Nail in the Boot (Gvozd v sapoge)

Country	USSR
Directed by	Mikhail Kalatozov
Release Date	1932
Language	Silent
Studio	Goskinoprom (Sakhkinmretsvi)

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Soldier	Siko Palavandishvili
Commander	Arkadi Khintibidze
Worker	Aleksandre Jaliashvili
Prosecutor	Akaki Khorava

Nail in the Boot (Russian title Gvozd v sapoge, Georgian title Lursmani cheqmashi) is a Soviet Georgian 1932 B&W silent movie directed by Mikhail Kalatozov. Red Army armoured train is attacked by enemy planes and blocked on damaged railway. The commander of the train sends a soldier to deliver an urgent message. But soldier's foot is severely damaged due to a protruding nail in his boot, and he is late. Before the reinforcement comes, the armoured train is lost in battle with superior enemy troops. The soldier is court-martialed, and he explains that his failure was due to flaws of workers of shoemaking factory. The crew of the armoured train partially consisted of mobilised workers of that factory, so they prepared their death by their own bad work.

The following weapons were used in the film Nail in the Boot (Gvozd v sapoge):

Handguns

Nagant M1895

Nagant M1895 revolvers are carried by the commander of the armoured train (Arkadi Khintibidze) and the soldier (Siko Palavandishvili), sent with the message. They are seen only in holsters.

Russian Nagant 1895, produced 1920s - 7.62x38R Nagant. The rounded front sight is a sign of revolvers produced from 1890s until 1930.

The armoured train commander carries a Nagant in holster.

The exhausted soldier holds his belt with holstered Nagant.

Rifles

Mosin Nagant

Mosin Nagant Rifles are used by both Red Army and enemy soldiers. They are most likely M91s but the low quality of old film doesn't allow to make strict identification.

Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry Rifle - 7.62x54mm R

A Red Army soldier at the left holds an M91 rifle.

Red Army cavalrymen with Mosin Nagant (probably Dragoon model) rifles.

"Enemy" soldiers in bayonet charge.

A closeup of muzzle and bayonet. This is definitly original M91 rifle as M91/30 had a different way of fixing the bayonet.

TOZ-1

In the final scene a group of Soviet youth hold rifles. Some of them appear to be TOZ-1 model.

A drawing of TOZ-1 - .22LR

Boys and girls march with rifles on slings. Some of these guns match the shape of TOZ-1.

The bolt and stock looks like TOZ-1.

Mockup Training Rifle

In the final scene a group of Soviet youth hold rifles. Most of these guns appear to be mockup training guns, widely used in 1920s-1930s for basic training.

Boys and girls stand in line, aiming mockup rifles.

Machine Guns

Maxim M1910

Maxim M1910 machine guns are mounted on the armoured train and the handcar.

Maxim 1910, simplified version with smooth water jacket - 7.62x54mmR

A Maxim in gun turret.

A Maxim is mounted on the handcar that is used for reconnaissance and smokescreening of the train.

A closeup of a Maxim.

A gunner mans his Maxim in fixed mounting.

Four Maxims are mounted on each board of an armoured wagon.

Maxim 1910 with 'Sokolov' wheel mount & shield - 7.62x54mmR

An infantry Maxim on Sokolov mount is seen inside the armoured train. It has corrugated-type water jacket so it's an M1910/30 that hardly can be seen in 1931 filmed movie or early version of original M1910 that seems to be more credible.

A closeup of Sokolov mount.

Degtyaryov DP-27

Both Red Army and enemy soldiers use Degtyaryov DP-27 light machine guns.

Degtyaryov DP-27 machine gun - 7.62x54mm R

A Red Army soldier at the right holds a DP-27.

A soldier reloads his DP.

Degtyaryov DT

Degtyaryov DT machine guns are mounted on BA-27 armoured cars.

DT machine gun - 7.62x54mm R

The frontal DT on BA-27 armoured car is seen. The DT, mounted in turret, is placed not coaxial with main gun but on another side and cannot be seen here.

PV-1

A PV-1 machine gun is mounted on R-3 reconnaissance plane.

Nadashkevich PV-1 - 7.62x54mm R

The PV-1 is mounted on the side of cockpit. The shot is mirrored as R-3 (and other Soviet reconnaissance planes of 1920s) had the machine gun mounted on left side.

Other Weapons

RG-14 Hand Grenade

In one scene a soldier inside the armoured train holds what appears to be an RG-14 (or RG-14/30) hand grenade.

RG-14/30 hand grenade.

A soldier holds a grenade at the left during the last battle of the armoured train.

Trivia

Armoured Train

A genuine armoured train, a part of 7th Independent Unit of Armoured Trains, appears in the movie. It is a Sormovo-type light armoured train, consisting of two artillery wagons, each armed with two turrets with 76.2mm M1902 guns and numerous Maxim machine guns.