Lawrence of Arabia weapons

Can anyone identify the firearms used in David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia? This is one of my favorite films and I am very curious about the rifles used by the Arabs: what caliber are they? Who is the maker? Were these the rifles the Arabs actually used during WWI against the Turks? What about Lawrence's handgun: can someone tell me the caliber and maker? What about the rest of the weapons used: the machine guns, the guns at Aqaba, etc. Are these accurate and what are they? Tall order, but any information would help to satisfy my curiosity.

#I am very curious about the #rifles used by the Arabs: what caliber are they? Who is the maker? Were #these the rifles the Arabs actually used during WWI against the Turks? What #about Lawrence's handgun: can someone tell me the caliber and maker?

One of my favorite movies too. But I'm afraid the historical accuracy is a bit lacking. ( After all, if Hollywood can cast a very tall Peter O'Toole as the very short Lawrence, what qualms would they have about using any gun they could find.) The movie showed various models of the British made .303 cal. Lee Enfield - the British serivce rifle of WW1 and WW2, in the hands of the Arabs. According to what I have read, the British actually gave Lawrence's Arabs the type or model 38 Arisaka rifle in 6.5mm. This was a Japanese made rifle based on the Mauser action. Short of rifles early in WW1', the British purchased large numbers of whatever they could get, mainly from the the United States but including several hundred thousand Japanese rifles. These Japanese rifles they used mainly in secondary theaters to arm local forces- such as the Arabs- or gave them to the Russians who also bought hundreds of thousands of these guns from Japan. Although disparaged by US in WW2, the Arisaka is actually a decent rifle- very strong action, which is good to have in a gun that was shot often and rarely cleaned..

Lawerence's pistol was the Mark VI model of the Webley revolver in the standard ( for then) .455. The last- and arguely the best- of the Webley line which were the British serivce revolvers from the late 1800's until after WW1. This was probably a realistic choice give that Lawerence was a British officer. However, British officers purchased their own handguns at that time. They could carry whatever they wished, provided it chambered the .455 serivce round. I believe I have read a mention of Lawerence carrying a Colt- no further identification- somewhere. Colt New Service revolvers were made in .455. ( Same gun the US used in WW1 as the Model 1917.)

What #about the rest of the weapons used: the machine guns, the guns at Aqaba, #etc. Are these accurate and what are they?

The machineguns - if memory serves- used in the train attack were the Vickers water cooled guns in .303. Since they were general issue for British troops- Lawerence did have armored cars manned by British soldiers attached - they were probably what he did use. I have no idea about the big guns.

Hopes this helps.

#Subject: Lawrence of Arabia weapons #Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 16:38:52 +0000 (UTC)

# Can anyone identify the firearms used in David Lean's Lawrence of #Arabia? This is one of my favorite films and I am very curious about the #rifles used by the Arabs: what caliber are they? Who is the maker? Were #these the rifles the Arabs actually used during WWI against the Turks? What #about Lawrence's handgun: can someone tell me the caliber and maker? What #about the rest of the weapons used: the machine guns, the guns at Aqaba, #etc. Are these accurate and what are they?

Historically if memory serves ) and likely in the movie

Arabs and Brits