Posted by Mark A. Baker (via Mohican Press) on December 19, 1997 at 17:08:33:
In Reply to: Killdeer, rifles muskets etc. posted by Bill Rooks on December 19, 1997 at 10:33:56:
These comments come courtesy of Mark Baker:
... About the rifle, and the eyes of Bill Rooks .... There were three Killdeer rifles used during the filming. The one Hawkeye used during most of the shooting was the actual rifle built by Wayne Watson (which was the third rifle built by the maker for Mann's approval). The other two were really more than "two," for the two others were more like two types --- rubber rifles for hitting and clubbing and balsam wood replicas for jumping and other stunt work. I saw both the balsam and the rubber ones and even played with them upon occasion. The trigger guards and hammers broke easily, but they still used them. All such replacements to the actual rifle were hand-painted and looked very much like the real gun. But of course, much lighter and safer for the sometimes dangerous work of film making. I imagine that what Bill saw was not two different guns, but the muzzles of the real rifle and the muzzle of one of the rubber or balsam guns?
... That from Mark. More of his story upcoming on Sunday .. stay tuned!