Use of Actual Vintage Arms as Props in Early Films - Page 3

Oriental Armament Collection · 15th January 2026, 04:47 PM

This Japanese sword is very beautiful. Can we find a Chinese sword?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kmaddock

Hi Jim

Not Hollywood or film but I got this out of a prop room in a theatre in Ireland

A Katana in what are known as handachi (half tachi) mount dating from 1580's, razor sharp and great condition.

I taught it was a good repro.

I lucked out on this one.

Keep well and thanks for all your great contributions, I still remember your very nice welcome to the forum many years ago.

Ken

gp · Yesterday, 07:39 PM

although fantasy, a spin off series of Game of Thrones, called " A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms "has quite some similarities with the European Middle Ages and most interesting are a couple of special made behind the scens episodes called "A Knight in the Making" on how the series was made from a technical perspective. Nice for forum members are the items related to swords, spears and the like.
I can certainly highly recommand both the series as well as the look behind the screen episodes. Enjoy !

FYI: although a fantasy film, the battle and fighting scenes are quite realistic and not always easy to watch for the faint-hearted

Jim McDougall · Yesterday, 08:35 PM

I wanted to thank everybody for all these recent contributions carrying forth this topic. While in movies naturally there is a great deal of license employed in using weapons which may have a degree of basis in factual examples, there is always the potential for a bit of 'flair' to emphasize a certain feel or impact concerning the character(s) or context illustrated.

In art, Rembrandt was of course known for embellishing many of his works with weapons not even remotely in period or context, such as obviously the keris in his Biblical works. However the undulating blade brought the necessary drama into the scene.

I recall watching the movie "Sleepy Hollow" with Christopher Walken as the headless Hessian horseman, with a flamboyant sword which was indeed pretty scary looking. I curiously looked up the cavalry swords in use by the Hessian (Prussian et al) forces of the period in these campaigns and period, of course nothing at all like the 'drama' sword of Walken.

In "Last of the Mohicans" I was intrigued by the blue gunstock war club carried by Russell Means, and wanted to learn more. I reached the late Norm Flayderman, one of the foremost experts on Americana and asked what he knew of the weapon in the movie.
He told me these 'gunstock' clubs (with knife blade) were actually more in use with Plains tribes rather than Woodland, and were not made from old colonial muskets, simply similar in shape. No mention of the unusual blue color scheme.
He told me the name of the Kentucky bladesmith who made these for the studio, who told me they made five of them.

While many movies of the 'fantasy' genre are regarded scornfully by some collectors, it must be remembered that most films and literature employ a certain degree of license (=fantasy) and even those of us who are deeply 'historian' it is important to just enjoy the story

Yesterday, 07:39 PM	#62
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 976	although fantasy, a spin off series of Game of Thrones, called " A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms "has quite some similarities with the European Middle Ages and most interesting are a couple of special made behind the scens episodes called "A Knight in the Making" on how the series was made from a technical perspective. Nice for forum members are the items related to swords, spears and the like. I can certainly highly recommand both the series as well as the look behind the screen episodes. Enjoy ! FYI: although a fantasy film, the battle and fighting scenes are quite realistic and not always easy to watch for the faint-hearted Attached Images

Yesterday, 08:35 PM	#63
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,814	I wanted to thank everybody for all these recent contributions carrying forth this topic. While in movies naturally there is a great deal of license employed in using weapons which may have a degree of basis in factual examples, there is always the potential for a bit of 'flair' to emphasize a certain feel or impact concerning the character(s) or context illustrated. In art, Rembrandt was of course known for embellishing many of his works with weapons not even remotely in period or context, such as obviously the keris in his Biblical works. However the undulating blade brought the necessary drama into the scene. I recall watching the movie "Sleepy Hollow" with Christopher Walken as the headless Hessian horseman, with a flamboyant sword which was indeed pretty scary looking. I curiously looked up the cavalry swords in use by the Hessian (Prussian et al) forces of the period in these campaigns and period, of course nothing at all like the 'drama' sword of Walken. In "Last of the Mohicans" I was intrigued by the blue gunstock war club carried by Russell Means, and wanted to learn more. I reached the late Norm Flayderman, one of the foremost experts on Americana and asked what he knew of the weapon in the movie. He told me these 'gunstock' clubs (with knife blade) were actually more in use with Plains tribes rather than Woodland, and were not made from old colonial muskets, simply similar in shape. No mention of the unusual blue color scheme. He told me the name of the Kentucky bladesmith who made these for the studio, who told me they made five of them. While many movies of the 'fantasy' genre are regarded scornfully by some collectors, it must be remembered that most films and literature employ a certain degree of license (=fantasy) and even those of us who are deeply 'historian' it is important to just enjoy the story