Toy Soldiers is a 1991 action film that focuses on a group of mostly problematic, non-disciplined students who have their prep school taken over by a group of Colombian terrorists. The terrorist leader, Luis Cali (Andrew Divoff) plants explosives throughout the school grounds and threatens to blow it up along with everyone in it if his demands aren't met or the school is assaulted. As the Army is called in to figure out a way to effectively deal with the situation, the students take it upon themselves to make efforts to re-take the school. In addition to Divoff, the film's cast includes Sean Astin, Louis Gossett Jr., Michael Champion, and Wil Wheaton. The film received assistance from the US Department of Defense, who provided UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters (both new in Army inventory at the time) for the production.
The following weapons were used in the film Toy Soldiers:
Jack Thorpe (Michael Champion), the American terrorist and Luis' second-in-command, uses a Beretta 92SB as his sidearm, noted by its rounded trigger guard. When Thorpe shows the Beretta to the guard when they first arrive at the school, it has a suppressor mounted. A special force soldier uses a Beretta 92SB at the end of the film.
Jack Thorpe (Michael Champion) and many of the other terrorists overrunning the school are armed mainly with Heckler & Koch SP89s mocked up as the Heckler & Koch MP5K. These are also seen carried by FBI HRT operators and US Army special forces soldiers as well. Billy Tepper (Sean Astin) steals one from a terrorist when the Army launched the assault and tries to ambush Luis Cali with it, but is thwarted.
One of the terrorists is seen multiple times using an Uzi Carbine, the civilian version of the Uzi SMG, fitted with a 16-inch barrel with a barrel shroud. It seems the armorers converted it to full-auto fire for the film. It is most notably used when Joey Trotta (Wil Wheaton) knocks out a terrorist and attempts to kill another with the the Uzi, failing as the muzzle rise, very inaccurately depicted, raises his fire to the sky.
Several terrorists use Norinco Type 56-1s, noted by the hooded front sight and under-folding stock. It is fitted with an AKM-style muzzle brake, making it similar to the gun used in Heat, meaning it was a semi-auto Chinese import, fitted with the slanted muzzle by the gun's importer and converted to full-auto for the film.
Most of the US Army special forces soldiers are armed with mock XM177-type Carbines. These weapons feature 16 inch lightweight barrels with slip-over fake XM177 moderators. Some appear to be built-up from a combination of A1 and SP1 receivers, while others feature full SP1 upper and lower receivers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingActual XM177E2 Carbine aka Colt Model 629 - 5.56x45mmError creating thumbnail: File missingAR-15 Sporter 1 Carbine converted into an XM177 Lookalike - 5.56x45mmError creating thumbnail: File missingU.S. Army soldiers in ghillie suits detain Billy. The one on the right wields a mockup Colt XM177/Commando carbine, built off an A1 upper receiver (noted by the forward assist) and a 'slabside' SP1 lower (noted by the lack of 'fencing' around the magazine release).Error creating thumbnail: File missingArmy special forces soldiers fire their Commandos.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAnother special forces soldier fires a Colt Commando, this weapon mocked up from an SP1 upper and lower as evident by the lack of forward assist, shell deflector and mag fencing.
AMAC-1500 Sniper Rifle
The assault team has two snipers armed with what appear to be Iver Johnson AMAC-1500 sniper rifles. They have heavy muzzle brakes and fluted barrels. One appears to be an older spec than the other based on the different muzzle brakes.
Another soldier in the film's opening sequence is seen briefly with a Heckler & Koch G3 rifle. It could however be a Heckler & Koch HK91 rifle, but it is never seen close enough.
The belltower guards set up a .50 caliber Browning M2HB heavy machine gun to watch the front gate. They notably use it to disable an approaching sheriff's department car. M2HBs are also seen set-up at other parts of the school.
The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, notably those transporting and dropping the infiltration soldiers into the school, are armed with two door-mounted M60D machine guns.
A King's County Sheriff's deputy is seen pulling what appears to be a Remington 870 shotgun from his police car when they first arrive on the school grounds.
The belltower guards use an M72 LAW anti-tank launcher to blow up the sheriff's department car. Several additional LAW launchers are seen in the film. Thorpe notably attempts to use one on the incoming Black Hawk helicopters. Throughout the film, several rocket rounds are seen next to the launchers, suggesting that the LAW can be reloaded, but in reality, it is a single use weapon.
Still partially alive after being shot by the snipers, one of the roof guards' last act is to drop an M67 hand grenade down on the infiltrating explosives team and kill all but the leader, who is wounded in the leg.
M230 Chain Guns are mounted on the AH-64 Apache gunships that provide cover for the UH-60 Black Hawks during the assault on the school. It appears that when the Apache is actually seen firing its M230 (notably at Thorpe), a prop mockup that emits acetylene flame is used.
