The Path Less Traveled #082 – The Guns of Butcher’s Crossing
Andrew D 10.23.23
Based Loosely on the 1960’s novel by John Williams, Butcher’s Crossing is a gripping narrative that takes place against the backdrop of a harsh and unforgiving Western frontier. The story revolves around the ambitious and determined Will Andrews, a Harvard student who leaves his studies to find himself and adventure in the wilderness. Will is drawn to the fictional town of Butcher’s Crossing, where he becomes entangled in a quest to hunt the near-extinct buffalo for their valuable hides. The movie explores themes of nature’s indifferent cruelty, human folly, and the relentless pursuit of profit in the face of environmental destruction. As the hunting expedition unfolds, the characters confront their own faults and limitations, revealing the harsh reality of the hunt. Director Gabe Polsky offers an unsparing portrayal of the wilderness and the men who seek to conquer it, making Butcher’s Crossing a thought-provoking and evocative flick. Before turning out an entire movie essay that would cause James Lipton to rise from the grave applauding, I’d rather focus on the sparing few firearms that were presented in this film.
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Welcome to our recurring series of “The Path Less Traveled.” In this series, we want to take you along for our exploits in the wilderness while hiking, camping, exploring, and general adventuring. This will include our small daily victories, foibles, tips, tricks, and reviews of gear we authentically appreciate and frequently utilize. While a well-worn trail can often be the pathway to a leisurely day, the paths less traveled can often spur on some of the greatest memories, misadventures, and fun we could imagine. Join us in the Comments as we share our travels and hopefully, we can all come together for a greater appreciation of the outdoors.
In preparation for this article, I contacted Jeremiah D Hornbaker, founder of Artistry in Motion, Inc., the historic firearms props director and artistic guidance for this quasi-indie film. Jeremiah stated there were several firearm and hunting tools based “Easter Eggs” placed in Butcher’s Crossing that even I didn’t find, so tell me if you see nay more guns and goodies that I didn’t mention!
Jeremiah and I discussed the importance of the time and setting of this movie – 1873, a couple of years right after the Civil War, a few years into popular repeating rifles becoming mainstream. What Jeremiah loved most regarding the guidance he provided in weapons selection for this film were the power and purpose of each gun shown.
Mystery Civil War Guns
These Black Powder Civil War era guns were, as Jeremiah stated, supposed to represent the average gun your average person would have had in 1873 during era Butcher’s Crossing was set in. I wasn’t to recognize them from their limited time on screen – can you?
Winchester Model 1866 Yellowboy
While not as legendary as the Winchester 1873, The Winchester Model 1866, often referred to as the “Yellowboy,” is a lever-action rifle produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. It was one of the first firearms to use self-contained metallic cartridges, making it a significant innovation in firearms technology. The distinctive feature of the Yellowboy is its brass receiver, which gave it its nickname. The rifle was chambered for a variety of cartridges and played a crucial role in the westward expansion of the United States. It was introduced in 1866, continued to be manufactured and sold until 1899 due to popularity and price and remains a classic piece of American firearms history. In the movie, Wil Andrews, played by Fred Hechinger had this in his side saddle while traveling. No buffalo were hunted with it, but it was still a fun gun to see being used outside of your typical cowboy movies. Butcher’s Crossing definitely isn’t your typical Western movie. Not as flashy as The Rifleman’s modified Winchester Model 1892, but this is a very likely gun a newbie college boy would have when heading out west, no?
Nic Cage Miller’s Big Ass Bowie Knife
As the movie progresses, Nic Cage Miller’s madness is shown more and more. This early scene has Miller threatening J.D. McDonald, the buffalo hide dealer for trivial reasons with a big ass Bowie Knife.
As we all know, Bowie knives are the famous eponymous knife design made by God Knows Who originally and were very similar to Spanish hunting knives and butchering knives of the day. If it didn’t make a famous last stand at the Alamo, do you think they’d be as popular as they are today?
Funny Things
I don’t know if you guys know much about the author of Butcher’s Crossing, the novel this movie was based off of, but John Edward Williams was also the author of what some say is the Perfect Novel; Stoner. As a journalist and English professor, each one of his writings have posthumously garnered much praise – but the funny things were that none of the firearms in the book were ever named. We don’t know what guns are used in the book because Williams never tells us.
Just had to throw that in.
Poor Woman’s Shotgun
There was a woman trying to find water in a vast, dry part of Colorado. In the wagon, there was a scrappy shotgun. Y’know, prolly the same type as you see in the Hatfield & McCoy skits on Looney Tunes. Jeremiah stated it was not in good condition and was not overtly seen because of this. When you see the movie, you’ll kind of understand why this desperate woman with just about nothing else just had this multi-role ratted, tattered shotgun and that’s about it.
The Springfield Model 1863 Percussion Shotgun was a Civil War-era firearm produced by the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts. It was a smoothbore, muzzleloading shotgun primarily used by Union forces during the American Civil War. This shotgun was designed for close-range combat and versatile enough to fire both buckshot and ball ammunition. Its design was based on the popular Springfield Model 1855 musket. The Model 1863 played a significant role in the Civil War, used by both infantry and cavalry units for various combat and defense purposes.
Do you have any beater “truck guns”? This is prolly what this gun was like at this point in history.
Model 1867 Sharps Rifle in .50-70
This is the rifle we see in Nicolas Cage Miller’s hands the most in Butcher’s Crossing, the legendary Sharps Rifle. We’ve seen this gun in Quigley Down Under pretty prominently with the sharpshooter piece still attached. Miller, the hardass, I guess doesn’t feel he needs this to put down as many buffalo as your girlfriend does nuggets when you get a 20pk from Mickey Dees.
The Model 1867 Sharps Rifle in .50-70 is a historic firearm known for its use in the late 19th century. It was manufactured by the Sharps Rifle Company and was chambered for the .50-70 Government cartridge. This single-shot, breech-loading rifle was adopted by the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars and saw service on the Western frontier. It was praised for its accuracy and range, becoming an iconic weapon of its time.
Could you imagine Tom Sellack vs Nicolas Cage?
Jeremiah states there’s also a silver barreled 1867 that replaces Miller’s main gun once the barrel is fouled.
I don’t know whether this is artistic license and forgot to ask Jeremiah, but these cartridges definitely look like .50-90 rounds, not .50-70, am I right?
The .50-90 cartridge is a large-caliber, centerfire rifle cartridge developed in the late 19th century. It typically has a .50 caliber (0.5-inch) bullet diameter and was primarily used in lever-action rifles of the era, such as the Winchester Model 1886. The “90” in its name refers to the cartridge’s original black powder charge, which was approximately 90 grains. It was a powerful cartridge for its time and suitable for hunting large game like the buffalo in the movie. The .50-90 cartridge has historical significance and is out of production, used by firearms enthusiasts and collectors.
The .50-70 cartridge is a vintage centerfire rifle cartridge used during the late 19th century. It was introduced in 1866 for military purposes. The “.50” denotes the caliber, which is approximately half an inch, and the “70” represents the black powder charge in grains. This cartridge was primarily used in Springfield and Sharps rifles during the post-Civil War era, offering a significant improvement in range and firepower over earlier musket cartridges.
1872 Colt Open Top Revolver
The funny thing about this revolver is that Colt made less than a few thousand of them before the Single Action. It sure does remind me of the Cimmaron Oleg Volk posted about in 2015
The 1872 Colt Open Top is a historically significant firearm produced by Colt’s Manufacturing Company. It’s a single-action revolver that was designed as an improved version of the earlier Colt 1871-72 Open Top, with its most notable feature being a solid frame. It was chambered for .44 caliber centerfire cartridges and was produced from 1872 to 1873. The Open Top was a transition between Colt’s earlier percussion revolvers and their iconic Colt Single Action Army (often called the Colt Peacemaker) introduced in 1873. It played a role in the evolution of firearms technology during the late 19th century.
Jeremiah stated the director had a conundrum about this revolver and where to put it. Being a buffalo hunter and not a gunslinger, Nicolas Cage Miller didn’t need holsters. But where do you put a revolver when not in use? Last minute thinking, they just stuck it in one of the saddle bags on his horse.
.44-cal. Belgian Star Converted to .45 Long Colt (No Screenshot)
This is one of those guns I wasn’t able to get a screenshot of in my first (and only) viewing of the movie. Jeremy Bobb playing Fred Schneider had this as his primary sidearm.
1870 Springfield .50-70 Allin Conversion Trapdoor (No Screenshot)
This is one of those guns I wasn’t able to get a screenshot of in my first (and only) viewing of the movie. Jeremy Bobb playing Fred Schneider had this as his primary rifle. This rifle was also chambered in .50-70.
The 1870 Springfield .50-70 Allin Conversion Trapdoor is a significant firearm in American military history. It represents the first major conversion of the Springfield musket to a breech-loading design. The .50-70 designation refers to the caliber and black powder cartridge used. The “trapdoor” in the name signifies the hinged breech block that allowed for single-shot, breech-loading functionality. This conversion was a pivotal step in modernizing the U.S. Army’s weaponry during the late 19th century until the Krag-Jorgensens were adopted.
This is a scarce and rare rifle that was put in for funsies.
Movie Review – Butcher’s Crossing
“Butcher’s Crossing” is an epic and visually stunning Western film that harkens back to the classic wild west sagas of the 1970s. With a relatively small cast, it manages to deliver a compelling and realistic story based on a novel. The film’s star, Nicolas Cage, delivers a strong performance in a role that showcases his versatility, and his bald appearance adds to the intrigue. The movie’s cinematography by David Gallego is beautiful, and the haunting music by Leo Birenberg enhances the overall experience. The film is set against the backdrop of the American West, focusing on a Harvard student who abandons his education to experience life in the Colorado wilderness, joining a team of buffalo hunters.
The film explores themes of greed and obsession, with the pursuit of buffalo hides driving the characters further into the wilderness and closer to danger. It also highlights the devastating impact of capitalism on the natural world, specifically the near-extinction of the American buffalo. Despite its unapologetically bleak tone, “Butcher’s Crossing” impresses with its committed performances and the untouched landscape of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana, where it was shot. The film’s sound design immerses the audience in the harsh environment, making you feel the bone-chilling cold and the intensity of the buffalo hunt.
While the film delves into some Western genre tropes, it also subverts others, offering a fresh perspective on the genre. Nicolas Cage’s performance is more restrained than his usual manic roles, focusing on the character’s pursuit of glory and bragging rights. The threat of violence is subtle, reflecting the character’s monomania in smaller, meaner ways. If not comparing against the book, this movie is slow but solid all the way through. You feel as if you are constantly on edge, waiting for something to occur although slices of violence wash this feeling away temporarily. I feel the last fifteen minutes of the movie shit the bed compared to the novel, but this is completely understood in terms of necessary time management, doesn’t make it less disappointing to those who are familiar with Williams’ writings.
In summary, “Butcher’s Crossing” is a visually stunning and thought-provoking Western that provides a fresh take on the genre. Its exploration of greed and obsession, along with its portrayal of the impact of capitalism on nature, adds depth to the narrative. The film’s commitment to realism, strong performances, and beautiful cinematography make it a compelling watch, even though it doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of its story.
78/100
Additional Notes
We all know the restoration of the American Buffallo has been one of the hunting community’s greatest stories. In the 1800s, reckless overhunting and habitat loss led to a catastrophic decline in American buffalo populations down to roughly 300 left. Responsible hunters should recognize this historical tragedy as a lesson in the importance of sustainable wildlife management. Today, conservation efforts and responsible hunting practices help ensure the buffalo’s survival and are essential in preventing a repeat of this tragedy.
I first got involved with the film when the production needed the use of our winter pasture and the buffalo herd which are under my direction. So with the buffalo being the story, naturally I wanted to be involved to ensure the authenticity of the story, and that our buffalo and land are handled with care. The resilience of the buffalo and the tribes go hand in hand. So I hope that audiences can see the spiritual connection between native people and buffalo, and also see the importance of bringing them back to tribal lands.
My hope is for the audience to get involved and work along with the tribes to support their efforts of restoration of buffalo back to their lands. Whether it be support by word of mouth or financially, which is very much needed. – Ervin Carlson
Ervin Carlson is a member of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. He is the Director of the Blackfeet Buffalo Program and President of the Intertribal Buffalo Council (ITBC). He manages the existing Blackfeet buffalo herd used for cultural purposes and for food for elderly and ailing tribal members. As the manager of the Blackfeet Nation buffalo herds, Ervin is responsible for two tribal buffalo herds on the Blackfeet Nation Reservation. These small herds have been under management on limited pastures for more than 20 years but cannot expand in size and scale. Ervin has long advanced the vision of buffalo ranging widely across the Blackfeet Reservation much as they once did.
