Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Check Out These Cool Guns Clint Eastwood Used in the “Dollars Trilogy”

Check Out These Cool Guns Clint Eastwood Used in the "Dollars Trilogy"
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Clint Eastwood’s early career started with a series of what became known as “Spaghetti Westerns” made by Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone. The films are titled A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For a Few Dollars More (1965) and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966). 

The series has become known for inspiring the creation of many more Spaghetti Western films. No wonder why the three films are consistently listed among the best rated Western films in history. But what made these three films more interesting were all the gun used by Clint Eastwood’s character, the “Man with No Name.”

Here they are!

Colt 45 Single Action Army, a.k.a “Peacemaker”

Colt SAA Flattop Target Revolver
Hmaag / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

To begin with, Eastwood used just one revolver in the first installment of Dollars Trilogy, A Fistful of Dollars, in 1964. That’s a Colt 45 Single Action Army or known as the Single Action Army or Peacemaker. 

This is a single-action revolver that consists of a revolving cylinder that holds six metallic cartridges. It was designed by Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company (which is now the Colt’s Manufacturing Company) for the U.S. government service revolver trials in 1872. It was adopted as the standard military service revolver until 1892.

The revolver was popular with lawmen, ranchers, and outlaws alike. Though Colt has canceled its production twice, they brought it back due to popular demand. 

Volcanic Repeater

Volcanic Repeater
Petter Bøckman / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Clint Eastwood returned as the same character in the sequel For a Few Dollars More in 1965. In this film, he carries the same a Colt 45 Single Action Army revolver. However, Eastwood briefly got his hands on a new rifle, one that’s a bit more out of the ordinary than a Henry or Winchester: a Volcanic Repeater rifle.

This relatively obscure gun, manufactured starting in 1853, was a lever-action pistol designed for target shooting. During that time, the weapon was one of the most innovative weapons. It had a very high rate of fire and has a higher capacity compared to its contemporaries. 

However, the gun had some shortcomings. It was prone to gas leakage around the breech and multiple misfires. It was also bulky and difficult to operate without using both hands. This was likely the final nail in the Volcanic’s coffin as the company was led to bankruptcy in August 1856.

Still, one of the world’s largest gun companies and the world’s most popular cartridge are here because of this obscure pistol. 

Sharps 1874, Winchester 1866 Yellow Boy Lever-Action Rifle, COLT 1851 (Cartridge Conversion)

Eastwood returned for his last, and probably the most famous film with Leone in 1966: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly. The actor also got more time on a rifle in this film than in either of the others. He used a Sharps 1874 rifle with a ladder elevated sight to sever the rope around a bad guy’s neck as he was hanged in a graveyard as part of a bounty scam they’ve been running under a loose agreement.

An early Henry Rifle and a Winchester Mod 1866 Rifle, both .44 caliber Rimfire
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Hmaag / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Later in the film, Eastwood used a Winchester 1866 Yellow Boy lever-action rifle to make the same shot, though he only skimmed the rope with the first shot. The wooden forend of the gun has been removed to make it appear like a Henry 1860 rifle, but you can tell it’s a Winchester because of the loading gate on the receiver’s side. On a Henry, the cartridges were loaded at the front of the magazine tube. There was also no magazine tube loading break switch, which would be present on a Henry of that era.

Though his revolver still has a silver coiled snake on the grip, it has become a larger Colt 1851 Navy cartridge conversion revolver in this film.

Latest Stories

Riley Green's 'Worst Way' music video sparks a frenzy with steamy scenes and a touch of humor, making waves in the country music world.

Riley Green Turns Up the Heat in Worst Way Music Video

Riley Green isn’t holding back in his latest music video for “Worst Way,” and fans are feeling some kind of way about it. Known for his rugged country charm and ...

Meet Lainey Wilson's fiancé, Devlin 'Duck' Hodges—former NFL quarterback and avid duck hunter—who captured the country star's heart.

Who Is Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges? Meet Lainey Wilson’s Fiancé

Lainey Wilson is one of the biggest stars in country music right now. Still, behind the scenes, she has a steady and supportive partner in her fiancé, Devlin “Duck” Hodges. ...

Lainey Wilson announces her engagement to Devlin 'Duck' Hodges, sharing romantic proposal photos that celebrate their new chapter together.

Lainey Wilson Is Engaged to Former NFL Star Duck Hodges

Lainey Wilson has a lot to celebrate—her career is on fire, she’s gearing up for a massive world tour, and now, she’s engaged to her longtime boyfriend, former NFL quarterback ...

George Strait and Chris Stapleton announce their 2025 stadium tour, bringing country music fans an unforgettable live experience with special guests Parker McCollum and Little Big Town.

George Strait and Chris Stapleton Announce 2025 Stadium Tour

Country music fans, get ready—George Strait and Chris Stapleton are hitting the road again for another epic stadium tour. After a wildly successful run in 2023, the two country powerhouses ...

Chris Stapleton announces his retirement from singing the national anthem after his iconic 2023 Super Bowl performance, a moment destined to stand the test of time.

Chris Stapleton Is Officially Retired From Singing the National Anthem

Chris Stapleton’s unforgettable 2023 Super Bowl performance of The Star-Spangled Banner remains one of the greatest renditions in history. But if you hope to hear him take on the anthem ...

Chris Stapleton delivering a soulful national anthem at Super Bowl LVII, moving players and coaches to tears in a performance hailed as one of the best ever.

Remember When Chris Stapleton’s Super Bowl National Anthem Brought Everyone to Tears?

Few performances in Super Bowl history have left as lasting an impression as Chris Stapleton’s rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner at Super Bowl LVII in 2023. The country and blues ...

Jon Batiste performs a jazz-infused rendition of the national anthem at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, honoring his Louisiana roots.

Jon Batiste Delivers Unique Super Bowl National Anthem Performance

Jon Batiste delivered a uniquely soulful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl LIX, infusing the national anthem with the unmistakable spirit of his Louisiana roots. The seven-time Grammy ...

2025 CMT Music Awards Cancelled

Why Were the 2025 CMT Music Awards Canceled? The Truth Revealed

Country music fans will have to mark a different night on their calendars this year. The 2025 CMT Music Awards have been officially canceled, leaving many wondering what led to ...

Darius Rucker announces he's now living in London, sparking curiosity among fans about whether the move is permanent and the reasons behind his life change.

Darius Rucker Reveals He’s No Longer Living in the U.S.

Darius Rucker and the American South go hand in hand. Whether it’s Hootie & The Blowfish’s “Cracked Rear View” playing at a summer cookout or “Wagon Wheel” blasting from the ...

Country singer Andrew Millsaps shares how his fiancée ended their engagement via text before a show, inspiring him to channel the heartbreak into new music.

Country Singer Andrew Millsaps Got Dumped in the Worst Way Possible—Right Before a Show

Breakups are never easy, but some are downright brutal. For country singer Andrew Millsaps, the heartbreak hit at the worst possible time—while he was on stage. The Neon Union vocalist ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.