Magnum P.I. was a detective series that was broadcast on CBS from 1980-1988. The series starred Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a Vietnam veteran and former Naval Intelligence officer who then worked as a private investigator on the islands of Hawaii. The series was created by Donald Bellisario, who was responsible for such popular series as Quantum Leap, Airwolf, JAG, and NCIS.
The following weapons were used on the TV series Magnum P.I.:
The main handgun used by Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) is a Colt MKIV/Series 70 Government Model, which is a commercial version of the U.S. Military M1911A1. This handgun is supposed to be the one he carried during his service in Vietnam and is sometimes carried in a tanker-style holster, most often seen carried inside wast band small of back, no holster. It is sometimes seen in Magnum's flashbacks to Vietnam. A former propmaster for the show has been quoted saying that the original gun was a traditional .45 ACP 1911, but was soon changed to a 9mm version because .45 ACP blanks were too hard to get on location for the show.
Star Model B
In some episodes, Magnum's Colt becomes a Star Model B.
Walther P38
Jonathan Higgins (John Hillerman) uses a Walther P38 in the Season 1 episode "Never Again.....Never Again". Magnum is also seen handling one in Season 1's "Skin Deep".
An O/U shotgun is seen being used for skeet-shooting in the episode "Tropical Madness".
side-by-side shotgun
Magnum uses a side-by-side shotgun to shoot down Higgins' remote control airplane in the episode "Distant Relative".
Rifles
M16A1
An M16A1 is seen in the various flashbacks to Vietnam and notably in Season 4's "All for One, Parts 1 & 2".
Remington 700
Higgins cleans a Remington 700 in the episode "Missing in Action".
Steyr SSG 69
Magnum uses a Steyr SSG 69 in the episode "Unfinished Business".
Colt Sako Model L-579 Rifle
In Season 1's "Skin Deep", a Colt-Sako Rifle is seen handled by Magnum and later used by David Norman (Ian McShane).
Heckler & Koch HK91
A Heckler & Koch HK91 is used by TC in Vietnam in the episode "All for One".
Galil ARM
A Galil ARM with wood handguards is seen in a cache of weapons in the episode "All for One".
Valmet M71S
As what was common for productions in the 1970's and 1980's, the Valmet M71S rifle is seen used as a substitute for the AK-47. In the pilot episode, Vietnamese pirates are seen opening fire on T.C.'s helicopter from a boat. Higgins refers to the rifles in the episode as AK-47's.
Machine Guns
M60
Rick uses an M60 in his role as T.C.'s gunner in Vietnam. In the episode "All for One, Part 1", Rick is seen using the M60 from the riverboat during the firefight on the river. Magnum and Higgins are seen using the M60 during "All For One, Part 2". The machine gun is used as well in various flashbacks to Vietnam (the M60 in the flashbacks are seen mounted on the side of TC's helicopter). Also seen in the series is the M60C model (most often in disguise as a DSHK) as in "All for One" and "Mad Dogs and Englishmen")
DShK Machine Gun (M60D Mockup)
An M60D mocked up to resemble the DShk machine gun is seen in "All for One".