Defence of Sevastopol (Oborona Sevastopolya)

Defence of Sevastopol (Oborona Sevastopolya) Country Russian Empire Directed by Aleksandr Khanzhonkov Vasily Goncharov Release Date 1911 Language Silent (Russian subtitles) Studio Khanzhonkov Studio Main Cast Character Actor Admiral Pavel Nakhimov Andrej Gromov Vice Admiral Vladimir Kornilov Ivan Mozzhukhin Engineer-General Eduard Totleben Arsenii Bibikov Seaman Pyotr Koshka Nikolay Semyonov

Defence of Sevastopol (Oborona Sevastopolya) is a Russian 1911 historical war film, depicting the events of the Siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War (1854-1855). It was the first feature film made in the Russian Empire.

The following weapons were used in the film Defence of Sevastopol (Oborona Sevastopolya):

Handguns

Nagant M1895

A Russian officer carries a handgun in a holster. The shape of the grip with lanyard ring and the shape of the holster allows to guess that this is Nagant M1895, the service sidearm of Russian army in the time of filming (and anachronistic for the Crimean War era).

Russian Nagant 1895, produced 1920s. This sample lacks lanyard ring that was a standard feature of 1890s-1910s produced Nagants.

The officer in center carries the holstered sidearm. Note the lanyard.

Rifles

Mosin Nagant M1891

While the uniform of Russian, French, British and Turkish armies were reproduced accurately, the guns in the hands of soldiers are anachronistic Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry rifles. This is possibly the first appearance of Mosin Nagant rifles on screen.

Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry Rifle - 7.62x54mm R

Russian soldiers fire their rifles. Some are fitted with bayonets. Vice Admiral Kornilov stands on the foreground.

Russian soldiers and sailors at rest.

French soldiers at the left hold M91 rifles.

Russian and French soldiers in close combat.

Russian soldiers carry their wounded comrades-in-arms.

Russian soldiers on march. The rifles are seen clear enough, and the attachment of the rifle sling allows to identify the guns as original, pre-1910 Infantry models.

Russian troops leave Sevastopol.

Krnka M1869 Rifle

In one scene, a Russian soldier holds what appears to be a Krnka M1869 Rifle rifle.

Russian M1869 Krnka Rifle - 15,24x40mmR

The soldier in center holds a Krnka rifle in addition to his Mosin Nagant rifle.

Trivia

Naval Cannon

A genuine naval cannon from the Crimean War era is seen in several scenes. It appears to be 68-pounder Paixhans gun. Such cannons were mounted on Russian ships of the line and reused during the defense of Sevastopol.

The cannon on position.

The crewmembers man the cannon. Admiral Nakhimov stands next to the cannon.