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Rough Riders
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Rough Riders is a 1997 TNT biographical miniseries directed by John Milius and starring Tom Berenger as Lt. Col. Teddy Roosevelt. The miniseries depicts Roosevelt's days as commander of the 1st US Voluntary Cavalry Regiment, better known as "The Rough Riders", and highlights the Regiment's military actions during the Spanish-American War in 1898. The cast includes Gary Busey, Sam Elliott, and Brad Johnson.
The following weapons can be seen in the miniseries Rough Riders:
WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Handguns
Colt Single Action Army
The Single Action Army is used by Lt. Colonel Teddy Roosevelt (Tom Berenger) and other U.S. Army officers. Historically speaking, Roosevelt used a .38 caliber Colt M1892 that had been recovered from the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor after it was sunk. But John Milius, the director, wanted him to carry the Peacemaker since Roosevelt is considered to be the "Cowboy President".
Bisley Colt Single Action Army
Henry Nash (Brad Johnson) carries a nickel plated Bisley Colt Single Action Army with ivory grips throughout the miniseries.
Colt 1878 Double Action
A Colt 1878 Double Action is carried by Major General "Fighting" Joe Wheeler (Gary Busey).
War correspondent Edward Marshall (William Katt) carries and uses a Colt New Army & Navy. At one one point he also uses a Krag-Jorgensen M1896 Carbine. Obviously, the definition of "Non-Combatant" has changed over the past 124 years.
Merwin-Hulbert Frontier
A Merwin Hulbert Frontier is carried by George Neville (Buck Taylor), Henry Nash's partner, while robbing a stagecoach with Nash (Brad Johnson) at the beginning of the movie.
Smith & Wesson No.3 Russian Model
Major Frederick Funston (Pablo Espinosa) pulls out a nickel-plated Smith & Wesson No.3 Russian Model when asked by General Wheeler (Gary Busey) about the Cuban artillery corps.
Mauser C96
A Mauser C96 is used by German military advisers to the Spanish Army, Spanish officers and Henry Nash (Brad Johnson) during the Battle of Kettle and San Juan Hills.
Rifles and Carbines
Winchester Model 1895 Rifle
A sporting configuration Winchester Model 1895 is used by Col. Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt (Tom Berenger) and a small number of other U.S. Army officers throughout much of the fighting on Cuba. He gives it to one of his soldiers during the attack up Kettle Hill after that soldier breaks his Krag-Jorgensen butt stroking a Spanish soldier. The assumption is that the rifle is chambered in .30-40 Krag. In reality, the Winchester Model 1895 rifle used in the filming is the personal property of director John Milius (a fan of the Winchester Model 1895) and chambered in .35 Winchester. Roosevelt also gave his Winchester 1895 to one of his soldiers before the regiment departed Florida for Cuba.
Winchester Model 1895 Carbine
A Winchester Model 1895 Carbine is used by several of the regiment's officers, including Bucky O'Neill (Sam Elliott). After O'Neill (Sam Elliott) is killed, his Winchester is used by Henry Nash (Brad Johnson) during the Battle of Kettle and San Juan Hills. The pair of carbines used in the series are chambered in .30-40 Krag and were supplied by Ellis Mercantile.
Winchester Model 1892
Bucky O'Neill (Sam Elliott) and several of his companions can be seen with full-length Winchester Model 1892 rifles with octagonal barrels when joining the Arizona volunteers for the Rough Riders. He soon switches it out for a Model 1895 Saddle Ring Carbine.
Winchester Model 1886
The famous painter Frederick Remington (Nick Chinlund) is shown accompanying the U.S. expedition to Cuba as a war correspondent/artist. There is a scene where he is painting the battle as it is occurring. Sitting next to him as he is working is a Winchester Model 1886 with what is known as a short magazine. Some refer to this configuration as a "Sporter" Model 1886. It was lighter with the shortened magazine. Therefore easier to carry and quicker to the shoulder, which is important when hunting game.
Winchester Model 1873
The Winchester Model 1873 is carried by several Rough Riders when first reporting for duty, and by Major Frederick Funston (Pablo Espinosa).
Model 1896 Krag-Jørgensen Carbine
The Krag-Jørgensen M1896 Carbine is used by most of the 1st Volunteer U.S. Cavalry soldiers in the movie. A few use the Winchester Model 1895 and the regimental cook Eli (Geoffrey Lewis) opts for a double barrel shotgun.
1895 Chilean Mauser
The production was supplied with Chilean Mauser rifles in 7x57mm by both Stembridge Gun Rentals and Ellis Mercantile, standing in for the more historically accurate 1893 Spanish Mauser used by the Spanish Army during the war.
Argentine Model 1891 Mauser
William Randolph Hearst (George Hamilton) carries an Argentine Model 1891 Mauser in 7.65x53mm with a silver presentation plate on the butt.
Springfield 1879 Trapdoor
The Springfield 1879 Trapdoor is used by both the Cuban rebels and many of the U.S. Army units. This is not incorrect. Most of the National Guard units did not have Krag-Jørgensen rifles at this time.
Shotguns
Remington Model 1889
The regiment's cook Eli (Geoffrey Lewis) carries a cut down Remington Model 1889 double barrel shotgun. Appears to be either 12 gauge or 10 gauge. The 1889 was available in either gauge.
Machine Guns
Model 1895 Gatling Gun
The Model 1895 Gatling Gun is used by the U.S. Army during the Battle of San Juan Hill.
Colt Model 1895 Automatic Machine Gun
Two Colt Model 1895 Machine Guns are used by the Rough Riders for fire support. The script states that the two Model 1895s are a gift from Charles Lewis Tiffany. It is unknown if this is factual. The pair used in the series are actually Model 1914s made by Marlin, chambered in 7.62x54mmR and supplied by Stembridge Gun Rentals.
1895 Argentine Maxim Machine Gun
Though historically inaccurate, a Maxim Gun is used for dramatic effect and to foreshadow World War I. The machine gun (in the film supposedly provided by German Advisers to the Spanish Army) was supposed to be an 1884 Maxim prototype machine gun (the type distributed by Hiram Maxim to warring parties in conflicts like the Transvaal Boer War), but there is little proof that Maxims were used by the Spaniards in the war. After taking Kettle Hill, the Rough Riders use the Maxim along with their Colt machine guns to fire on San Juan Hill.
Artillery
Multiple artillery pieces are used by both the Spanish and American forces during the Battle of San Juan Hill. According to the August 1997 issue of Guns & Ammo, the artillery pieces are two breech loaded 1891 2.5 inch Krupp field guns, an altered French 75mm gun (the steel splinter shield was removed), a two pounder Hotchkiss mountain gun, and a Hotchkiss revolving cannon.
Miscellaneous
Group Photos
The survivors gather on top of San Juan Hill after the battle is over. Included is a recreation of the famous photo of Roosevelt and the Rough Riders.
