Rough Riders is a 1997 TNT biographical miniseries directed by John Milius and starring Tom Berenger as Lt. Col. Teddy Roosevelt. The miniseries depicts Roosevelt's days as commander of the 1st US Voluntary Cavalry Regiment, better known as "The Rough Riders", and highlights the Regiment's military actions during the Spanish-American War in 1898. The cast includes Gary Busey, Sam Elliott, and Brad Johnson.
The following weapons can be seen in the miniseries Rough Riders:
The Single Action Army is used by Lt. Colonel Teddy Roosevelt (Tom Berenger) and other U.S. Army officers. Historically speaking, Roosevelt used a .38 caliber Colt M1892 that had been recovered from the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor after it was sunk. But John Milius, the director, wanted him to carry the Peacemaker since Roosevelt is considered to be the "Cowboy President".
A Mauser C96 is used by German military advisers to the Spanish Army, Spanish officers and Henry Nash (Brad Johnson) during the Battle of Kettle and San Juan Hills.
A sporting configuration Winchester Model 1895 is used by Col. Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt (Tom Berenger) and a small number of other U.S. Army officers throughout much of the fighting on Cuba. He gives it to one of his soldiers during the attack up Kettle Hill after that soldier breaks his Krag-Jorgensen butt stroking a Spanish soldier. The assumption is that the rifle is chambered in .30-40 Krag. In reality, the Winchester Model 1895 rifle used in the filming is the personal property of director John Milius (a fan of the Winchester Model 1895) and chambered in .35 Winchester. Roosevelt also gave his Winchester 1895 to one of his soldiers before the regiment departed Florida for Cuba.
A Winchester Model 1895 Carbine is used by several of the regiment's officers, including Bucky O'Neill (Sam Elliott). After O'Neill (Sam Elliott) is killed, his Winchester is used by Henry Nash (Brad Johnson) during the Battle of Kettle and San Juan Hills. The pair of carbines used in the series are chambered in .30-40 Krag and were supplied by Ellis Mercantile.
Bucky O'Neill (Sam Elliott) and several of his companions can be seen with full-length Winchester Model 1892 rifles with octagonal barrels when joining the Arizona volunteers for the Rough Riders. He soon switches it out for a Model 1895 Saddle Ring Carbine.
The famous painter Frederick Remington (Nick Chinlund) is shown accompanying the U.S. expedition to Cuba as a war correspondent/artist. There is a scene where he is painting the battle as it is occurring. Sitting next to him as he is working is a Winchester Model 1886 with what is known as a short magazine. Some refer to this configuration as a "Sporter" Model 1886. It was lighter with the shortened magazine. Therefore easier to carry and quicker to the shoulder, which is important when hunting game.
The Krag-Jørgensen M1896 Carbine is used by most of the 1st Volunteer U.S. Cavalry soldiers in the movie. A few use the Winchester Model 1895 and the regimental cook Eli (Geoffrey Lewis) opts for a double barrel shotgun.
The production was supplied with Chilean Mauser rifles in 7x57mm by both Stembridge Gun Rentals and Ellis Mercantile, standing in for the more historically accurate 1893 Spanish Mauser used by the Spanish Army during the war.
The Springfield 1879 Trapdoor is used by both the Cuban rebels and many of the U.S. Army units. This is not incorrect. Most of the National Guard units did not have Krag-Jørgensen rifles at this time.
The regiment's cook Eli (Geoffrey Lewis) carries a cut down Remington Model 1889 double barrel shotgun. Appears to be either 12 gauge or 10 gauge. The 1889 was available in either gauge.
Two Colt Model 1895 Machine Guns are used by the Rough Riders for fire support. The script states that the two Model 1895s are a gift from Charles Lewis Tiffany. It is unknown if this is factual. The pair used in the series are actually Model 1914s made by Marlin, chambered in 7.62x54mmR and supplied by Stembridge Gun Rentals.
Though historically inaccurate, a Maxim Gun is used for dramatic effect and to foreshadow World War I. The machine gun (in the film supposedly provided by German Advisers to the Spanish Army) was supposed to be an 1884 Maxim prototype machine gun (the type distributed by Hiram Maxim to warring parties in conflicts like the Transvaal Boer War), but there is little proof that Maxims were used by the Spaniards in the war. After taking Kettle Hill, the Rough Riders use the Maxim along with their Colt machine guns to fire on San Juan Hill.
Multiple artillery pieces are used by both the Spanish and American forces during the Battle of San Juan Hill. According to the August 1997 issue of Guns & Ammo, the artillery pieces are two breech loaded 1891 2.5 inch Krupp field guns, an altered French 75mm gun (the steel splinter shield was removed), a two pounder Hotchkiss mountain gun, and a Hotchkiss revolving cannon.
