Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Use of Actual Vintage Arms as Props in Early Films

Jim McDougall · 11th December 2023, 04:28 PM

In current research and concerning early films, in particular the black & white of course, the actors were typically heavily made up so their expressions were visible to accentuate the drama in sequences.

I discovered it was not just the actors who were 'painted' but also furniture, props etc............and for our purposes here.....WEAPONS!

Over the years, on occasion many old weapons coming up for sale had been painted many years before. I was of course always horrified by this, wondering what sort of fiend would do this to a wonderful old sword!?

Apparently, different colors would photograph differently in the old film and lighting, and it was necessary to use varied colors to achieve harmony in the setting, otherwise it would be a virtual kaleidoscope of imagery.
They actually had coded paint colors to be used in certain situations or in alignment with other colors in object groupings.

So it would seem very likely that these garishly painted old weapons may well have been used in early films as props.

11th December 2023, 04:28 PM	#44
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,785	PAINTED WEAPONS In current research and concerning early films, in particular the black & white of course, the actors were typically heavily made up so their expressions were visible to accentuate the drama in sequences. I discovered it was not just the actors who were 'painted' but also furniture, props etc............and for our purposes here.....WEAPONS! Over the years, on occasion many old weapons coming up for sale had been painted many years before. I was of course always horrified by this, wondering what sort of fiend would do this to a wonderful old sword!? Apparently, different colors would photograph differently in the old film and lighting, and it was necessary to use varied colors to achieve harmony in the setting, otherwise it would be a virtual kaleidoscope of imagery. They actually had coded paint colors to be used in certain situations or in alignment with other colors in object groupings. So it would seem very likely that these garishly painted old weapons may well have been used in early films as props.