Rio Bravo

A Spanish poster for Rio Bravo (1959)

Rio Bravo is a 1959 Western directed by Howard Hawks in what is considered the first of three films (all three of which starred John Wayne) which are variations on the story of a sheriff and his friends defending his office against an aggressive outlaw element in the town. The other two films in this "trilogy" were 1966's El Dorado and 1970's Rio Lobo. It was reported that John Carpenter used Rio Bravo as inspiration for his 1976 thriller Assault on Precinct 13.

The following firearms were used in the film Rio Bravo:

Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine

John T. Chance (John Wayne), the Sheriff of Presidio County, Texas, carries a Winchester 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine with a large loop lever in .44-40 WCF as his primary weapon, holding it in nearly every scene of the film. This rifle can be seen on display at the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma. Technically, the appearance of the Winchester '92 in this film, set in the 1880s, is an anachronism.

• Colorado: "You always keep that carbine cocked?"
• Sheriff Chance: "Only when I carry it."
• Colorado: "How come you carry a rifle?"
• Sheriff Chance: "I found some were faster than me with a short gun."

The Winchester 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine with large lever loop used by John Wayne in the film True Grit, similar to the one he used in Rio Bravo. Serial #501892. Pictured with .44-40 shells. (Source: Photocopied from book "The Peacemakers: Arms and Adventure in the American West" written by R.L. Wilson.)

Winchester 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine - .32WCF/.38-40/.44-40/.25-20.

Sheriff Chance walks through Presidio County with his Winchester 1892.

Sheriff Chance greets Nathan Burdette outside his jail.

Sheriff Chance places his Winchester on the bar when talking to Feathers.

Sheriff Chance aims at one of Burdette's men in town.

Sheriff Chance on his horse with his Winchester 1892.

Sheriff Chance aims at a pack of dynamite thrown by Stumpy.

Single Action Army

Nearly every character in the film carries at least one Single Action Army, including Sheriff Chance (John Wayne), Deputy "Dude" (Dean Martin), Pat Wheeler (Ward Bond), Colorado Ryan (Ricky Nelson), Nathan Burdette (John Russell), and Joe Burdette (Claude Akins).

Artillery Model (5.5" barrel)

Several of Burdette's henchmen carry Artillery SAAs with 5.5" barrels. "Dude" (Dean Martin), one of Chance's deputies, grabs one from a henchman earlier in the film and later carries two in his holsters. Colorado Ryan (Ricky Nelson) also carries two in his holsters.

Colt Single Action Army w/ 5.5" barrel known as the "Artillery" model - .45 Long Colt

Joe Burdette (Claude Akins) fires his SAA into a cowboy (Bing Russell) in one of the few close-ups in the film. He apparently keeps it cocked in his holster.

Dude holds one of Burdette henchmen at bay with the henchman's own revolver.

Three of Burdette's men ride into town and hold SAAs on Sheriff Chance.

The three men threaten Sheriff Chance.

Colorado stands behind Sheriff Chance inside the Hotel Alamo with one of his revolvers drawn.

Quickdraw Model (4.75" barrel)

For the first half of the film, Dude (Dean Martin) carries a Quickdraw SAA that once belonged to Stumpy (Walter Brennan). Dude tells Stumpy that the revolver is "a little stiff" and offers to "file the action a bit" for him, but Stumpy refuses, saying "I don't want no easy pull; I might shoot myself!" Pat Wheeler (Ward Bond) also carries a Quickdraw model, drawing it when he is shot at by one of Burdette's hitmen in town.

Colt Single Action Army w/ 4.75" barrel, case colored and blued - .45 Long Colt

Dude reacts to a sound during his patrol through town at night.

Dude with his SAA drawn when Chance goes to investigate a gunshot from inside the stables.

One of Burdette's henchmen inside the Hotel Alamo with his Quickdraw SAA drawn.

Dude fires a Quickdraw SAA during the final battle, tossed to him by Colorado.

sawed-off double-barreled shotgun

Stumpy (Walter Brennan), Chance's crippled deputy, carries a Double Barreled Shotgun with a crudely sawed-down stock.

Stumpy walks through the jail with his shotgun.

Stumpy and Chance look out into the town.

Stumpy holds his shotgun through the bars of the jail when Chance enters with Burdette's henchmen.

Stumpy gives us a close, albeit slightly blurry, view of his shotgun during the final gunfight.

Colt Model 1878 Double Barreled Shotgun

Chance (John Wayne) keeps a Colt 1878 shotgun in his sheriff's office, eventually taking one when his rifle is taken temporarily by Burdette's henchmen. Charlie, the bartender at the Rio Bravo Saloon, also carries one that Dude (Dean Martin) forces him to hand over. Feathers (Angie Dickinson) also carries one when she is tending bar at the Hotel Alamo.

Colt Model 1878 reproduction - 12 Gauge

Charlie places his shotgun on the bar, following Dude's orders.

Dude holds Charlie's shotgun on the henchmen inside the bar.

Dude sets Charlie's unloaded shotgun on the bar when he notices blood dripping into a glass of beer from above.

Chance takes Feathers's shotgun away from her while she's sleeping behind the bar.

Chance holds his double-barreled shotgun.

Remington 1866 Derringer

The cheating gambler at the Hotel Alamo carries a blued Remington 1866 Derringer with black grips, which Chance and Colorado take away from him. Chance tosses it to the hotel's manager, Carlos Robante (Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez), who holds it on the gambler.

Remington 1866 Derringer - .41 R.F. Caliber. 4th model - Blued with black grips.

Colorado (Ricky Nelson) takes away the gambler's derringer.

Chance tosses the derringer to Carlos, who uses it to apprehend the gambler.

Winchester Model 1892

Chance keeps a rack of Winchester Model 1892 rifles in his office. Colorado (Ricky Nelson) grabs one to use during the final gunfight. A Winchester '92 is also used by a hitman paid $50 to assassinate Pat Wheeler while he walks down the street in town.

Winchester Model 1892 carbine

The hitman aims at Wheeler.

After Dude shoots the hitman in the Rio Bravo Saloon, his Winchester falls next to him.

Colorado takes a Winchester as he and Chance grab boxes of spare ammunition for the final gunfight.

Colorado finds his firing position for the final gunfight and prisoner exchange with Burdette.

Colorado fires at Burdette's henchmen.

Colorado takes aim at more henchmen.

Colt 1849 Pocket

Matt Harris (Bob Steele), one of Burdette's henchmen, tries to sneak a small revolver into town under his vest. It is only briefly seen, but it appears to be a Colt 1849 Pocket.

Colt 1849 Pocket - .31 caliber.

At Dude's orders, Matt places his pocket revolver on the fence with the other men's guns.

double-barreled shotgun

Carlos Robante (Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez), the hotel owner, takes a long Double Barreled Shotgun to assist Chance and Colorado in freeing Dude from Burdette's men during the final gunfight.

Charles Parker 1878 Side by Side Shotgun - 12 Gauge. The Parker Gun Company was absorbed into Remington in 1934.

Carlos aims his shotgun.