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This is a detailed reference list which draws together the various memorable props from Army Of Darkness, along with their possible availability as originals & replicas. For a general list of Evil Dead Trilogy props & collectables, please see the Collectables section.
While there are literally hundreds of items shown of screen across the trilogy, this list only covers props people might be interested in trying to buy or replicate themselves. Some of the information below is fact, and everything else is carefully researched guesswork. Some of you reading this may know a lot about subjects such as firearms, cars, or antique clocks, so if you have any additional information, corrections or want to know more about an item, please get in touch via the email address at the bottom of the page. Scroll down the page or use the links below to continue.
Army Of Darkness 'Book of the Dead'
Army Of Darkness Modified 'Hand' Chainsaw
Army Of Darkness Mechanical Arm
Army Of Darkness 'Boomstick' Double Barrel Shotgun
Army Of Darkness 'S-Mart' Lever-action Rifle
Army Of Darkness Ash's Boots
Army Of Darkness 'Book of the Dead'
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Tom Sullivan was brought on board once again to design an entirely new 'Book of the Dead' for Army Of Darkness, a task which he was given one weekend to complete. He assembled it, drew the artwork on each page, and used water colour paints to add some colour.
Further into production it was realized that Tom's book was going to be too small to feasibly allow Ash to be sucked in to it for the graveyard scene. A much larger book was quickly created, and the artwork from Tom's book was cut up & recycled. Four of each page fromTom's book, were pieced together to form one large page in the new book.
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The 'Book of the Dead' in a screehshot from Army Of Darkness
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'Book' replica by Tony/Antrock
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It is unknown what happened to this book once shooting on Army Of Darkness wrapped, it isn't in Tom Sullivan's Evil Dead museum as the other two books are. Given that so many of the props from the film have been auctioned to private collectors, that would seem a likely candidate.
Because of scheduling over-runs during The Evil Dead, Tom drew up an additional contract which also stipulated that he would retain the ownership & copyright of any props he designed & manufactured. This is something he fiercely protects to this day, which is why you're unlikely to find anyone publicly selling exact book replicas. Tom and has taken legal action against a number of individuals publicly selling replicas in the past, even with single/one-off items.
As most unofficial replicas lean more towards the look of the book from Evil Dead II, there is only one known replica in the style of this specific 'Book of the Dead', which was made by Tony/Antrock some years back.
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Army Of Darkness Modified 'Hand' Chainsaw
The modified chainsaw in a screenshot from Army Of Darkness
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Vern Hyde, Gary Jones and crew were brought back on board, and among other things, created more 'hand' chainsaws. There would likely have been at least two made; one hero and one stunt version. They were constructed by Vern Hyde's crew from a real Homelite XL saws, the hero saw had its engine replaced with a smaller 12 volt electric motor, so Bruce could fit his hand inside and it would be silent for filming when the chain was still. Fake exhaust smoke was fed into the saw via a tube that ran down Bruce's pants leg and out twenty or so feet to a tobacco smoker, and the chain's teeth were filed down for safety.
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There was also at least one foam rubber lightweight stunt reproduction, each to serve for different purposes, although the continuity between them doesn't quite follow, as they all have varying body styles. It is unknown what happened to these chainsaws once shooting on Army Of Darkness wrapped, presuming they survived the production, but given that so many of the props from the film have been auctioned to private collectors, that would seem a likely candidate. There was an unconfirmed internet rumour some years back stating that one of these modified chainsaws had sold at auction in LA, but it wasn't clear if it was from Evil Dead II or Army Of Darkness.
EvilDeadChainsaws.com 'Medieval' model chainsaw replica
EvilDeadChainsaws.com is the best place to get replica chainsaws. While expensive, they are the most accurate & detailed replicas by far. They were formerly available as both deluxe working saws with a rotating chain & smoking muffler, and non-working standard saws, but currently you can only buy the non-working saws. There are also three different styles/models to choose from; two from Evil Dead II and one from Army Of Darkness. Because of the varying continuity between the saws, the three models were somewhat of an amalgamation of the differences; The 'Medieval' saw is based on the design from Army Of Darkness.
Other than EvilDeadChainsaws.com, the only other current option is Ebay. Replicas of varying quality come up from time to time, produced by various users including PlaidPineapple (Adam), NitrousTanker (Dan Roach), and Nick1985-2009, among others. They all seem to replicate the 'look' of the Evil Dead II saws, there is no one currently selling Army Of Darkness style saws.
Army Of Darkness Mechanical Arm
Mike Iverson from Blind Squirrel Props built the first known mechanical arm replica; a one-off commission for a client in 2011, using thick styrene, acrylic, cast resin & epoxy putty. The result is fantastic, and when the finished item photos started doing the rounds in the fan community, many initially assumed the photos to show the original screen-used version.
Blind Squirrel Props' mechanical arm replica (full-view)
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Blind Squirrel Props' arm replica (hand close-up)
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In 2014, EvilDeadChainsaws.com created a replica arm as a one-off request from a client. Having taken the time to work through the processes & creating the moulds, they were put up for sale alongside the replica chainsaws for £800 each. It was a non-working prop, in-so-much that it can be worn over someone's arm, but it's not mechanised in it's own right. The overall design was somewhat an amalgamation pulling together various details seen over the film, rather than an exact match to one particular version as the continuity varies from shot to shot, as well as using Mike Iverson's PDF plans. It was primarily made in impact resistant heavy duty polyurethane plastic resin, and came as standard with a weathered & aged metal finish. The vambrace handle could be cranked as shown in the film. It was held shut via a magnet underneath which would hold it closed at any angle, but once this is disengaged, it could move freely, with a stopping point at around 45-degrees.
EvilDeadChainsaws.com mechanical arm replica (full-view)
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Arm replica being worn
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An 'Army of Darkness Good Ash Adult Halloween Costume' has been available from various US stockists for some years, probably mass produced in China. The package retails for around $50-70, and includes a cape, shirt, holster and mechanical arm made of painted slush-cast liquid latex. While the arm isn't exactly a screen accurate replica, it would make a perfectly cheap & serviceable Halloween costume.
Army Of Darkness 'Boomstick' Double Barrel Shotgun
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Although Ash describes his 'Boomstick' in the film as a "...twelve gauge, double barreled Remington. S-Mart's top of the line. You can find this in the sporting goods department. That's right, this sweet baby was made in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Retails for about $109.95. It's got a walnut stock, cobalt-blue steel, and a hair trigger...", he's incorrect on virtually every point.
In reality, Ash is holding a 12-gauge double barrel IGA Stoeger Coach Gun, made in Brazil. It comes with short 20" barrels as standard, a Brazilian hardwood stock, polished-blue metal finish, double triggers, and usually retails for around $350 to $400 bought new. Obviously, being a real firearm, some sales restrictions will apply, and it may simply not be available depending on where you are in the world.
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Ash holding the shotgun in a screenshot from Army Of Darkness
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Because the real gun cannot easily be twirled as Ash is seen doing in the castle courtyard, a lightweight balsa wood replica was constructed which had fishing weights at either end and a simple ring in place of the trigger guard. This allowed Bruce to twirl the gun for as long as was needed without any problems. Putting it in his back holster couldn't easily be done either, so a prop person simply knelt behind Bruce and pressed the shotgun to his back for the remainder of the shot, adding the sound effect in later.
A 12-gauge double barrel IGA Stoeger Coach Gun, with 20" barrels
Given the higher budget, it is highly likely that this shotgun was bought especially for the production, but it is unknown what happened to it once shooting on Army Of Darkness had wrapped, although given that so many of the props from the film have been auctioned to private collectors, that would seem a likely candidate.
Army Of Darkness 'S-Mart' Lever-action Rifle
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In the 'Captain Supermarket' (aka S-Mart) alternate ending present on the American theatrical release of Army Of Darkness, among others around the world, Ash battles a female Deadite using a lever-action rifle, taken from a S-Mart firearms display case. This is a Winchester Model 1894 lever-action rifle with a 'Trapper' large loop handle.
Winchester ceased to manufacture rifles in 2006, so brand new rifles will become harder to find. prices in the region of $1000 to $1500 are not uncommon, far higher for antique examples. Obviously, being a real firearm, some sales restrictions will apply, and it may simply not be available depending on where you are in the world. In 2010 FN Herstal proposed to reintroduce the Winchester Model 1894 as a limited production firearm, although the exact specifications are unknown. Despite the fact that lever-action rifles rarely hold more than fifteen rounds, Ash fires thirty-seven shots in quick succession without reloading.
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Ash holding the rifle in a screenshot from Army Of Darkness
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Given the higher budget, it is highly likely that this rifle was bought especially for the production, but it is unknown what happened to it once shooting on Army Of Darkness had wrapped, although given that so many of the props from the film have been auctioned to private collectors, that would seem a likely candidate.
A Winchester Model 1894 lever-action rifle with a 'Trapper' loop handle
Army Of Darkness Ash's Boots
While not strictly a 'prop', Ash's boots were identified by Mexican fan Beto Matali, so are being included here should any fans want to track down a pair for an Ash costume. They're vintage 1980/90's Italian made leather & canvas grey ASOLO super scout boots. Ash's Evil Dead II boots are also ASOLO super scout, but an earlier 1970's pair in olive green.
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Army Of Darkness Screenshot; Ash's screen worn boots
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Army Of Darkness Screenshot; The sole of Ash's boots
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As they're vintage, they may be one of the harder items to track down from this page, as unlike many other entries, they the majority of pairs bought at the time would have been worn and trashed. Any pairs out there are likely to be cheap however, as there is nothing particularly special about them as a vintage item.
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An original pair of ASOLO super scout boots (front)
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An original pair of ASOLO super scout boots (soles)
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