Michael Collins

Michael Collins Promotional Poster Country United States Ireland UK Directed by Neil Jordan Release Date 1996 Studio The Geffen Film Company Distributor Warner Bros. Main Cast Character Actor Michael Collins Liam Neeson Harry Boland Aidan Quinn Ned Broy Stephen Rea Éamon de Valera Alan Rickman Kitty Kiernan Julia Roberts Joe O'Reilly Ian Hart Liam Tobin Brendan Gleeson Soames Charles Dance Collins's Assassin Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Michael Collins is a 1996 Irish-British American biographical period drama film about the Irish revolutionary, soldier, and politician Michael Collins who was a leading figure in the early 20th-century struggle for Irish independence from the failed Easter Uprising in 1916 to the Irish War of Independence from 1919 to 1921 and the Irish Civil War, ending with his assassination on 22nd August 1922 during the Irish Civil War.

The following weapons were used in the film Michael Collins:

WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Handguns

Mauser C96

A Mauser C96 fitted with and without the optional shoulder stock is used by Michael Collins (Liam Neeson) in the 1916 Easter Rising scenes in the beginning. Two IRA assassins also uses the weapon to kill two respective police inspectors.

Mauser C96 - 7.63x25mm Mauser

Michael Collins fires his Mauser C96 during the Easter Rising.

An IRA assassin kills a British police inspector.

Another assassin with a C96 kills Soames (Charles Dance).

Colt New Service

Michael Collins uses a Colt New Service to threaten Ned Broy (Stephen Rea) outside a bar. Later, Liam Tobin (Brendan Gleeson) uses a New Service during the jailbreak scene.

Colt New Service - .45 Long Colt

Michael Collins threatens Ned Broy with his Colt New Service. The scene is dark and fuzzy, but the details reveal the characteristics of the Colt New Service.

Liam Tobin threatens a British taxi driver as the IRA prepares to break out Éamon de Valera from prison.

Webley Mk. VI

British officers, G Division Detectives, and many IRA members, including Michael Collins, carry Webley Mk VIs throughout the film.

Webley Mk. VI - .455 Webley

Rory O'Connor (Owen O'Neill) shows his empty Webley Mk.VI revolver.

Tom, a G Division detective, is assassinated with a Webley Mk.VI - note the dummy rounds.

An Irish "G-Man" (played by Irish actor Sean McGinley) holsters his Webley.

Webley Mk. IV

Kitty Kiernan (Julia Roberts) pulls a Webley Mk IV on a potential assassin during the political rally scene. A second (probable) Webley Mk IV is wielded by an assassin during the killings. Since the Mk. IV and V are so alike, it's difficult to properly identify which model is used in some scenes.

Webley Mk. IV - .455 Webley

Kitty Kiernan threatens an Anti-Treaty IRA member with her Webley Mk IV.

An IRA assassin aiming his Mk IV or V.

As he retreats, the shorter barrel of an Mk IV or V is plainly visible.

Browning 1900

Both the Irish and British use the Browning Model 1900. Vinny Byrne (Tom Murphy) uses a Model 1900 to shoot a "G Man" through a newspaper. A British detective carries one during his untimely death at the hands of an IRA assassin. Joe O'Reilly (Ian Hart) also uses one throughout the film.

Browning 1900 - .32 ACP

Vinny Byrne assassinates a British detective with his Browning 1900.

Vinny finishes off the detective.

A British detective's final moments with his Browning 1900 in his hand.

Joe O'Reilly with his Browning 1900.

O'Reilly again with same weapon.

Steyr 1912

Harry Boland (Aidan Quinn) uses a Steyr 1912 during the Civil War scenes in Dublin. It is also used by an IRA assassin in the Bloody Sunday scene.

Steyr Hahn Model 1912 (1913 mfg) - 9x23mm

An IRA assassin (left) with a Steyr 1912.

A closer look at the IRA assassin's Steyr 1912.

Harry Boland fires his Steyr 1912.

Colt M1911

A Colt M1911 is used by Liam Tobin in the Bloody Sunday scene. Harry Boland takes one from an overzealous bodyguard during his confrontation with Collins.

Original Colt M1911 (dated 1913) - .45 ACP

A British intelligence officer is about to be executed by Liam Tobin

Harry Boland threatens his overzealous bodyguard with the guard's own 1911. The lack of an external extractor sets it apart from its "twin", the Star Model B.

Another assassin with an M1911.

Luger P08

The Luger P08 is carried exclusively by IRA soldiers/assassins, who use it to good effect against the British Military and police presence.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

An IRA assassin holds a Luger on a British intelligence officer.

The assassin with his Luger.

Artillery model

An IRA assassin is seen preparing for the strike on British/Irish intelligence officers with a Luger P08 Artillery model. It is identifiable via its longer barrel and rear sight. The P08 "Marine" model had the long barrel, but not the rear sight, which also helps identify it as an Artillery model.

Luger LP08 long-barreled "Artillery" model - 9x19mm. Note the rear sight at the center of the weapon.

The IRA man in the middle, partially hidden, holds the P08 Artillery model with the barrel upwards, exposing the long barrel.

The IRA man is hidden, but the distinct barrel and rear sight is visible across Collins' (Liam Neeson) stomach.

Rifles

Ross Mk. III

An IRA soldier can be seen surrendering a Ross Mk.III rifle in the Easter Rising scene.

Ross Mk.III - .303 British

IRA soldier surrenders his Ross rifle (marked).

Lee-Enfield Mk. I

IRA soldiers can be seen carrying Lee-Enfield Mk Is during the Easter Rising scene and the Civil War fighting in Dublin.The Mk.I makes several apperances but for the most part the shots are fuzzy due to the quick pace of the scenes and it is difficult getting a clear/sharp screenshot of it.

Lee-Enfield Mk.I* - .303 British

The Anti-Treaty soldier in the middle is carrying a Lee-Enfield Mk.I. It is identifiable via the protruding magazine which the (contemporary and also featured in the movie) Mauser 1898 rifle lacks.

Lee-Enfield No. 1 MK. III

British and Irish forces throughout the film use various Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk. III rifles.

Lee Enfield SMLE Mk. III - .303 British

Lee Enfield SMLE Mk. III* - .303 British

British soldiers control IRA prisoners with SMLE MK. III rifles and Pattern 1907 bayonets.

A British firing squad with SMLE Mk. III rifles.

Ditto.

SMLE Mk. III* / Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk. III* with Pattern 1907 Bayonet - .303 British

Closeup of the Mk. III and bayonets.

Mauser Gewehr 98

The Mauser Gewehr 1898 is seen at least twice in the movie. Once during the urban fighting in the Civil War and later an IRA soldier (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) uses a Gewehr 1898 at the end of the film.

Mauser Gewehr 98 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

In the foreground, an Anti-Treaty soldier takes aim with his Mauser. The bulky rear sight is a dead giveaway.

The IRA soldier (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) runs to the ambush position.

Same, taking aim.

Shotguns

12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun

12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotguns are used by various IRA soldiers throughout the movie, including one sawed-off shotgun.

J. Stevens and Company Side by Side Shotgun (Circa 1878) exposed hammers and designed to fire black powder shotgun shells - 12 Gauge

A sawed-off double-barreled shotgun on the counter.

The man just right of Collins holds a full-sized double barreled shotgun.

Another IRA member shows his shotgun with an unusual trigger guard.

Winchester Model 1897 Trench Gun

A Winchester Model 1897 Trench Gun is carried by a Black and Tan who arrests Ned Broy.

Winchester Model 1897 "Trench Gun" - 12 gauge. This is an original mint condition 1935 Manufacture commercial trench gun by Winchester.

The Black and Tans arrive to arrest Ned Broy. The one in the middle carries an M1897 Trench Gun.

The arresting Black and Tan on the left carries a shouldered M1897.

Submachine Guns

Bergmann MP18

A Bergmann MP18 is used by IRA members to assassinate three British secret service agents in a café.

Bergmann MP18 submachine gun with drum magazine - 9x19mm

One of Michael Collins' "Apostles" checks his MP18.

The "Apostle" fires his MP18 into a table full of British officers.

M1921 Thompson

IRA members are seen using the M1921 Thompson following Bloody Sunday and during the civil war fighting in Dublin. This is historically accurate, as the IRA bought some of the first Thompsons off the production line. The movie version is the M1921A, which lacks the compensator of the later M1921AC.

Colt M1921A Thompson with 50-round drum magazine - .45 ACP

An Anti-Treaty IRA member with a Thompson. Note the front sight.

Closeup of the Anti-Treaty IRA member's Thompson.

Another M1921A in the hands of an Anti-Treaty member during the Civil War.

Machine Guns

Lewis Gun

The Lewis Gun is used by the Black And Tans, most noticeably to fire at Dublin tenements. Joe O'Reilly (Ian Hart) uses one mounted on an Irish Army troop truck.

Lewis Gun - .303 British

Black and Tans carry Lewis Guns through Dublin Castle.

A Black and Tan prepares to fire his Lewis Gun.

O'Reilly takes charge of a Lewis during the ambush.

Hotchkiss Mk. I

A pair of Hotchkiss Mk.I are turret-mounted on the British (and later Irish) armored cars and is used in the Bloody Sunday scene.

Hotchkiss Mk.I - .303 British

Hotchkiss Mk.Is mounted on a Peerless armored car.

Close up of a Hotchkiss Mk.I barrel.

Frontal view of the Hotchkiss.

Browning Automatic Rifle M1918

The Browning Automatic Rifle is seen in the hands of a Black and Tan and with an IRA member during the Civil War fighting in Dublin.

Early Browning Automatic Rifle - .30-06 Springfield

The Black and Tan closest to the camera carries a BAR.

An Anti-Treaty IRA member with a BAR.

Vickers Mk. I

The British Vickers Machine Gun with a smooth water jacket is seen mounted on British and Irish vehicles. It is also seen at a checkpoint.

Vickers Mk. I Machine Gun - .303 British

A British checkpoint during the rebellion (the color of the shot is due to a transition from a British news reel sepia tone to "real" color).

British troops firing their Vickers from a truck during the 1916 uprising. The cylinder on the right is the muzzle of a Lewis Gun.

The vehicle in the background has a Vickers mounted in the turret. Another Lewis Gun is seen top right.

Other

9.15 cm Minenwerfer

Anti-Treaty IRA forces are seen firing German WW1-era 91mm Lanz trench Minenwerfers during the street fighting in Dublin.

9.15 cm leichtes Minenwerfer System Lanz.

The trench mortar in action. The man on the right carries a slung Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III*.

Ordnance QF 18 Pdr

QF 18 Pdr guns are used by the British army during the Easter Rising and the Irish Army during the Civil War

Ordnance QF 18-pounder Field Gun Mk. II, Halifax, Nova Scotia

British 18 Pdrs shell the General Post Office.

Rear view of the 18 Pdr during the 1916 uprising.

Michael Collins stands next to an Irish Army 18 Pdr.

Armored Car

Mocked-up Peerless armored car.