Colt SAA in a small barn, although it is obvious that this young man poses no challenge to Sabata.
One of Stengel's men tries to sneak into Sabata's room with his Colt SAA.
A good side shot of the Colt SAA.
Carrincha is armed with a Colt SAA as he accompanies his friend Sabata for the assault on Stengel's mansion.
Carrincha takes cover as he tries to aim his Colt SAA at Stengel at the entrance to his mansion.
Carrincha points his Colt SAA at Ferguson, however, he witnesses Ferguson's murder by his supposed partner.
Colt 1873 Single Action Army w/ 5.5" barrel - .45 Long Colt
Oswald refuses to use one of Stengel's pistols in their duel, so he uses his Colt SAA.
Oswald (Robert Hundar) reloads his Colt SAA.
After being wounded by Stengel, Oswald drops his Colt SAA.
One of Stengel's men fires his Colt SAA at his targets in a cabin on the outskirts of town.
Finally, Stengel's men appear in the room where Sabata is and shoot him, but fail to kill him.
A close-up shot of the Colt SAA.
At Sabata's request, Alley Cat (
Aldo Canti) arms himself with a Colt SAA to help Carrincha confront Stengal's men.
Ferguson jams his Colt SAA into Stengel's bedroom door to force his way in. Seeing this attitude, Stengel shows him the barrel of his "Yellow Boy".
Colt 1873 Single Action Army w/ 4.75" barrel - .45 Long Colt
After being warned by Banjo, Sabata spots a Colt SAA while waiting for Stengel's men. It should be noted that Sabata does not use the Colt SAA to defend himself.
Slim (Spartaco Conversi) shoots into the sky to alert everyone in the area after finding one of his men dead.
Rifles
Winchester Model 1866 "Yellow Boy"
Used primarily by Stengel's men, the classic Winchester Model 1866 "Yellow Boy" is the rifle with the most screen time, along with the Winchester Model 1873. For the film, two Winchester Model 1866 "Yellow Boy"s were modified to create the iconic rifles used by Sabata (Lee Van Cleef) and Banjo (William Berger).
Winchester Model 1866 "Yellow Boy" - .44 Henry
Some soldiers guard the recently robbed Daugherty bank, until Sabata arrives with the safe and the bodies of the robbers at the scene.
Note that one of the soldiers carries a Winchester Model 1866 "Yellow Boy" with the receiver deformed for some strange reason.
During Sabata and Carrincha's trap where they both make a wagon with explosives enter Stengel's mansion, the latter arms himself with a Winchester Model 1866 "Yellow Boy".
A close-up shot of Stengel's "Yellow Boy" barrel.
One of Stengel's men who confronts Banjo is armed with a Winchester Model 1866 "Yellow Boy".
Winchester Model 1873
As an alternative to the Winchester Model 1866 "Yellow Boy", Stengel's men use the Winchester Model 1873, although in smaller quantities. At the beginning, one of the bank robbers is seen carrying what appears to be an Uberti replica of the Winchester Model 1873, due to its blued finish.
Winchester Model 1873 w/ 20" barrel - .44-40 WCF
Stengel armed himself with a Winchester Model 1873 that he conveniently kept near his desk.
Stengel points his Winchester Model 1873 outside Judge O'Hara's bedroom window.
Stengel is about to fire his Winchester Model 1873 at Sabata, but is prevented from doing so by a carriage.
One of Stengel's men is armed with a Winchester Model 1873 to protect the property at night, until he hears Slim's alert.
Winchester Model 1873 (Uberti replica) - .38-40 WCF
One of the robbers disguised as Union soldiers points his Winchester Model 1873 at Sabata.
Thief:
"There isn't a Winchester going that can shoot half that distance"Evidently this guy didn't know anything about Sabata.
Sabata's Rifle
The second most iconic weapon used by Sabata (Lee Van Cleef) is a Winchester Model 1866 "Yellow Boy" rifle with the magazine shortened, and the original barrel cut down and refitted with an apparently detachable custom longer barrel.
A close shot of Sabata's rifle as he shoots one of Daugherty's bank robbers.
A full shot of Sabata's rifle with the barrel extended, contradicting the statements of one of the bank robbers, shooting them all down at long range.
Sabata points his rifle at one of the few thieves still alive in the place.
In his room, Sabata arms himself with his sawed-off "Yellow Boy" to go hunt down Slim, one of Stengel's most important men.
Noticing that Slim was outside the cantina where he is staying, he places the extended barrel on his rifle...
Sabata pulls the lever of his rifle to point it at Slim, who leaves the place on horseback.
Sabata uses his rifle without the barrel extended during the ambush of Stengel's men in the ravine outside Daugherty City.
He also uses it without the barrel extended during the final battle at Stengel's mansion.
Sabata witnesses how, despite being a veteran of the American Civil War, Carrincha fails to shoot and blow up
a fistful of dynamite with his .45 Colt.
Sabata inserts a .44-40 cartridge into his rifle.
Sabata poses with his rifle after revealing to Banjo that he is still alive and that the duel between the two was arranged by Judge O'Hara so that he would escape unscathed.
Banjo's Rifle
After Sabata (Lee Van Cleef) breaks one of the strings on his banjo, Banjo (William Berger) modifies his instrument to hide a Winchester Model 1866 "Yellow Boy" with the cut off stock (similar to a Mare's Leg) and a lever that passes through the Banjo's drum head and is capable of firing when it is pulled.
Banjo reveals to his opponents and the movie audience his "Yellow Boy" disguised as a banjo.
A close up of the rifle/banjo fired toward Stengel's men.
A close-up shot of Banjo's rifle, highlighting its sawed-off stock and modified lever with a screw near the trigger so it can be fired from the outside of the banjo.
Banjo meets Sabata outside Daugherty's. Banjo appears with his rifle outside the banjo, suggesting that he hid the rifle just for the duel.
Banjo shoots at Sabata's purse which supposedly contained a large amount of money, however, there was only sand, which muffles Banjo's shots.
Note that the original "Yellow Boy's" rings were removed from the gun.
Machine Guns
M1865 Gatling Gun
During the final battle at Stengel's mansion (Franco Ressel), he and his men use a M1865 Gatling Gun as a desperate measure to try to stop Sabata (Lee Van Cleef) and his allies.
M1865 Gatling Gun - .50-70 Government
Before Sabata and Carrincha know it, Stengel and his henchmen set up a Gatling Gun at the entrance to the mansion.
A side view of the Gatling Gun fired by one of Stengel's men, unaware that Alley Cat was sneaking up to the entrance of the mansion.
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