[Kizoni]

Does anyone out there know what is the rifle used by Val Kilmer in "The Ghost and The Darkness"? Looks like a cross between a Mauser, a Krag and some .303 British stuff, like (maybe) a Lee Enfield? Any idea what the rifle is? This has been bugging me for years now.

Thanks a bunch,

Kizoni, Toronto

 

[Charlie Petty]

I thought it was a magnum Mauser action. Definitely didn't have the distinctive magazine of with the Krag or Enfield.

 

[Dean Speir]

Here's a coupla better images straight out of the film… or at least the studio PR Department.

Gawd, I hate dial-up!

 

[Charlie Petty]

OK, I'm wrong. It does sorta look like a SMLE magazine sticking out.

 

[Weinstein]

Rifle ID

It's a "Lee Speed" sporter...

Or, to be proper, it is a Rifle, Magazine, Lee Enfield Mk I*, caliber .303, as manufactured by BSA and marketed as the "Lee Speed" rifle in civilian trim. I suppose it's possible the rile was made by another manufacturer, and might even be a different mark, but that's impossible to say without close examination.

These are slick rifles, and can still be found today (not cheap, but not ridiculously expensive). The American counterpart to this rifle would be a commercially sporterized version of the Krag.

Hope this helps.