Lethal Weapon is the 1987 action film that was one of the first in the modern "buddy cop" genre. Mel Gibson stars as LAPD Detective Martin Riggs, a cop who lives on the ragged edge and who could be suicidal, much to the chagrin of his new partner Sergeant Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) , who is celebrating his 50th birthday. Together they uncover a drug smuggling ring that involves a criminal gang comprised of mercenaries and former members of a CIA / special forces "Black Ops" unit with ties to the Vietnam War. The film was written by Shane Black and was directed by Richard Donner (Superman: The Movie). The success of the movie would help spawn a film franchise that spanned four films as well as numerous movie imitators.
The following weapons were used in the film Lethal Weapon (1987):
The Beretta 92F is the sidearm of Detective Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson). As his new partner Detective Sergeant Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) famously puts it, "Nine millimeter Beretta, takes fifteen in the mag, one up the pipe, wide ejection port, no feed jams." In a memorable scene in the film, Riggs takes out his Beretta and loads a single round into the chamber, and contemplates suicide. Later, Riggs claims that this round is a special hollow-point saved for that purpose, making that sure the job's done right. However, when seen in closeup, the bullet seen is a standard full metal jacketed round, not a hollow-point. He's also highly proficient with the weapon, able to "draw" a smiley face on a silhouette target at several dozen yards with it, much to the bewilderment of Murtaugh. An identifying feature of this particular 92F was the gold finish on the Beretta logos on the grips. In the director's cut of the film, Riggs is seen drawing his Beretta during a sniper situation at a school.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingBeretta 92F - 9x19mm. This well-worn movie gun is the original Beretta 92F that Bruce Willis used in Die Hard and was also used by Mel Gibson in the Lethal Weapon series. The live-firing handgun that was used in both films has since been 'retired' to a glass museum case. Note the extended slide catch.Error creating thumbnail: File missing"Now that's a real badge, I'm a real cop, and this is a real f***ing gun!" Det. Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) pulls his Beretta while working undercover.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA closeup of the "hollow point" 9x19mm round. In a later conversation, Riggs mentions that the bullet he wants to use to end it all is a hollow point, but here the round is actually a FMJ.Error creating thumbnail: File missingCloseup of the round in the Beretta's chamber.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA closeup of Riggs' Beretta as he looks at his deceased wife's picture. Note the gold finish on the Beretta logo on the grips, as well as the Allen bolt replacing the magazine release button.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe suicidal Riggs holds his Beretta 92F to his head while hesitating to pull the trigger.Error creating thumbnail: File missing"...Have a nice day." Riggs shows off his prowess with his Beretta 92F, shooting a smiley face onto the head of a paper target down-range as Murtaugh (Danny Glover) looks on.Error creating thumbnail: File missingRiggs empties his Beretta at Mr. Joshua (Gary Busey)'s helicopter.Error creating thumbnail: File missingIn the Director's Cut of the film, Riggs loads his Beretta before going to work. He is seen loading the magazine into the Beretta and racking the slide. Note the slide sticks as he pulls it back, indicating he is actually loading an empty magazine.Error creating thumbnail: File missing"Hello!? Mr. Sniper, sir?" In the Director's Cut, Riggs takes aim with his Beretta.Error creating thumbnail: File missing"I'm still here asshole...or do you only do kids?" Riggs aims his Beretta at the sniper's hideout. In the ensuing shootout, Riggs appears to fire 19 rounds even though the magazine holds only 15 rounds.A production still of Riggs holding his empty Beretta after filling the sniper with lead.
Smith & Wesson Model 19
The Smith & Wesson Model 19 is the sidearm carried by Detective Sergeant Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover). The script calls for him to carry a ".38 Special wheelgun", but the Model 19 is a .357 Magnum. He refers to it as a "Four-inch Smith". In a famous scene in the movie which is repeated in later films, Murtaugh rolls his neck before dispatching one of the main villains with a single shot from his Model 19. At one point, Murtaugh gives his revolver to Riggs and challenges him to prove his sincerity in his claims of being suicidal. Riggs then places the barrel under his chin and slowly squeezes the trigger, Murtaugh blocking the hammer with the web of his hand at the last moment being the only thing that keeps the weapon from firing. Standard Smith & Wesson Model 19 revolvers can also be seen in use as the sidearms of numerous L.A.P.D. officers throughout the film.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingSmith & Wesson Model 19 - .357 Magnum. This is the actual screen-used movie firearm - a custom ported Smith & Wesson Model 19 with black rubber grips, used and carried by Danny Glover in the film.Error creating thumbnail: File missing"Hey! Look at that, will ya'? Not bad for an old man!" Det. Sgt. Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) demonstrates his prowess with his Smith & Wesson Model 19 on the range, putting a round dead center on the head of a paper target.Error creating thumbnail: File missing"You shouldn't tempt me, man!" Riggs holds Murtaugh's Smith & Wesson Model 19 to his head when Roger challenges him to prove he's suicidal. Notice the gun is in single-action mode.Error creating thumbnail: File missingCloseup of the Model 19 as Riggs threatens to pull the trigger. Note here the gun is now in double-action mode, even though it wasn't uncocked (on camera) during the scene.Error creating thumbnail: File missingMurtaugh wields his S&W Model 19.Error creating thumbnail: File missingIn the Director's Cut, Murtaugh is shown firing his Smith & Wesson Model 19 at the range on his birthday.
Astra Terminator
During the undercover drug bust near the beginning of the film, one of the drug dealers (Blackie Dammett, who is actually the father of Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis) holds Riggs at gunpoint with an Astra Terminator. Another dealer draws his before Riggs unloads on him. When the other officers fail to act to end the crisis, Riggs manages to disarm the suspect and take his revolver, holding it on the suspect and threatening to shoot him.
Mr. Joshua (Gary Busey) uses a Beretta 950 Jetfire during a standoff with Murtaugh in the desert. He later appears to pull it when confronting two police officers at Murtaugh's home.
During the escape from Shadow Company's nightclub hideout, several Shadow Company goons can be seen armed with M1911A1 pistols. Riggs forces one of the Shadow Company goons, Mr. Larch, to shoot one of his comrades with his before briefly commandeering it until he recovers his Beretta.
Also from the Director's Cut, a female patrol officer (Gail Bowman) can be seen with a Smith & Wesson Model 15 as her sidearm. Other LAPD officers are also seen with them throughout the film; appropriate since it was their service revolver in real life back then.
During the undercover sting in the Christmas tree lot at the beginning of the film, several of the undercover cops pull out Smith & Wesson Model 36 revolvers. An LAPD detective is also seen firing what appears to be a S&W on the shooting range.
While following up on a lead, Riggs and Murtaugh are ambushed by a suspect brandishing a shotgun. After Murtaugh wounds him and tries to cuff him, the man pulls a stainless steel Walther PPK/S out of his coat.
Heckler & Koch HK94 (converted to resemble the MP5A3)
After fighting their way out of the Shadow Company hideout, Riggs commandeers a Heckler & Koch MP5A3 fitted with a scope from one of the slain Shadow Company henchmen and uses it in a running shootout with Mr. Joshua (Gary Busey) on a crowded L.A. freeway. General Peter McAllister (Mitchell Ryan) and several of his men also use them earlier in the film when meeting with Murtaugh when he and Riggs are captured. In the Director's Cut, SWAT officers can also be seen carrying them. In reality, the MP5s that appear in this movie are the elusive "chopped-'n-converted" Heckler & Koch HK94s that frequently appear in films made in the 1980's and 1990's.
During the ill-fated rescue attempt that leads to Riggs and Murtaugh being captured by Shadow Company, several henchmen can be seen wielding Uzis. Another henchman can be seen using one when the protagonists make their escape from Shadow Company's nightclub hideout.
When Riggs and Murtaugh attempt to rescue Murtaugh's daughter Rianne (Traci Wolfe) in the desert, Riggs provides cover for Murtaugh using a Heckler & Koch PSG-1 sniper rifle with a high-capacity magazine and Harris bipod. He succeeds in taking out several Shadow Company goons and is about to shoot Mr. Joshua when General McAllister (Mitchell Ryan) interferes and captures him, later seen carrying the rifle across his back while escorting the captured Riggs.
During the ill-fated attempt to rescue Rianne from Shadow Company, several of the Shadow Company henchmen can be seen carrying Colt XM177 Commando carbines, using them to shoot Murtaugh's station wagon to pieces and force him to surrender. Mr. Joshua (Gary Busey) is also seen using one fitted with a scope atop the carry handle; first to assassinate Michael Hunsacker (Tom Atkins) from a helicopter at the funeral of his daughter, then during a running shootout with Riggs on an L.A. freeway, and finally when he reaches Murtaugh's house and starts shooting the place apart. In the latter appearance, it has two magazines taped together 'jungle style'. In reality, these are actually civilian AR-15 Sporter 1 carbines which have been visually modified to look like XM177s, with fake flash hiders and shorter barrels.
In the Director's Cut, Riggs responds to a call of a sniper armed with an M14 Rifle at a school. After he is provoked by the suicidal Riggs, who himself hopes to be shot, The sniper begins firing several rounds that fail to hit their mark, Riggs, being forced to fire, unloads 20 rounds from his Beretta, the magazine capacity of which is 15+1.
In the Director's Cut, SWAT officers are seen carrying MGC M-16 Model Gun loaded with 30-round magazines.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe MGC M16 Assault rifle: a non-firing metal replica built by the Model Gun Corporation of Japan, and one of the most-used non-firing replicas of the M16 in movies and television. The 'forward assist' on the early models like the one imaged here are bolt inserts to keep the parts of the receiver together. Modern MGC M16 replicas have improved by third parties over the years (like adding A1 flash-hiders), making it more accurate to the real thing, and thus, making it harder for 'Connoisseurs' to identify.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe MGC M16 Assault rifle: a non firing metal replica built by the Model Gun Corp of Japan. This is a closeup of the receiver and clearly shows how the 'fake' forward assist is actually a connector with allen nut in the back. Removal of this nut separates the upper and lower receivers.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe SWAT officer on the right carries an MGC M-16 Model Gun in the Director's Cut.
Shotgun
Mossberg 500
What appears to be a pistol-gripped Mossberg 500 shotgun is briefly seen during an undercover bust that Riggs is on.
The suspect that opens fire when Murtaugh and Riggs arrive at his home appears to use the "Witness Protection" model of the Remington 870.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingRemington 870 "Witness Protection" - 12 gaugeError creating thumbnail: File missingThe hoodlum fires the Remington 870 at Riggs & Murtaugh.A wounded hoodlum lies on the ground with a sawed-off shotgun at his feet. Note that the shotgun appears to have a rounded pistol grip consistent with the "Witness Protection" shotgun.
Remington 870
Mr. Joshua can also be seen wielding a Remington 870 (extended magazine tube) when he attempts to kill Riggs in a drive-by shooting. What appears to be a Remington fitted with a pistol grip and extended magazine tube is held by a Shadow Company goon who guards Rianne Murtaugh in the desert.
In the Director's Cut, an L.A.P.D. SWAT officer can be seen carrying an Ithaca 37 during the sniper situation. One of the Shadow Company mercenaries carries one when they meet Murtaugh in the desert. One can also be seen in Murtaugh's squad car.
During the meeting in the desert, Murtaugh pulls out what appears to be an M26 hand grenade, threatening to kill everyone present including himself and his daughter if she's not released. Several grenades are also seen in the car carrying General McAllister that is involved in a crash with a bus.
