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Quigley Down Under is a 1990 Western starring Tom Selleck as Matthew Quigley, an American frontiersmen and sharpshooter who travels down to Australia of the mid-19th Century to accept a job from a wealthy rancher (Alan Rickman) to use his skills in the outback. When he's told the truth about the nature of his job, Quigley clashes with the rancher and finds himself stranded in the desert with a crazed woman who believes he is her dead husband. The film was directed by Simon Wincer (Lonesome Dove). Note: While some promotional materials state that the film takes place in the year 1860 (which would make numerous firearms in the film anachronistic), there are no direct references to the exact date in the actual movie.
The following weapons were used in the film Quigley Down Under:
Contents
- 1 Shiloh Sharps 1874 Long Range Rifle
- 1.1 Breech Loader
- 1.2 Cartridge
- 1.3 Barrel
- 1.4 Double Set Triggers
- 1.5 Sight
- 2 Colt 1860 Army
- 4 Colt 1851 "U.S. Marshal"
- 5 Colt 1862 Pocket Navy
- 6 Remington 1858 New Army
- 7 Thompson Center Arms Hawken Plains Rifle
- 8 Bounty Hunter Dueling Pistol
- 9 Colt Dragoon 1848
- 10 Colt Walker 1847
- 11 Enfield 1864 Cavalry Carbine
- 12 Boot Pistol
WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Shiloh Sharps 1874 Long Range Rifle
Matthew Quigley (Tom Selleck) uses a Shiloh Sharps 1874 Long Range rifle with a 34" barrel (4"s longer than a standard 30" barrel) converted to fire a .45-110 metallic cartridge with a 540 grain paper-patch bullet. It has double set triggers, and is fitted with a ladder-elevated Vernier peep sight and a Globe front sight. He is an incredible sharpshooter with this rifle and often makes use of the double set triggers for more accurate shots. Sometimes he shoots from so far away, the report of the rifle is heard 2-3 seconds after the impact of the bullet (Even though sound catches up with supersonic rounds after 300-400 yards). Several times in the film the gun is shown capable of sending people airborne (some even completely flipped in mid-air!), as movie rules states a big gun must send bad guys flying. Additionally there is some excellent gun dialogue, seldom seen in most movies, in which Quigley describes his rifle to Marston.
Uberti Sharps 1874 Long Range with 34" barrel, fitted with Vernier sight. The film credits the actual rifle used as being manufactured by Shiloh Rifle Mfg., Big Timber, MT. Differences between that and the Uberti (pictured) can be seen in the photo - The tang sight windage adjustment is at the base on the Uberti while it is on the slider of the Shiloh's sight. The Shiloh has a patch box in the stock which the Uberti does not, and the Shiloh has the curved military butt plate compared to the Uberti's straighter shotgun butt.
Quigley's rifle features his initials engraved on the side "M.Q".
Quigley aims down his Sharps 1874. Note Globe front sight.
Quigley fires his Sharps 1874 at Marston's men.
Quigley uses his double set triggers. For those who don't know how double set triggers work, this shot shows how he pulls the rear trigger to make the trigger pull on the first trigger lighter, making the rifle more accurate.
Quigley's Sharps laying among his gear.
Quigley firing his Sharps.
Quigley aiming his Sharps.
Quigley shoots a rope out on one of his traps with a well-aimed shot from his Sharps. Hitting a rope while properly rested is hard enough, but only Quigley can shoot one while laying on his back!
Breech Loader
"It's a lever-action breach loader."
Cartridge
"It's converted to use a special .45 caliber, 110 metal cartridge with a 540 grain paper-patch bullet."
Barrel
"Usual barrel length is 30 inches. This one has an extra 4."
Double Set Triggers
"It's fitted with double set triggers..."
Sight
"...and a Vernier sight. It's marked up to twelve-hundred yards. This one shoots a mite further. "
Quigley affixes his Vernier sight to his rifle.
Colt 1860 Army
Elliot Marston (Alan Rickman) uses a Colt 1860 Army .44 caliber as his personal sidearm. He refers to it as the Army revolver and has much respect for its maker, Colonel Samuel Colt. At one point, he is seen placing his second one in Quigley's belt. Like most American weapons in the film it would have been relatively rare in Australia
Colt 1860 Army - .44 caliber.
Elliot Marston (Alan Rickman) empties his Colt Army as he wants it freshly loaded for the morning.
Marston with his Colt Army at the ready.
Marston's spare Colt Army, which he gives Quigley for the final showdown.
Dobkin sticks the Colt Army in Quigley's belt.
Griswold & Gunnison 1860
Marston's men are mainly armed with reproduction in .36 caliber throughout the film. An odd choice for the Australian setting since they were manufactured by the Confederacy in small numbers and never exported; although it might be standing in for the Colt 1851 Navy (The London made models with all-steel frames were relatively popular in Australia).
Griswold & Gunnison 1860 revolver-.36 caliber. Confederate manufacture
A wounded Hobb (Conor McDermottroe) attempts to reach for his G&G 1860. Note the round barrel and brass frame; which distinguishes it from an original Colt
"You've got one shot left in that shooter. Make the most of it." Hobb points his revolver at Quigley.
"I got him! I got Quigley!" O'Flynn (Ben Mendelsohn) holds the wounded Quigley at gunpoint with his G&G 1860.
Colt 1851 "U.S. Marshal"
Dobkin (Tony Bonner) carries a pocket version of the 1851, known as the Colt 1851 Navy "U.S. Marshal" with ivory grips and cylinder grooves which Quigley also pockets for himself after the final duel.
Colt 1851 "U.S. Marshal" pocket - .36 caliber.
Dobkin (Tony Bonner) armed with his U.S. Marshal during a gunfight with Quigley.
Another shot of the U.S. Marshal pistol.
Seen on the ground is Dobkin's pocket Navy with ivory grips and cylinder grooves. Quigley picks it up for his own use. Notice the Scottish clan badge on Dobkin's balmoral. It is of Clan Donnachaidh, one of the oldest clans in Scotland.
Colt 1862 Pocket Navy
One of Marston's men tries to draw a "belly gun", a Colt 1862 Navy, from the small of his back before being shot by Quigley.
Colt 1862 Navy - .36 caliber.
Marston's man tries to draw his Colt 1862 Navy.
Remington 1858 New Army
One of Marston's men carries a Remington 1858 New Army in the film.
Remington 1858 New Army - .44 caliber.
One of Marston's men with a Remington 1858 New Army.
The first of Marston's men to fire on Quigley in the town, armed with a Remington 1858.
Marston's man in the middle is armed with a Remington 1858.
Thompson Center Arms Hawken Plains Rifle
Marston's men arm themselves mainly with Thompson Center Arms Hawken Plains rifles throughout the film. Quigley kills one of these men and takes the rifle off his horse for Crazy Cora to use.
Thompson Center Arms Hawken Plains - .45 caliber.
One of Marston's henchmen cocks his Hawken rifle as the Red-coats approach
Crazy Cora fires a poorly aimed hip-shot from a Hawken rifle at some attacking Dingos.
One of Marston's men with a Hawken rifle.
One of Marston's men tries to run and grab his Hawken rifle to kill Quigley. Note how the stock lacks a gloss finish and the general weapon is in somewhat poor condition, probably because in the next shot....
.... Quigley shoots the gun with his Sharps and destroys it. It's easy to understand why such a poor quality gun was chosen, because no armorer in his right mind would destroy a perfectly good firearm of good quality.
Bounty Hunter Dueling Pistol
Grimmelman, the gunsmith of the town, offers Quigley a Italian .45 caliber dueling pistol, called simply the "Bounty Hunter". Quigley refuses to take it, claiming he never had much use for a shooter (pistol).
Italian Bounty Hunter - .45 caliber.
Grimmelman offers Quigley his Italian Bounty Hunter along with some gunpowder.
Colt Dragoon 1848
Quigley also takes off the dead man's horse a Colt Dragoon 1848 .44 caliber pistol. Crazy Cora (Laura San Giacomo) uses the Colt Dragoon to fend off dingos from her camp and an Aborigine baby while Quigley is away getting .45-110 shells from a town. Presumably the same man who owned the horse is seen cocking the gun on the wagon as the Red-coats approach.
Colt Dragoon 2nd Model - .44 caliber.
One of Marston's henchmen cocks his Colt Dragoon as the Red-coats approach. Since it isn't loaded with percussion caps, it is pretty useless.
Crazy Cora (Laura San Giacomo) prepares her Colt Dragoon to use on attacking Dingos
Crazy Cora (Laura San Giacomo) fires her Colt Dragoon.
Crazy Cora (Laura San Giacomo) fires her Colt Dragoon.
Crazy Cora (Laura San Giacomo) packs lead balls into the Colt Dragoon, attempting to reload it before the Dingos come back.
Brophy holds a Colt Dragoon as Dobkin points his pocket Navy revolver at him.
Colt Walker 1847
A full-sized original Colt Walker 1847 is seen in the hands of one of Marston's men during the shootout in in the town with Quigley. The Colt Walker used is most likely a reproduction as only about 1100 where originally made and they now sell for US$150,000 or more.
Uberti Walker Colt 1847 - .44 caliber.
One of Marston's men fires on Quigley with a Walker Colt and a Colt Navy.
Enfield 1864 Cavalry Carbine
The British Red-Coats are all armed with Enfield 1864 Cavalry carbines.
Enfield P64 Cavalry Carbine.
British Red-Coats ready their Enfield carbines.
Boot Pistol
At the end of the film when Quigley is preparing to leave Australia, the travel clerk cocks a Hoppes Model 300 replica of an Ethan Allen boot pistol (source, 3rd Ed. Black Powder Gun Digest, page 16) under his counter when asking his name, aware there is a bounty on Quigley.
Hoppes Model 300 Ethan Allan boot pistol -.
The clerk picks up his boot pistol.
"Name?" The clerk cocks the hammer on his boot pistol.
The clerk uncocks the pistol when Quigley says his name is Roy.