Use of Actual Vintage Arms as Props in Early Films

[Jim McDougall]

David! Some FASCINATING background there! and its fascinating that you got to see this stuff firsthand. I keep recalling guys I knew who got some amazing pieces in auctions when they cleared out movie prop and costume warehouses in the 70s.
I heard of a dealer who furnished numbers of authentic weapons on loan for "Pirates of the Caribbean" and another who had various Spanish colonial arms and items (even antique ox arts) for period movies.

[David R]

Once its in the props store it's not an antique anymore, but just an old prop! Valued no more and no less than than any other.... and they hang on to them like mad.
It's the same with "frocks" (costume) valued only for its use on stage or in front of the camera. I worked in Leeds costume dept for ten years and saw it first hand.

[kino]

Chief Scar revealed his collection of scalps, strung along the shaft of a Moro Budiak.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by kino

Chief Scar revealed his collection of scalps, strung along the shaft of a Moro Budiak.

Great entry Kino!
There was no telling what exotic items were in those prop houses!
In the early days of Hollywood stars like Fairbanks took overseas junkets to acquire antiques used in sets, plus of course, studio expense vacations. This stuff was lying about everywhere, without all the antique hype, so you can imagine what there was and the paltry costs.