Lawrence of Arabia weapons
Lee Gordon Seebach
Arabia? This is one of my favorite films and I am very curious about the
rifles used by the Arabs: what caliber are they? Who is the maker? Were
these the rifles the Arabs actually used during WWI against the Turks? What
about Lawrence's handgun: can someone tell me the caliber and maker? What
about the rest of the weapons used: the machine guns, the guns at Aqaba,
etc. Are these accurate and what are they?
Tall order, but any information would help to satisfy my curiosity.
Thanks!
--
Lee Gordon Seebach
Member: California Rifle and Pistol Association
-----------------------------------------------------------
Learn about rec.guns at http://www.recguns.com
-----------------------------------------------------------
Conwic
#rifles used by the Arabs: what caliber are they? Who is the maker? Were
#these the rifles the Arabs actually used during WWI against the Turks? What
#about Lawrence's handgun: can someone tell me the caliber and maker?
One of my favorite movies too. But I'm afraid the historical accuracy is a
bit lacking. ( After all, if Hollywood can cast a very tall Peter O'Toole as
the very short Lawrence, what qualms would they have about using any gun they
could find.) The movie showed various models of the British made .303 cal. Lee
Enfield - the British serivce rifle of WW1 and WW2, in the hands of the Arabs.
According to what I have read, the British actually gave Lawrence's Arabs the
type or model 38 Arisaka rifle in 6.5mm. This was a Japanese made rifle based
on the Mauser action. Short of rifles early in WW1`, the British purchased
large numbers of whatever they could get, mainly from the the United States
but including several hundred thousand Japanese rifles. These Japanese rifles
they used mainly in secondary theaters to arm local forces- such as the Arabs-
or gave them to the Russians who also bought hundreds of thousands of these
guns from Japan. Although disparaged by US in WW2, the Arisaka is actually a
decent rifle- very strong action, which is good to have in a gun that was shot
often and rarely cleaned..
Lawerence's pistol was the Mark VI model of the Webley revolver in the
standard ( for then) .455. The last- and arguely the best- of the Webley line
which were the British serivce revolvers from the late 1800's until after WW1.
This was probably a realistic choice give that Lawerence was a British officer.
However, British officers purchased their own handguns at that time. They
could carry whatever they wished, provided it chambered the .455 serivce round.
I believe I have read a mention of Lawerence carrying a Colt- no further
identification- somewhere. Colt New Service revolvers were made in .455. ( Same
gun the US used in WW1 as the Model 1917.)
What
#about the rest of the weapons used: the machine guns, the guns at Aqaba,
#etc. Are these accurate and what are they?
The machineguns - if memory serves- used in the train attack were the Vickers
water cooled guns in .303. Since they were general issue for British troops-
Lawerence did have armored cars manned by British soldiers attached - they were
probably what he did use. I have no idea about the big guns.
Hopes this helps.
Regards-conwic
Jerry B
# Arabia? This is one of my favorite films and I am very curious about the
# rifles used by the Arabs: what caliber are they? Who is the maker? Were
# these the rifles the Arabs actually used during WWI against the Turks?
What
# about Lawrence's handgun: can someone tell me the caliber and maker?
Rifle: Short Magazine LeeEnfield (SMLE) #1 .303 British cal, and yes these
were the rifles supplied by the Brits and used by the Arabs, unless they
took Mausers off the Turks.
TEL's Revolver: Webley .455cal
Peter H. Proctor
#From: "Lee Gordon Seebach" <painterl...@earthlink.net>
#Subject: Lawrence of Arabia weapons
#Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 16:38:52 +0000 (UTC)
# Can anyone identify the firearms used in David Lean's Lawrence of
#Arabia? This is one of my favorite films and I am very curious about the
#rifles used by the Arabs: what caliber are they? Who is the maker? Were
#these the rifles the Arabs actually used during WWI against the Turks? What
#about Lawrence's handgun: can someone tell me the caliber and maker? What
#about the rest of the weapons used: the machine guns, the guns at Aqaba,
#etc. Are these accurate and what are they?
Historically:( if memory serves ) and likely in the movie
Arabs and Brits-- Lee Enfield rifle
Turks--- Mostly, Mauser model '93 plus Mauser model '98 and some model 88
commission rifles.
Laurence carried a Webley pistol, Probably a Mark-4
In the movie, at least one Turkish officer carries a Mauser pistol, model
'96.
PHP
gundude
# Can anyone identify the firearms used in David Lean's Lawrence of
# Arabia? This is one of my favorite films and I am very curious about the
# rifles used by the Arabs: what caliber are they? Who is the maker? Were
# these the rifles the Arabs actually used during WWI against the Turks? What
# about Lawrence's handgun: can someone tell me the caliber and maker? What
# about the rest of the weapons used: the machine guns, the guns at Aqaba,
# etc. Are these accurate and what are they?
# Tall order, but any information would help to satisfy my curiosity.
# Thanks!
When Omar Sharif kills the arab from a rival tribe at the well
where he meets Lawrence, he uses an SMLE #1 Mk3, which was the
standard issue British rifle of the age. This is likely, as the
particular tribe of arabs this character was from was being supplied
and armed by the Brits.
The Ottoman Turks occupying Aqaba were alligned with the Germans
ofcourse, and thusly were armed (in life, as in the movie) with Mauser
rifles and Maxims. David Lean went to some great lengths to be
accurate in his portrayal,and in the weapons department, he got it
right. (Lawrence's handgun is a Webley, by the way, and the Turk train
soldier who wounds him does so with a broomhandle Mauser in .30
Mauser.)
In particular, what I find accurate in the movie's portrayal of
weaponry is when the British ambassador and the Field Marshal are
confering on the state of things after Lawrence has relayed that the
arabs will need artillery to be truly effective and self-sustaining.
The Field Marshal, simply unable to say no after the victory Lawrence
has laid at his feet, is now being counselled by the ambassador. (If I
do not quote 100% accurate, please forgive me.)
Ambassador: You realize, of course, that if you give them
artillery, you make them a country.
Field Marshal: Well then, I guess I can't do that, can I?
In that quote, if one looks to today's political situation, there
are parallels to be drawn. Imagine some advisor to Bush wispering to
him after the NRA/ILA rep leaves the room: "You realize, of course,
that if you hand them back the 2nd Amendment, they will have no reason
to any longer clamour and beg for our party's patronage." "Well then,
I guess I can't do that, can I?"