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Archer is a spy/workplace comedy centered on Agent Sterling Archer, aka "Duchess." He's regarded as "the world's most dangerous spy," despite his narcissism, his alcoholism, his irresponsibility, and many, many, unresolved mother issues. The show premiered in 2009, followed by a full first season in 2010, with a full season in 2011. The shows features the voices of H. Jon Benjamin as Sterling Archer, Aisha Tyler as Lana Kane, Chris Parnell as Cyril Figgis, Jessica Walter as Malory Archer, Judy Greer as Cheryl/Carol/Carina/Cristal, and Amber Nash as Pam. It was created by Adam Reed, who had previously made Frisky Dingo and Sealab 2021 along with Matt Thompson, who is also the executive producer. Reed also has written every single episode, which allows the series to have ongoing in-jokes, like Lana's freakishly large hands, Archer's obsession with Burt Reynolds, and Malory's promiscuity.
Many details about the show are deliberately fuzzy, especially the time period that it is set. The clothing, furnishing and cars would indicate that it is set in the past, but modern cell phones and pop culture references ("Call Kenny Loggins, because you're in the Danger Zone,") would indicate that the show is set in more recent times, despite the fact that the Soviet Union still exists, with Josef Stalin still in power. Reed has admitted that he had intended the show to be set in the sixties, citing the influence of Mad Men, but wanted cell phones because he didn't want to constantly have to have the characters find pay phones. Cultural attitudes are also more modern, with Malory citing diversity requirements, and openly gay characters.
The following guns were used in the television series Archer (2009):
Sterling Archer's primary sidearm is a Walther PPK. In the early episodes, the pistol lacked detail, but by the end of season 2, there was so much detail, the serial number was visible. In season 2's "Tragical History" Archer correctly describes the pistol as having a seven shot capacity. According to the companion book How to Archer: The Ultimate Guide to Espionage and Style and Women and Also Cocktails Ever Written, his PPK is chambered in .32 ACP.
M1911A1 pistols appeared in season 2. It is the sidearm of Ray Gillette. Archer uses it in "Placebo Effect," mainly as a tribute to Magnum P.I. None of the M1911s in the series appear to have safeties, however. In the three part season 3 premiere, Rip Reilly carries a nickle plated M1911 with white grips, and the gun ends up being used by several characters over the three-episode arc. There are numerous continuity problems though, as the grips change back and forth from white to black. In the season four premiere a KGB hitman carries one in the assassimation attempt on Archer/Bob.
Manfred has a Mauser M712 Schnellfeuer as his sidearm, using it to shoot Torvald Utne (not the Olympic shot-putter) in "Killing Utne." It is revealed in flashbacks that Malory Archer also used one when she was a field agent ("Double Deuce.)
Captain Lammers uses a Beretta 92F in "Skytanic." Archer also uses a suppressed Beretta 92F in one scene in "Skorpio." Lana Kane also carries a pair of Beretta 92F pistols in a dual-pistol shoulder rig.
Woodhouse's old World War I squadron mate brings by a Webley Mk IV that had belonged to his old friend, Captain Reggie Thistleton in "Double Deuce." This is one of the few firearms referred to by name on this show. This Webley is later used to knock Archer out. Canadian Mounties are later shown to be armed with Webleys in "The Limited" (S03E06).
Since retiring from the field, Malory Archer's primary handgun is a Smith & Wesson Model 629, tricked out with a scope and laser. She sleeps with it by her beside in "Dial M for Mother." She mentions that it is a .44 Magnum during a flashback in "Pipeline Fever."
Archer's rival, Barry Dillon, carries a nickel Desert Eagle Mark VII, which he talks TO, not WITH. Lana Kane also uses a nickel Desert Eagle on occasion.
A SIG-Sauer P226 is seen on the floor in "Skorpio." It is missing most of its controls.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingA factory black (K-Kote) SIG-Sauer P226 pistol chambered in 9x19mm. This is a real movie gun and has appeared in several motion pictures.Error creating thumbnail: File missingOne of Skorpio's henchman reaches for the P226 before Archer puts a bullet through his head.
Shotguns
Sawed-off Double Barreled Shotgun
When he doesn't have to worry about concealment (and even when he does) Archer carries a Sawed-off double barreled shotgun that he "borrowed" from Woodhouse in "Pipeline Fever." Apparently, Bama McCall in Gator made a big impression on him. Woodhouse is also shown using (presumably) the same gun in flashbacks.
Ray's brother Randy uses a Mossberg 500 in "Bloody Ferlin" (S03E09). Thugs hired to run Archer's stepfather off the road and steal a suitacse full of cash also use a 500 with a magazine extension in "Midnight Ron" (S04E04).
Lana Kane is often seen with a pair of TEC-9's, which would be a good fit for her Johnny Bench-ian, steam-shovelly, Truckasaurus hands. According to the dialogue, they are TEC-9s, and fire full auto, but lack the sling rings of a TEC-9. Later in season 2, she can be seen carrying them in her shoulder rig. Archer takes one in "Swiss Miss." In "Double Trouble", she carries what appears to be a pair of nickle plated or silver TECs, after Katya ruins her main pair by shooting the barrels. They are not seen again.
The MP40 is the SMG seen most on "Archer." ODIN agents use it almost exclusively, as do gay interior decorators/assassins for hire Charles and Rudy in "Honeypot."
Other members of the Cuban hit squad are armed with Uzi SMGs ("Diversity Hire.") The Cuban hit squad returns with Uzi's in "The Man from Jupiter" (S03E04). The Yakuza have them in "Drift Problem" (S03E07)
Cyril channels Private Pyle from Full Metal Jacket with an M14 after Lana decides to sleep with all the men at ISIS as a form of revenge in "Dial M for Mother." Cyril and Calzado hunt for Archer and Lana with M14s in the Colombian jungle before Cyril catches up with Lana in "El Contador" (S03E05). Randy Gillette has one in "Bloody Ferlin" (S03E09) that fires full auto. Luke Troy uses a scoped M14 in "The Wind Cries Mary" (S04E02).
An M21 rifle is seen in a crate during a flashback to the last moments of Agents Ruiz, Pak, and Mgumbe (all of which recycle the same background) in "Diversity Hire."
A German sniper sees Woodhouse and Reggie after Woodhouse braves No Man's Land to save Reggie in "Double Deuce." The bolt is on the wrong side of the rifle.
Archer and Lana carry XM16E1 rifles in "El Contador." They are armed with them again in "Drift Problem" (S03E07). Like all the other guns, the animators often mix up the sides.
In "Heart of Archness Pt.III," Lana fires on pirates with a hybrid M60 door gun from a UH-1 Huey. This M60 has spade grips like a M60D but still retains the forward hand guard.
Ramon Limon has a M18A1 Claymore handy to decorate Malory's old apartment in Miami ("Honeypot"). Archer, showing some competence, disarms a Claymore in "El Contador".
Archer lodges a Mk 2 hand grenade into the anus of an Irish gangster to persuade him to divulge the location of his boss in "Placebo Effect." Several are thrown, only to be caught and tossed back by Archer lacrosse style, in "Heart of Archness, Pt. II". The animators also used the same model for a flash bang grenade.
The "M41 Mark 2 Plasma Pulse Rifle" is used by ISIS and mutineers in the two part episode "Space Race". It has an underbarrel concussion grenade launcher. It bears some resemblance to the M41A Pulse Rifle.
Skorpio's henchmen prepare to fire rocket launchers at Archer and Lana in "Skorpio." These are probably supposed to be FIM-43 Redeye missiles, since Skorpio was supposed to be selling them, but don't look like Redeyes at all.
This is the pistol that Archer gives to Cyril in "Training Day." The name comes from the literary technique "Chekhov's gun," which comes into play later in this episode. It's never seen again after "Training Day." Possibly a North American Arms Guardian chambered in .25.
Archer used Molotov Cocktails in "Fugue and Riffs" (S04E01).
The ISIS Armory
The ISIS armory has a large collection of weaponry on its walls, much of it accurately rendered, except for scale. The Sa. Vz.61 Skorpion for example, is ludicrously large.
Scaling, as seen in the armory shots above, used to be a problem, especially in the early episodes.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingArcher looks at the equipment that Krieger issued for Cyril in the second episode, "Training Day." There's what appears to be an out of scale SIG-Sauer P220, which, compared to the poison pen, (and the cap which slips off for like, no reason), might be only four inches long.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA closer shot. It is properly scaled by episode 4.
