🏺 Raiders of the Lost Ark – Indiana Jones’ Revolver Revealed
We all know Indiana Jones for his whip, his fedora, and his ability to punch Nazis into submission. But the man also packed heat — and his trusty revolver wasn’t just movie magic. It’s a real-world historical firearm with a story as rugged as Indy himself.
Let’s break down the real sidearm of cinema’s most beloved archaeologist-adventurer.
🎬 What Was Indiana Jones’ Gun?
In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones wields a large-frame revolver throughout the film — but did you know there were actually two different guns used?
- For scenes shot in the U.S., the production used a Smith & Wesson M1917 revolver chambered in .45 ACP.
- For scenes filmed in the U.K. and Tunisia, they used a British S&W Mk II Hand Ejector chambered in .455 Webley.
Both guns looked nearly identical on screen, but their calibers and origins tell an entirely different story. This dual-revolver approach wasn’t a continuity slip — it was a practical production decision based on filming locations and prop house availability.
🔍 Why the Mk II Hand Ejector?
The British military originally adopted the Mk II Hand Ejector during World War I. Chambered for .455 Webley, the revolver was reliable, powerful, and built to handle the mud and grit of trench warfare.
By the time Indiana Jones was punching his way through Cairo, this gun was a vintage classic — but its bold frame, oversized barrel, and classic styling made it a perfect fit for an action hero who lived by his own rules.
The screen-used version was heavily weathered for that well-worn, field-tested look. In some scenes, the barrel was even shortened to improve visual proportions and ease of quick draw during action sequences.
🎥 The Behind-the-Scenes Mystery
Here’s a fun bit of trivia for you: most fans never realized the pistol changes throughout the movie. But eagle-eyed gun enthusiasts spotted differences in the cylinder gaps and frame design.
According to the Internet Movie Firearms Database (IMFDB), these variations stemmed from the U.S. prop gun being supplied by Stembridge Gun Rentals, while the U.K./Tunisia version came from the legendary Bapty’s prop house in London.
Each version was modified to fire blanks and matched closely enough to keep moviegoers immersed — a testament to old-school prop craftsmanship.
🧠 One Gun, Many Legends
The Mk II Hand Ejector wasn’t just a one-time screen star. Its design inspired other cinematic revolvers and was often used in war films, Westerns, and even period detective stories.
But in Raiders of the Lost Ark, it wasn’t just a prop — it was an extension of Indiana Jones’ rugged, no-nonsense character.
👀 Want to See How Realistic Indy’s Revolver Really Was?
To see our scoring breakdown of how the revolver’s on-screen performance compared to real-world accuracy — and the other films and shows this firearm appeared in — check out the full video episode on our YouTube channel.
🎥 Watch the full breakdown here:
