Apaches (Apachen)

Apaches (Apachen) Original German Poster Country East Germany Romania USSR Directed by Gottfried Kolditz Release Date 1973 Language German Studio DEFA Filmstudio Bucuresti Mosfilm Distributor DEFA Main Cast Character Actor Ulzana Gojko Mitic Johnson Milan Bosiljcic Nana Colea Rautu Ramon Leon Niemczyk The shopkeeper Gerry Wolff Gleason Hartmut Beer Bob Tribolett Fred Delmare

Apaches (original title Apachen or Apachen. Blutige Rache) is a 1973 East German (Romanian and Soviet co-production) "Red Western" directed by Gottfried Kolditz and starring Gojko Mitic as Ulzana, the chief of Apaches. Next year the movie was followed by a sequel Ulzana.

The following weapons were used in the film Apaches (Apachen):

Revolvers

Colt 1851 Navy Percussion

One of Johnson's henchmen carries an authentic percussion Colt 1851 Navy revolver (cylinder has slots for percussion caps). A Colt 1851 Navy is also seen in the drawer of local shopkeeper (Gerry Wolff).

Colt 1851 Navy - .36 caliber

Johnson's henchman carries the Colt 1851 Navy revolver at his belt.

The Colt Navy in the drawer of local shopkeeper.

Colt 1851 Navy Cartridge

Cartridge versions of Colt 1851 Navy revolvers are used by some of Johnson's men and townsmen of Santa Rita. These revolvers with brass frame and barrel and white cylinder are seen in many other DEFA Western movies. The lack of the pin that fixes the barrel with the frame on original Colt 1851 allows to guess that screen guns are versions, originally made for metallic cartridges (rather than converted from cap and ball model), likely of European production.

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.

Morrie (Wilfried Zander) carries a Colt 1851 Navy revolver.

Another view of Morrie's revolver.

Morrie draws his gun.

A henchman, carrying the Colt Navy, is shot by Apache warrior.

A local man holds a Colt Navy revolver.

A man in center holds his Colt Navy.

Single Action Army

Cavalry Model

Single Action Army Cavalry model revolvers are used by Johnson (Milan Bosiljcic) and most of his men. Strange enough, not a single character carries revolver in holster, preferring to tuck them into belts.

Note: see additional images on talk page.

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

Gleason (Hartmut Beer) shows his marksmanship. This revolver with brass frame and black cylinder and without its front sight is often seen in DEFA Western movies.

A group of Johnson's henchmen. Several of them have SAA revolvers.

Gleason's revolver on ground.

Johnson's revolver. Note the lack of the cover of loading gate. This gun is also seen in many DEFA Western movies.

A good view of the grip and cylinder of Gleason's revolver.

Ramon (Leon Niemczyk), the chief manager of copper mine, holds an SAA Cavalry revolver. In previous scene he had an Artillery model (see below).

Gleason holds the revolver during the massacre of Apaches in Santa Rita.

Artillery Model

Ramon (Leon Niemczyk), the chief manager of copper mine, uses an SAA Artillery model revolver during his confrontation with Johnson. Later Ramon is seen with a Cavalry model revolver. An Artillery revolver is also seen in hands of Johnson's henchman (Dirk Jungnickel).

Colt Single Action Army with 5.5" barrel known as the "Artillery" model. The most common of the SAA revolvers as it is just the right length. - .45 Long Colt

An Artillery model revolver is seen in hand of Johnson's henchman (Dirk Jungnickel).

Ramon draws his Artillery revolver during the confrontation with Johnson.

Ramon tries to fire but finds out that the revolver is empty.

Reichsrevolver M1879

Out of place and out of time (but widely available for filming) Reichsrevolver M1879 revolvers are used by Johnson's men and Mexicans. Johnson (Milan Bosiljcic) himself fires the Reichsrevolver in the final scene instead of previously seen Single Action Army.

Reichsrevolver M1879 Revolver - 10.6x25R

Two of Johnson's men carry Reichsrevolvers.

Another view of a Reichsrevolver of a henchman.

A henchman (Dirk Jungnickel) carries a Reichsrevolver in his belt when he unsuccessfully confronts old Apache Nana.

Morrie's (Wilfried Zander) revolver switches once again, this time into a Reichsrevolver.

A Mexican at the left holds the Reichsrevolver.

Johnson carries the Reichsrevolver.

Johnson fires the Reichsrevolver.

A gold digger (Horst Kube) fires the Reichsrevolver.

A view from the muzzle.

Smith & Wesson revolver

A revolver in hands of one more henchman appears to be a Smith & Wesson model, possibly a Smith & Wesson Victory Model that often appears in DEFA Western movies.

For comparison: Smith & Wesson Victory Model - .38 S&W

Pistols

Flintlock Pistol

Gold digger Old Ronny (Hermann Eckhardt) is armed with a Flintlock Pistol of unknown model.

British Heavy Dragoon Pistol - .62 caliber. The screen gun has similar looking grip.

The grip of Ronny's pistol is seen at the right.

Old Ronny runs with his pistol.

Shotguns

Percussion Shotgun

In the scene in the road camp of Mexican refugees from Santa Rita, Theresa (Elsa Grube-Deister) uses her husband's double barreled Percussion Shotgun. It fires on screen with correct effects of percussion cap gun.

Double Barreled Percussion Shotgun - 10 Gauge

Theresa takes small caps...

...readies the shotgun...

...aims...

...and fires.

Another view of the gun.

Rifles and Muskets

Spencer 1860 Carbine

One of Johnson's henchmen, Bob Tribolett (Fred Delmare), is armed with the Spencer 1860 Carbine. Ulzana (Gojko Mitic) manages to disarm him and uses the Spencer in the final shootout. In the showdown scene Johnson's (Milan Bosiljcic) Schuetzen rifle switches to the Spencer.

Note: see additional images on talk page.

Spencer Model 1860 Carbine - .56-56 Spencer rimfire

Bob Tribolett's rifle is seen at the right.

Bob Tribolett loads the tubular magazine of his Spencer.

Bob Tribolett holds his Spencer.

Ulzana examines the captured rifle.

An Apache warrior holds seven cartridges. They look similar enough to real .56-56 Spencer.

Ulzana reloads the rifle in action.

Johnson grabs the Spencer. In previous moment he had a Martini Schuetzen rifle.

Johnson uses the gun in close combat.

Martini Action Schuetzen Rifle

Most Johnson's men and gold diggers are armed with single shot Martini Schuetzen rifles, popular German target and hunting guns.

German manufactured Martini Action Schuetzen Rifle

Martini-Stahl system Schuetzen Rifle - 8.15x46mm R

Gleason (Hartmut Beer) aims.

A henchman fires at Ulzana on rooftop.

Nana (Colea Rautu) raises a captured rifle. This is a Martini-Stahl model, identified by the shape of the lever.

A gold digger fires at attacking Apaches.

Gold diggers hold their rifles.

A gold digger fires.

Johnson (Milan Bosiljcic) fires from the window.

Johnson appears from the house. His rifle differs from the one that was seen when he fired from the window (both guns are Martini system but receivers look different).

Ulzana aims a Schuetzen rifle that switches to Spencer carbine in next moment.

Kessler Schuetzen Rifle

Kessler Schuetzen rifles are also seen. Kessler system was an improved version of Martini.

German Kessler Schuetzen rifle

A man at the left holds a Kessler rifle.

A henchman (Dirk Jungnickel) holds a Kessler rifle when he unsuccessfully confronts old Apache Nana.

Same henchman reloads his rifle.

He aims.

A bearded gold digger (Peter Heiland) in green vest holds a Kessler rifle.

He is shot by Ulzana and drops his rifle.

Jaeger Rifle

A percussion cap carbine, likely a traditional German Jaeger Rifle, is seen in several scenes, notably used by Johnson (Milan Bosiljcic).

For comparison: Ornate German Jaeger rifle - .62 cal

Mexican Chico (Lucian Iancu) holds a percussion cap cabine at the right.

The barrel is seen.

Johnson fires at attacking Apaches.

Another view of the gun.

Flintlock Musket

Flitlock muskets are used by Johnson's men, Mexican soldiers and townsmen of Santa Rita. Due to the lack of barrel bands, typical for other long guns of the same era, they look similar to Brown Bess Flintlock Muskets (probably modern replicas). When these guns fire, the hammers doesn't move.

Modern reproduction Brown Bess Carbine - .75 caliber

A Mexican soldier with a musket.

Morrie (Wilfried Zander) fires the musket during the massacre of Apaches in Santa Rita.

A Mexican soldier holds the musket.

Mexican soldiers and armed civilians aim their muskets at approaching Apaches.

Juan (Victor Mavrodineanu) holds a musket.

A Mexican peasant at the left holds the musket.

A gold digger in center holds the musket.

Unidentified Long Guns

A hunting style musket is seen in hands of Juan (Victor Mavrodineanu). Later it is seen in gold diggers cabin together with another long gun.

The barrel with ramrod.

The stock is seen.

Same long gun is seen on the gun rack, at the left.

Another view of long gun.

A pair of hunting muskets are seen in gold diggers cabin, one abovementioned and another one, also of unclear type.

The unidentified gun with shorter barrel, at the right.

A gold digger (Peter Heiland) is seen with a military style musket.

The barrel of the musket is seen at the left.

The barrel of the musket is seen in center.

Trivia

During the massacre of Apaches in Santa Rita Johnson's men use the Napoleonic-style smoothbore field cannon. Its size matches 12-pounder.

Johnson's men unload the cannon from the wagon.

The cannon on position on Santa Rita street.