Johnny Guitar

Johnny Guitar Movie poster Country United States Directed by Nicholas Ray Release Date 1954 Language English Studio Republic Pictures Distributor Republic Pictures Main Cast Character Actor Vienna Joan Crawford Johnny 'Guitar' Logan Sterling Hayden Emma Small Mercedes McCambridge Dancin' Kid Scott Brady John McIvers Ward Bond Turkey Ralston Ben Cooper Bart Lonergan Ernest Borgnine Old Tom John Carradine Corey Royal Dano Marshal Williams Frank Ferguson

Johnny Guitar is a 1954 western drama directed by Nicholas Ray. Starring Joan Crawford and Sterling Hayden.

The following firearms were used in the film Johnny Guitar:

Single Action Army

Many characters are seen with Single Action Army revolvers.

Colt Single Action Army w/ 4.75" barrel, case colored and blued, referred to as "Quick-Draw" or "Civilian" model - .45 LC

Dancin' Kid (Scott Brady) holds a gun during a bank robbery.

Turkey Ralston (Ben Cooper) with a revolver in his hand outside the bank.

John McIvers (Ward Bond) (left) checks his gun during an interview with Emma and Marshal Williams.

Marshal Williams (Frank Ferguson) defends Vienna (right) in her saloon at gunpoint.

Beside the dying Old Tom (John Carradine) is his revolver. Vienna has a plan to seize it.

Johnny 'Guitar' Logan (Sterling Hayden) draws his revolver on Dancin' Kid.

Vienna (Joan Crawford) holds a gun in the final fight with Emma Small on the porch of a cabin.

Emma Small (Mercedes McCambridge) in the final confrontation is seen with "Quick-Draw" in her hand.

Colt 1877 "Thunderer"

Initially confused with a Model 1873 Sheriff's and Storekeeper's Model, the revolver used by both Vienna and Emma is a Model 1877 Colt "Thunderer". Note the slimmer profile, rounded front sight, larger trigger guard, and milled step in the frame just forward of the trigger guard. The 1877 also has longer cylinder flutes because there are no notches for lockup (lockup is at the rear of the cylinder). Rather uncommon in Westerns, the smaller birdshead grip and double-action are better suited to a woman's hand, although Vienna's revolver has been modified with a plowhandle grip to give it a greater resemblance to the Single Action Army (lobby cards for this movie depict Joan Crawford with a holstered gun that clearly has a double-action trigger combined with a SAA-type grip frame; such an item may have been cobbled up for Ms. Crawford or it may have been something the firearms rental company carried in stock).

Colt 1877 "Thunderer" - .41 Colt.

Winchester Model 1892

Some characters are armed with Winchester Model 1892 rifles. While it may seem that Hollywood and even the Italians created a world where men only carried Single Action Armys and Model 1892 rifles (rather anachronistic), much of this is driven by the fact that the SAA was manufactured until 1940-41 and the Model 1892 until 1945. Studios were able to make movies without depending on museum pieces and these firearms were able to fire the popular 5 in 1 Remington Blank which is still being manufactured, now with a plastic case.

Winchester Model 1892 carbine - .32 WCF

A posse member receives a Winchester Model 1892 from the marshal before chasing the gang of robbers.

Corey (Royal Dano) resting next to his weapon.

Bart Lonergan (Ernest Borgnine) holds his rifle in hand with a revolver in a holster at his waist.

John McIvers (Ward Bond) takes a rifle before the final clash.

12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun

Several 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotguns are also used.

J. Stevens and Company Side by Side Shotgun (Circa 1878) exposed hammers and designed to fire Black Powder shotgun shells - 12 gauge

A posse member (Clem Harvey) on a horse (right) armed with a shotgun.

Emma Small (Mercedes McCambridge) holds a shotgun in a saloon.