McQueen "Sand Pebbles" & Cooper "For Whom The Bell Tolls" BAR Morphy's Auction

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

It's a  Marlin-Rockwell.

http://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_n__fantastic_gary_cooper___steve_mcqueen_film_pro-lot667612.aspx

[StrangeRanger]

"Buy the story not the gun"  🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[68coupe]

1 hour ago, StrangeRanger said:

"Buy the story not the gun"  🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

In this case, ABSOLUTELY. Sand Pebbles was the movie that made me fall in love with the 1918 BAR, much like COMBAT made me fall in love with the Thompson. Now, I just gotta hit those lottery numbers. LOL

Karl

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

 

Small Arms Review article on the  Stenbriidge company that Hollywood relied on to supply them with weapons. In 1973 they were beginning to sell off their inventory. 

https://smallarmsreview.com/stembridgegunrentals/

 

Edited April 23 by Arthur Fliegenheimer

[Mike Hammer]

Don't know how many films that particular BAR showed up in, maybe Stembridge had more than one, but here's Bob Wagner wielding one long before "Sand Pebbles", a signed still from my personal collection. That gun will sell for a premium, wish I had known about it when it was originally for sale. I did manage to get a Madsen M50 from them that was used in many '60's films, threaded for a blank adaptor, I regret selling it to this day, the movie guns have great appeal.

[villafuego]

Anyone notice the markings on the auction gun? Something looks "off"

1st pic is the Auction gun Vs. Demilled 1918 Marlin Rockwell (with SN# in the 25xxx range also), and another Poulin auction gun

I'm far from a BAR expert, but that kind of jumped out at me

 

 

 

 

Edited April 30 by villafuego

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

Change from "MACHINE" to "AUTOMATIC" was discussed here. The McQueen Marlin Rockwell is an early serial number. 25,000 block. 

Per Orion in this thread: "The earliest documented serial number for Marlin -Rockwell was serial # 40286." McQueen MR BAR beats that.

 

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

On 4/27/2026 at 6:25 PM, Mike Hammer said:

Don't know how many films that particular BAR showed up in, maybe Stembridge had more than one, but here's Bob Wagner wielding one long before "Sand Pebbles", a signed still from my personal collection. That gun will sell for a premium, wish I had known about it when it was originally for sale. I did manage to get a Madsen M50 from them that was used in many '60's films, threaded for a blank adaptor, I regret selling it to this day, the movie guns have great appeal.

 

Mike,

Stembridge  Gun Rental  also supplied the Darren McGavin twin M50  Madsens for the 1970 ABC Movie of The Week "The Challenge."  It sold on SUBGUNS in 2005.  One Madsen was modified to eject from left side of receiver.