# Weapons so cool and badass they were virtually characters. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 30, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483 "2009-11-30T16:30:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/61 "2009-12-01T01:20:16Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > If we’re talking Tolkien, Gurthang is much more of a character. Hell, it talks. Good call! It even had a twin, IIRC…TRM ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/62 "2009-12-01T01:39:39Z")
Surprised that nobody has mentioned Mathew Quigley’s (Tom Seleck) big single shot target rifle in “Quigley Down Under”. It was easily the real star of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/63 "2009-12-01T01:54:06Z")
Green Lantern’s Power Ring. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/64 "2009-12-01T02:02:56Z")
Clint Eastwood has co-starred with some very cool guns. Remember the Mauser Broomhandle in “Joe Kidd?” There was also a nice cameo by a Savage Model 99. Just thought of another cool one! The Walker Colt that Gus uses to such great effect in “Lonesome Dove.” Call had a Henry Rifle but it didn’t take on the mythic importance of the Colt. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/65 "2009-12-01T02:39:42Z")
Speaker-to-Animals’ variable-sword in _Ringworld._ Cuts through anything! But it doesn’t stack up against Nessus’ tasp! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/66 "2009-12-01T02:55:55Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Clint Eastwood has co-starred with some very cool guns. … My personal favorite of his old school old school pistols, the [Remington 1858 New Army](http://www.imfdb.org/index.php?title=Pale_Rider#Remington_1858_New_Army) from _Pale Rider_. I’m sure lots of folks were shocked to discover the idea of a speed-loader for revolvers was that old! CMC fnord! All of Clint’s guns [here](http://www.imfdb.org/index.php?title=Clint_Eastwood), and the must have link for this thread, the [_internet movie firearms database_](http://www.imfdb.org/index.php?title=Main_Page). ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/67 "2009-12-01T04:20:15Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > If we’re talking Tolkien, Gurthang is much more of a character. Hell, it talks. Hell, all the named objects in LOTR are characters. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/68 "2009-12-01T05:12:21Z")
In the 1983 film [_Utu,_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utu_(film)) about a Maori rebellion in New Zealand in the 1870s, one of the characters is a British colonist whose wife is killed by rebels. He goes more or less insane for revenge, and devises a sort of super-shotgun made out of eight shotguns in a frame, with a jerry-rigged mechanism to fire them all simultaneously. (Dealing with the recoil takes him some practice.) ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/69 "2009-12-01T05:53:48Z")
Peter North costars with a large caliber weapon in his films. ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/70 "2009-12-01T06:23:34Z")
Wyatt Earp’s Buntline Special. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/71 "2009-12-01T06:55:47Z")
Dirty Harry’s [.44 Automag](http://www.the-dirtiest.com/automag.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/72 "2009-12-01T09:19:56Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > There are more but my break is over… Id like to nominate those lazer bolo’s from the original Battlestar Galactica, as well as the colonial blasters. I like the new series but, the originals just say you know you been kissed. The assault rifle from Gears of war, the one with the chain saw bayonet and in the same vibe, the chain sword from the 40k universe. Lastly for now, that light hearted romantic pig sticker from the mask of zorro. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Enn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dave_enn/32/426_2.png) [@Dave\_Enn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Enn)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/73 "2009-12-01T12:54:18Z")
No one’s mentioned Ice-Nine? ---
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/74 "2009-12-01T13:03:01Z")
Sergeant Harper’s seven-barrelled naval musket from the Sharpe series. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/75 "2009-12-01T13:12:12Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > The gatling gun that Mac used in the first Predator movie. A minigun; he called it “Old Painless”. Same as the one the Terminator used in Terminator 2. “Ol’ Painless is waiting for ya!” ---
**Author:** ![Mekhazzio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b38774/32.png) [@Mekhazzio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mekhazzio)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/76 "2009-12-01T14:14:24Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > The Swords of Saberhagen’s Swords novels. Heh! I’m not sure it’s fair to count sentient objects that actually ARE their own characters. Coinspinner wasn’t just a weapon, it was able to take action to suit its own ends, even against the intent of the wielder. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/77 "2009-12-01T14:19:20Z")
> [@Mekhazzio](#): > > Heh! I’m not sure it’s fair to count sentient objects that actually ARE their own characters. Coinspinner wasn’t just a weapon, it was able to take action to suit its own ends, even against the intent of the wielder. Well, that would also exclude Stormbringer, the Soft Weapon, the Krang, and a fair number of other weapons mentioned in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/78 "2009-12-01T14:50:11Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > The [Gyrojet](http://davidszondy.com/future/war/mba_gyrojet.htm) – real-life experimental rocket-gun, proved impractical, but it appeared in the Bond film _You Only Live Twice._ Well, I’ll be damned. A gun you can stop by putting your finger in the barrel. Bugs Bunny vindicated at last. Does _Mythbusters_ know about this? Speaking of rabbits, the [singing sword](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u8wBfDtZkE) from _Who framed Roger Rabbit?_. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/79 "2009-12-01T14:56:13Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > The [Gyrojet](http://davidszondy.com/future/war/mba_gyrojet.htm) – real-life experimental rocket-gun, proved impractical, but it appeared in the Bond film _You Only Live Twice._ By astounding coincidence, I just read an article about the Gyrojet this morning in the latest Bathroom Reader. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483/80 "2009-12-01T15:10:10Z")
Some Discworld entries. _The Gonne_ from Men at Arms. Detritus’ enormous siege weapon “crossbow” The Piecemaker. But not Corporal Carrot’s sword. There’s nothing special about that at all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weapons-so-cool-and-badass-they-were-virtually-characters/519483.md?page=5)