By Kyle Shea
In 1990, a book was released that would help create one of the greatest franchises of all time. Its name was “Jurassic Park.” It is the story of a greedy businessman using his fortune to clone dinosaurs on an island off the coast of Costa Rica. He plans to build a zoo for millions to come and see the beautiful creatures. As an aside, there are also investors hanging over him. Things go horribly wrong and the dinosaurs escape, killing many innocent people in the process. The book was a huge success. However, the before the book was released, there were already movie companies eyeing it for production.
The lucky winners were Steven Spielberg and Universal Pictures. The result was the 1993 film “Jurassic Park,” one of the greatest movies ever made. It stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Samuel Jackson, and Wayne Knight. There are a few differences between the book and film. John Hammond, the billionaire behind the park, is a much more likeable person in the movie than in the book, where he is a cruel and unlikeable man. Many characters who died in the book survive in the movie and vice versa. The movie was a huge hit and naturally got a sequel, “The Lost World: Jurassic Park.” The sequel was not as well received as the first, but it did lead to a sequel in 2001’s, “Jurassic Park III.” That movie was poorly received, almost ending the franchise.
Then, in 2015, “Jurassic World” hit the theaters. A massive hit at the box office, it was considered the best of the sequels. The story is about the company from the first film successfully setting up the park. Excited with their success, they decide to create a new genetically engineered dinosaur to draw in more crowds. Unfortunately, the dinosaur, Indominus Rex, breaks out and causes damage all over the park.
The main characters are Owen Grady and Claire Dearing. Claire’s nephews are visiting the park and are caught in the middle of it when the Indominus Rex breaks out. The film proceeds to follow the two as they search for her nephews and find a way to take down Indominus Rex.
In the movie, Owen Grady, played by Chris Pratt, uses a Marlin Model 1895SBL. This gun is a redesign of the original rifle made in 1895. That was actually a remodel of the 1893 rifle, only made to handle larger rounds. The Model 1895 remained in production until 1917 but was rereleased in 1972. In the early 2000s, Remington bought Marlin and took over the production. Later, it was bought by Sturm, Ruger & Co.
The weight of the gun is about seven and a half pounds with a total length just over 37 inches. Most of the metal is stainless steel, while the stock and the forend grip are made of gray laminate. The ammunition used by the Model 1895 SBL is 45-70 Government soft point rounds. This round was first produced in 1873 and is still in production today. The rifle can carry six of these rounds in the magazine tube and one in the chamber.
The scope used on the gun in the movie is Leupold FX-11 Scout 2.5X28. In the photo, one can see the sling from the movie, with fake extra rounds inserted into special slots. On the left side of the gun is the serial for the gun, along with what looks like a QR code imprinted to the right of it. To the right of these on the barrel are the words 1895SBL with the name of the company, the place it was manufactured, the model, and the caliber of the gun. There is no writing on the other side of the gun that the author could see but “Lever Rail” is written on the top-mounted scope rail, along with “Patent D577.094” next to it.
Other guns used in the movie include M16A2s, HK417s, and M4A1 carbines. After the Indominus Rex escapes, a team is sent after it but is ordered to use non-lethal equipment. (It does not end well.) One of the team members is seen using a UTAS UTS-15 shotgun, which was not that effective against a giant dinosaur. One of the highlights of the film is when the CEO of the park takes his own helicopter out to hunt down the Indominus, using an M134 Minigun to shoot at it. (Again, it does not end well.) In another scene, there is a special video presentation where a comedian shoots unbreakable glass with a Smith & Wesson Model 29.
“Jurassic World” is a good movie. In my opinion it is not as good as the first “Jurassic Park” movie but could be a contender for second place in the franchise. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are good in their parts, as are most of the other actors and actresses. The CGI on the dinosaurs is good, but it is not the greatest. The main dinosaur villain is intimidating, and I was scared at points. There are parts of the plot that are a bit laughable, like where the head of security has the incredibly stupid idea of using dinosaurs in the military. If you want a movie about dinosaurs and a warning about messing with things beyond our control, this is a great movie for you to enjoy.
Serial Number: MR379021
We’d like to thank Ben Rothwell & Tony Watts of Bapty, Ltd, for access to many of their fine movie use firearms, to help record the history.
