Recently while surfing the internet I was researching .38/44 six-guns used in movies and found where one was used in the movie, Electra Glide in Blue. At this site, a couple of nice photos from the movie was used. A motorcycle cop by the character name of "Zipper" was the one packing the HD. The presented images was not clear or close enough for me to tell if the HD was a pre-war or post war model. I was able to tell that it (HD) had the 5-inch barrel. I subsequently went to Youtube, on the net, and found the movie, Electra Glide in Blue, and clicked on it. As I was scanning the movie, trying to locate the cop character and his HD, I located one scene where Officer Wintergreen (Robert Blake) and his partner/friend (Zipper) had their Harley's parked in an isolated area taking a break. Wintergreen, young and hungry for action, like I was 100-years ago, was walking away from Zipper to his Harley and turns and pulls his beautiful two-tone 4-inch Colt Python on Zipper in some dangerous "horseplay" and Zipper pulls out his beautiful blue steel "post war" HD in return. There is a camera close up, from the back-side, of Zippers HD clearly exposing the post war hammer giving identity to the movie star HD. Thanks to this forum I have ascertained that there were several mid-western and western states that utilized the 4 and 5-inch HD's for their State Highway Patrol Services including some PD's and Sheriff Departments.

There are not many movies that has the HD starring. In this movie Zipper, a compromised, lawless cop, has the honor of the Smith & Wesson Heavy Duty. I enjoyed replaying this 1973 movie as it had been many years since I saw it and had forgotten about Zippers HD in it. I don't know if the people who supplied the firearms for the movie were aware of the history of the HD and were trying to get it right, as to the proper six-guns for a mid-western PD, or, maybe they made a lucky guess! Whatever, I'm glad they did, since I last saw the movie years ago, my knowledge on the HD has increased, with many thanks to this forum and its great members! This time, when I replayed Electra Glide in Blue, I was able to appreciate the .38/44 that Zipper had, many times more than my first 1973 viewing of it.

Thank you my friends for all the knowledge you have freely shared with me over the past several years. Thanks to you, I look at my own .38/44 through different, respectful eyes now.
David

Robert Blake's 2-tone Python has also been the source of a lot of discussion. Allegedly, Colt never made any 2-tone Pythons at the factory, so it was likely a custom job made up by one of the Hollywood gun rental companies like Stembridge.

Which brings up the question - has S&W ever made up any factory 2-tones (AKA Pintos)?

Electra Glide in Blue - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games

Bobby Blake carried a few different weapons through the years. Like bow and arrow as Little Beaver, twin ankle holstered 36s as Baretta, and a real Beretta 92 in real life. At least his real life. His real life was kind of a off stage tragic drama.

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One of my favorite movies, it was required watching when I went through motor school. The movie was set in the fictional town of Stockman, AZ, and filmed here in AZ. I know an old retired motor cop who worked traffic/security on the film. He was an extra in one of the bar scenes also. Along with other guns, those revolvers used in the movie were of the type in use at the time by working cops. Although I'd bet not too many could afford a Python like Robert Blake's. The other star of the movie, the Electra Glide, is at a local HD dealer on display with some photos from the set. Classic revolvers and cool bikes, it doesn't get any better....

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

I have forgotten, so please refresh my memory. Which gun did he use to kill his wife?

The murder weapon was a P-38 which was found in a dumpster. Bobby left his Beretta 92 at a neighborhood cafe and had returned there to get it while his wife was murdered at home.

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She was in the car wasn't she?

EGB is one of my favorite old cop/cult flicks.
I never was able to determine if Wintergreen's revolver was a .38/44 HD or a 3rd Model .44 HE.
The Python was owned by the movie director, according to his commentary on the DVD.

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John

I don't know why, but I always assumed it was a 44 Special. I never thought about it being a 38/44.

Yes, quite a few. I've seen some and photos of many others A HS chum's dad had a Model 27 that was a pinto. He bought it at a Dallas sporting goods store.

I remember the movie title but never understood it. Is an Electra-Glide a model of motorcycle?

I am not a fan of Robert Blake, and never saw the film. But a .38-44 would be a far more likely choice for a cop than a .44.

There is also a photo on the Net of a .38-44 or .44 Special used in a Gomer Pyle episode. I think someone posted it here awhile back.

1) Electra-Glide in Blue = Motorcycle cop movie....

2) No .44 for a cop,....hmmmmm, I've seen lotsa' cops carrying them. Heck, my partner did for a while. My 44 was a Mag, and his was a Special. I carried mine for a short while, he'd go to his grave with his. That 6" N-frame was just too much weight, and I went back to carrying a 1911.

If I were a cop issued a revolver, I'd sure rather carry a Model 19 instead of anything on an N-frame. Heck, I now carry a H&R single shot break-open shotgun while hunting. If I don't hit anything with the first shot, a second probably won't connect either, and that H&R is about half the weight of any repeating shotgun.

I saw cops with .44's. Just not as many as with .38-44's.

When I started in LE in New Mexico in the mid 70's we were issued a M-19 but could carry just about anything as long as it was at least a .357 and was a revolver with a 4 inch barrel. 44 & 41 mags were not uncommon and a few even carried Pythons. I carried a M-28 most of the time.

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Support your Police, & NRA

Texas Star,

I, too, live in Texas, and I don't recall ever seeing a LEO carrying a 38/44 of any kind. I've seen plenty of M-28s, but none of the HDs or Outdoorsman. Maybe it's a regional thing, in the old days, I think I saw everything but a 38/44 and that included a Tokarev.

The only one I ever saw connected to LE, was when I attended firearms instructor's school. The Instructor for the course used a de-spurred 38/44 HD with a 4 inch barrel. That was in the mid 70s. And, yes, it shot very well. I hated those old 3-D reloads purchased and used for the school. It was very inaccurate ammo.

I had a lettered M 49 Pinto that is now in the hands of another forum member. Actually, this is termed a "reverse" pinto. I heard from several other folks who had factory lettered pintos in various models.

Attached Images

49a.jpg (109.3 KB, 20 views)

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Randy
Provenance nerd

I'm one of the moderators over on imfdb (Jcordell) and the decision to label Zipper's revolver an HD rather than a 44 was my call. Judgement call on my part.Also I own a 5" HD so i guess I'm biased. Since there is no way to distinguish what the caliber is. Glad that so many of you are using imfdb. It's been a labor of love for us these past few years. Starting to attract some attention it appears.

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Thanks so much Checkman for your efforts in the firearms-in-movies-and-TV website. I have really enjoyed this particular webside very much as some of the older movies have great movie star firearms in them. Great job you and the other responsible people are doing sir! I believe you made the "right" call in Electra Glide in Blue as the big .38/44 HD, pre and post war models, were used by mid-western states law enforcement. The film, Electra Glide in Blue, was filmed in Arizona from what I have read about it. The Nogales, Arizona PD used the big sixgun there as well as other agencies in that area of the country so it stands to reason your call on Zipper's sixgun was a correct one Checkman. KUDO's to you sir and thanks again for your work!
David

Not a problem. I'm a gun-nut and a movie buff so when I stumbled onto imfdb I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I became pretty active and one day the head moderator asked if I wanted to be a moderator. It's been fun.

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