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our photos are reproductions
made in Italy by A. Uberti
with a little appropriate aging
added, compliments of R.L.
Millington at ArmSport LLC.
As for the scenes where the
guns have been converted
to fire cartridges, that was purely studio
armory work, which only catches your
eye a few times in the close-up shooting
scenes when it is obvious these Walkers
do not have nipples or percussion caps
! In other scenes, and in the famous
studio promotional shot of Eastwood
with his arsenal of Colts, they do. The
1860 Army revolvers carried by “Redlegs”
Terrill and his men, as well as the one
tucked in Josey’s belt, were likely early
reproductions manufactured in Belgium
and sold by Centennial Arms. Back in
1976, you could buy one for $59, so propo
departments were stocking up. Centennial
also had colt 1851 Navy and Remington
New Model Army replicas, all Civil War
appropriate. They even had Second Model
and Thrid Model Dragoons, but no one had
aWalker ! Today, copies of the 1860 Army
made in Italy by A. Uberti are among the
most popular cap-and-ball revolvers on
the market. The short barrel 1860 Army,
based on original cut down guns of the civil
War era, is another modern reproduction
manufactured in Italy by Pietta and
sold through Taylor’s & Company. The
shoulder holster is similar to the one worn
by Clint Eastwood and was handcrafted for
the author about 10 years ago.
The Sharps rifle was well known
and well respected by soldiers on both
sides of the Civil War, but in 1865, Sharps
rifles were still charged with loose powder,
cap and ball, or paper cartridges. The
model carried by Josey Wales, circa 1865,
wouldn’t exist for almost another decade.
But inasmuch as you never actually see
him load it, we’ll concede the point to
the prop department. The .45-70 Sharps
Sporting Model used
in this article was
handcrafted in Italy
by the firm of Armi
Sport imported by
Taylor’s & Company, which also fitted
the 32-inch octagonal barrel with a period
correct 30-inc scope.
The belt holsters worn by Eastwood
could best be descr ibed as cut up
Confederate holsters modified to suit
whatever gun could be found at the time.
In the case of the Walkers, the bottoms
were cut out as well so the barrels could
extend through. For a copy we turned
once again to master holster maker Jim
Lockwood, and after watching the film and
looking at stills, he was able to duplicate
Josey’s Walker holsters, including an exact
copy of the engraved belt buckle. The
engraved silver buckle was handcrafted by
Mike Ekstrom.
As movie guns go, the guns of Josey
Wales are consistent scene stealers, pretty
hard to do when you have a story and cast
this good.
(Above) Carried in a shoulder holster of similar
design, the cut-down 1860 Army (which on
occasion became a cut down Richards Mason 1860
Army cartridge conversion) played a major part
early in the movie. (Above left) The one gun that
rarely changed throughout the movie was Wale’s
1860 Army, which was always carried tucked inside
his holster belt.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CONTACT:
Taylor’s & company, Inc.
304 Lenoir Dr. Dept. CAS
Winchester, VA 22603
www.taylorsifrearms.com
Legends in Leather (Jim Lockwood)
8100 N Red Oak Rd. Dept. CAS
Prescott, AZ 86305; 928-717-2175
www.legendsinleater.com
Michael Estrom
1342 Goodwin St, Dept. CAS
Chino valley, AZ 86323
928-636-1536
www.legendsinleather.com
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