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The Ghost and the Darkness
Based on a true story. The movie takes place in 1898 in Kenya. Two lions are killing railroad workers and Col. Patterson (Val Kilmer) has to hunt them down and kill them. He is assisted by the professional hunter Remington (Michael Douglas). Though the movie plays fast and loose with the actual details of the hunt it is an exciting adventure movie with a well written script by William Goldman ( Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid & Marathon Man) It is also notable for featuring multiple British firearms, some of which almost never appear in American productions such as the BSA Lee-Sporter used by Patterson (Val Kilmer). The movie was filmed in South Africa in 1995.
The following guns can be seen in The Ghost and the Darkness:
Birmingham Small Arms Lee-Speed Sporter
Used by Patterson (Val Kilmer) throughout much of the movie. It appears to have a 26" barrel and is probably chambered for .303 British though the BSA Lee-Speeds were available in different calibers.
Lancaster Howdah Pistol
A very powerful double barrel handgun developed by the British hunters in India for close range, last ditch, defense against Tigers and other dangerous game. Though it appears that a Lancaster Howdah is used in the movie other makers produced Howdah style handguns. They typically had two or four barrel designs. They were massive, powerful and delievered a hell of a wallop at both ends. However it was believed that in a life and death situation heavy recoil would not be noticed.Howdahs are now very collectible. Used by both Patterson (Val Kilmer) and Remington (Michael Douglas). In a nice bit of technical realism the Howdah is used as a last ditch defense weapon in the movie. The image below is not the same gun.
Double Barrel Hammerless Rifle
Though it is unknown which company (or gunsmith) manufactured the double barreled rifle used by Remington (Michael Douglas) and later Patterson (Val Kilmer) it appears to be a hammerless model. Given the time it is probably supposed to be a Westley - Richards, Purdy, Rigy or Holland & Holland. It would likely be in 450 3.25" Nitro Express or 500/450 3.25" Nitro Express since those were the premire Nitro calibers at the end of the 19th century. If anyone has more information please contribute.
Martini-Henry rifle
Used by different charcters in the movie. Historically accurate. By 1898 the British Army was using the Lee - Enfield bolt action rifle in .303 British. The Martini Henry rifle in .577 Snider was a black powder rifle and was classified as obsolete. It was avilable on the surplus gun market and it would have been cheap and plentiful. It fired a powerful round and was considered effective against lions.
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