At the beginning of the movie "Behold a Pale Horse" (starred Gregory Peck), there is a line of Spanish Republican fighters who are filing across the border into France around the end of the war. They are handing over their arms to the French authorities before proceeding into exile. I can't place the rifles, however, can someone tell me what they are?

If they are the same as this rifle it's easy - Mosin-Nagant. Note, however, the the cover artist thought the photo would look better reversed. Not only are everyone's coats buttoned on the wrong side but we are also seeing a mirror image of the rifle.



I watched the opening. Gregory Peck is about to turn in a Mauser short rifle that looks a lot like a K98, changes his mind, then turns and walks through the crowd. Most of the men in line he walks past are carrying Mosin-Nagants. That's Hollywood.

If the men in the opening scene had the same rifle as on the poster, I would agree. But they have a rifle different from the Moisin, with some kind of lug on the side of the barrel. Just to be sure I got out my M1891 to check.



So I'm still stumped. I didn't even see them in my Mauser book, but maybe I'm not looking hard enough.

1874 Gras.

Very good.

I mistook those actions for Mosin Nagant as the camera and people moved about. The Mosin Nagant would be a weapon expected in a Spanish Civil War film. The 1874 Gras would not be expected in such a film. But that's Hollywood!

Here are some common weapons of the Spanish Civil War from historywarsweapons.com:

Rifles

– Spanish Mauser M1893 (Spain). It was used by Nationalists and Republican armies.
– Mauser 98k (Germany). Used by Condor Legion units.
– Mosin-Nagant M1891/30 (Soviet Union). Employed by the International Brigades.
– Lebel M1886 (France). Also employed by the International Brigades.
– Mannlicher-Carcano M1891 (Italy). A 6.5mm bolt-action rifle used by the Italian volunteer units.

Submachine guns

–MP18 (Germany)
–Beretta Model 1938A (Italy)

Pistols

– Star Model A (Spain), 9mm caliber
– Ruby (Spain), 7.65mm caliber
– Luger P08 (Germany)
– Beretta M1934 (Italy)
– Tokarev TT-33 (Soviet Union)

Machine guns

– Hotchkiss M1914 (France). Built in Spain under license, it was the standard infantry weapon of the Spanish Army and used by both sides (Nationalists and Socialists).
– Maschinengewehr MG 34 (Germany). It was used by Condor Legion units and Italian volunteers.
– Degtyarev DP (Soviet Union). It was employed by volunteer Soviet troops.

Mortars

– Mortier Brandt 81mm M27/31 (France)
– 8-cm schwere Granatwerfer 34 (Germany)
– Brixia Model 1935 (Italy)

quote:

Originally posted by H47:
1874 Gras.

Only a couple of breech loading rifles made with a side bayonet mount like that. Remington model 1868 [Rolling block] is another.

Grizz

Thanks all, they really had me scratching my head. To think of a time when Gras rifles were in such quantities that a movie prop master could take a pile of them and dole them out to extras to file past the camera.