The Square Peg is a 1959 British B&W war comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Norman Wisdom who appears in two roles: roadmender Norman Pitkin, and a Nazi general Schreiber. During the Second World War, Norman Pitkin together with his boss Mr. Grimsdale are called up for service in the Pioneer Corps. Accidentally they are parachuting into Nazi occupied France, in a town where the headquarters of General Otto von Schreiber is located. It appears that Pitkin is an exact double of the General. He gets a chance to dress in Schreiber's uniform and helps captured Grimsdale, British agent Lesley Cartland and the local Resistance leader Henri Le Blanc to escape from German prison.
The following weapons were used in the film The Square Peg:
Several British officers and soldiers on duty in barracks carry Webley .38 Mk IV or Enfield No. 2 revolvers in holsters. Only small parts of grips and lanyards can be seen.
A Walther P38 is a personal sidearm of German Gen. Otto von Schreiber (Norman Wisdom). When Norman Pitkin disguises himself as von Schreiber, he also takes General's P38 and then hands it to local French Resistance leader Henri Le Blanc (Brian Worth).
French Resistance fighter Jean-Claude (André Maranne) draws a Mauser Pocket Pistol of unclear model when he takes Norman Pitkin for plainclothes General Schreiber.
During the training British soldiers, including Norman Pitkin (Norman Wisdom) and Mr. Grimsdale (Edward Chapman), carry Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk.I rifles. In several scenes the rifles are fitted with No. 4 spike bayonets.
Most German soldiers are armed with Mauser carbines that have Lange-Visier sights and straigt bolt handles. Probably these rifles are Gewehr 98s, shortened to carbine length. Similar rifles are seen in some other British war movies, like Ice Cold in Alex. Rifles are mostly fitted with long M1898/05 sword bayonets.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingA Napoleonic era artillery piece is seen in the barracks. Its shape and size allow to guess it to be 6-inch Obusier de 6 pouces Gribeauval.
