British mini-series portraying the adventures of real-life spy Lt. Sidney George Reilly (Sam Neill) (1873-1925). The series is a fictionalized account of his exploits. There are twelve episodes and the stories take place in various locales such as Korea, Armenia, Germany, England, United States and Russia.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingPre-War dated Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" Commercial Version - 7.63x25mm Mauser. Note the rear tangent sight; in something of a display of wishful thinking, the C96's sight is adjustable for ranges up to 1000 metres.Error creating thumbnail: File missingInspector Tsientsin (David Suchet) with his Mauser C96 drawn inside Reilly's Port Arthur prison cell during the attack.
Smith & Wesson Mk II Hand Ejector
Used by Zaharov (Leo McKern). Zaharov was an actual arms dealer who had great power and influence in Europe during the late 19th and early 20th century. There is a possibility that he and Reilly crossed paths. In the mini-series they are shown as having something of a love - hate relationship. It appears that the revolver used by Zaharov is a Smith & Wesson Mk II Hand Ejector. Though I was unable to get a clearer screencap.If it is a Smith & Wesson Mk II then this is a technical error. The scene when Zaharov and Reilly first meet takes place in 1904. The large frame Smith & Wesson sometimes called the 44 Frame or the N Frame wasn't intoduced until 1907. The Mk II Hand Ejector didn't come out until 1915. Nevertheless it does look "correct" for the time period and ultimately it is just a prop.
After having failed in his attempt to overthrow the Bolshevik goverment in 1918 Reilly (Sam Neill) and one of his compatriots flee to the British Embassy in St. Petersburg. The embassy has been shut down and is staffed by just a skeleton crew of British citizens to include Commander Cromie (Barry Stokes) of His Majesty's Royal Navy. Cromie is acting as the banker for Reilly's operation. With the counter-revolution crushed Bolshevik troops are sent to storm the embassy and if possible arrest Reilly.Commander Cromie refuses to flee deciding instead to defend the embassy and go down with the ship. It's interesting to note that Cromi is armed with two Colt Model 1911 pistols. I assume that they are the models chambered for the .455 Webley Self-Loading Pistol Cartridge.
File:Mannlicher1905.jpgMannlicher Model 1905Error creating thumbnail: File missingAfter returning safely to London Reilly (Sam Neill) picks up a mistress. Alexandra (Lindsay Duncan) is her name but she prefers the nickname "The Plugger." At her request Reilly takes her shopping for a handgun. In downtown London! However it is 1918.She falls for the Mannlicher Model 1905.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAlexandra displays a rather breezy attitude about gun safety. Fortunately it is unloaded.Error creating thumbnail: File missingReilly (Sam Neill) expresses doubt about her choice. He recommends a Glisenti Automatic, an Italian pistol. The Mannlicher, on the other hand, is an Austrian handgun and as Austria is at war with England in 1918 he has doubts about the availability of ammo for it.The shopkeeper informs him that he has two boxes of ammo. Reilly is still doubtful,but Alexandra wants it so he buys it for her.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe war is now over. Alexandra realizes that life is dangerous with Reilly and she is returning home to mother.He makes sure she takes her Mannlicher with her.Reilly prefers the Luger.
The Vickers Machine Gun is used as a subsitute for the Maxim Model 1910 Machine gun. Especially in the episodes set in Russia in 1918 when Reilly is trying to overthrow the Bolsheviks. The mini-series was filmed in 1983 in the United Kingdom. It's plausible that it wasn't easy to obtain a Maxim 1910 so the production weapons man had to improvise. The shots of the machine gun are very fast when watching the actual production. With skillful editing the Vickers passes for a Maxim Model 1910.
In the first episode Reilly's mistress has been murdered. He demands answers from the head of British naval intelligence in the man's office. The shotgun is empty but Reilly (Sam Neill) is making a point. At this point he believes that she might have been ordered murdered because of fears that Reilly would have talked to her while in her bed. He notes that while the shotgun is of English origin, its trigger mechanism is from Texas.
