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Taser
The Taser (Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle) is a less-lethal weapon manufactured by Taser International. It is used by many law enforcement agencies around the world as a way to subdue potentially dangerous targets where normally a lethal weapon would have been used. The Taser works by firing small canisters of nitrogen gas to propel two electrode darts up to 160 fps that can pierce clothing and will stick into your skin. Each dart has conductive wires trailing behind them to carry the electric charge from the main unit. The electric shock lasts for 5 seconds (10/30 for civilian models) and will deliver 0.02-0.04 amps which will cause neuromuscular incapacitation, in which the target's nervous system would have no control of the muscles causing instant and unavoidable incapacitation. The Taser can double as a standard stun gun by removing the cartridges, or in the case of the X2 and X3, by holding the button on the side and pressing the Taser to the intended target.
The Taser and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Air Taser Model 34000
The predecessor to the more well-known Taser M26, the Air Taser Model 34000 is the first Taser product that pioneered many features in later Taser models.
Introduced in 1994, the Model 34000 is a refinement of the earlier TASER TF-76, using compressed air instead of gunpowder to propel its darts, thereby bypassing classification as a firearm and the accompanying restrictions on who could buy and use them. It was also the first model to introduce the AFID (Anti-Felon Identification) tags stamped with the weapon's serial number that emerged whenever a cartridge (dubbed "Air Cartridges" by the manufacturer) was fired, as a means of providing evidence of use and identifying the weapon used, because conventional ballistic fingerprinting cannot be used with Tasers. The Air Taser 34000 can also be used as a conventional stun gun if cartridges are not loaded, a feature carried over to every subsequent Taser model.
When first introduced, this model did not come with any sights at all, but an external laser sight accessory eventually became commercially available. Its power source, fitting its early-1990s origins, was a 9-volt battery. Able to muster only 5 watts of power, the Air Taser in the field occasionally had trouble at incapacitating targets, or delivering as many shocks, compared to later models, and due to these factors the Air Taser Model 34000 has long been discontinued by Taser International. However, the cartridges introduced with this weapon would remain in use with later models, up to the Taser X26 (detailed below).
Specifications
Range: 15'
Pulse Cycle: 30 seconds
Film
| Title | Actor | Character | Notation | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Looper | Noah Segan | Kid Blue | With external laser sight | 2012 |
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syphon Filter series | Air Taser | Completely black, needles emerge from the top edge of the weapon in side-by-side configuration rather than the real weapon's over-under arrangement | Cannot be used in "Drive Stun" mode, has unlimited ammunition and battery power, and in several games possesses enough charge to set targets that are shocked for long enough on fire | 1999 - 2007 |
Advanced Taser M26
The M26 was part of the "Advanced Taser" series, and was the first widely-adopted Taser model used by different law enforcement agencies and military personnel for less-lethal takedowns. Refinements over the Model 34000 include an ergonomic pistol-like shape, basic iron sights, an integral laser sight, and the ability to store data about the last 500+ shocks delivered (with cartridges or without), which could be downloaded through a proprietary download kit inserted into the dataport at the rear of the weapon. Like its predecessor, the M26 could be used as a conventional stun gun if fired cartridges or no cartridges were loaded.
The M26 (the 26 in the designation standing for the number of watts of power it could generate) was the first model to allow for reliable and consistent Neuro-Muscular Incapacition on the vast majority of targets, another factor leading to its widespread adoption. Its power source is an array of 8 AA batteries stored in the pistol grip, much like the ammunition magazine of many semiautomatic pistols. Despite its success, Taser International would discontinue sales of the M26 in 2010, with the civilian M26C (C for Citizen) being the only version of this model still being sold. Whether the M26C can use the longer range law-enforcement-exclusive cartridges has not been confirmed.
NOTE: The M26 is very similar in appearance to the M18 and M18L models, the civilian versions of the "Advanced Taser" series released around the same time as the M26, but which were discontinued in favour of the M26C. The differences are mainly internal, being that the M18 models could only generate 18 watts of power and could not record data on shocks delivered. They can, however, be externally distinguished from the M26 series in two ways. If a Taser in question looks like the M26 but lacks the integral laser sight, then it is an M18 model (all M26 models, along with the M18L model, have an integral laser sight). Both M18 models also lack the dataport at the rear, which could be hard to discern as the dataport is normally covered by a yellow rubber plug, the same colour as the rear of the weapon.
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Specifications
Years in Production:
M26: 1999 - 2010
M18/M18L: 1999 - 2009
M26C: 2009 - Present
Range (All are LE only unless otherwise noted): 15'(Civilian), 21', 25', 35'
Pulse Cycle (All are LE only unless otherwise noted): 5 seconds, 30 seconds (civilian)
Film
| Title | Actor | Character | Notation | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exit Wounds | Matthew G. Taylor | Useldinger | Used only in Drive Stun mode, and depicted with a fictional voltage selector | 2001 |
| Hannibal | Ivano Marescotti | Carlo | 2001 | |
| Collateral Damage | FBI Agent | 2002 | ||
| Paycheck | Joe Morton | Agent Dodge | All-black colour scheme | 2003 |
| National Treasure | Henchman | 2004 | ||
| The Cutter | Aaron Norris | Anthony Maylam | 2005 | |
| Death Race | Jason Clarke | Ulrich | Had a scope attached | 2008 |
| Nine Dead | John Terry | Shooter | 2010 | |
| The Sweeney | Ray Winstone | Jack Regan | 2012 | |
| Fruitvale Station | Alejandra Nolasco | BART Officer Salazar | 2013 |
Television
| Show Title | Actor | Character | Notation | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 - Season 2 | Peter Outerbridge | Ronnie Stark | 04/15/03 | |
| My Name is Earl | George Frangides | Officer Bob Smiley | S1E09 & S1E17 | 2005 |
| Burn Notice | Gabrielle Anwar | Fiona Glenanne | 2007 | |
| Heroes | Jack Coleman | Noah Bennett | 2007 | |
| NCIS | Pauley Perrette | Abby | 2007 | |
| My Name is Earl | Randy Brenner | Cop | S4E21 | 2009 |
| Sanctuary/ "Hero II" | Used without cartridge in Drive Stun mode | 2010 |
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness | "K2 Impactor" | fully black finish, no blast doors | 2003 | |
| S.W.A.T. 4 | "Taser" | Has yellow muzzle and black colouration on the rest of the weapon | Laser sight is unusable, weapon cannot be used in Drive Stun mode, rubber plug for dataport is missing | 2005 |
| Secret Service | "Taser" | 2008 | ||
| Mirror's Edge | Unusable | 2008 | ||
| Bloody Good Time | "Taser" | Slightly modified | 2010 | |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Zeus X27 | 2012 |
Anime
| Title | Character | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Metal Panic?: Fumoffu | 2003 | ||
| Aria the Scarlet Ammo | 2011 |
Taser X26
The Taser X26 is the smaller but upgraded version of the M26. Developed in response to concerns about the size and weight of the M26 (which has about the same dimensions as a full-sized service pistol), the X26 is 60% smaller in size than the M26. The X26 uses the same cartridges as its predecessor, the M26. The X26 also has the unique ability to be attached to rifles/carbines with an appropriate rail system, using Taser International's "X-Rail" mount.
Improvements over the M26 include an integral LED tactical light along with the standard laser sight (both of which can be switched on or off individually or together), high-visibility iron sights, an LED information display at the back of the weapon that can show the percentage of battery power remaining or the time left in an electrical discharge. The LED display is forced to turn off if neither the light or laser are set to be on while the weapon is armed. The X26 is also capable of recording data on its usage with more storage capacity than the M26, but its dataport is inside the battery socket, instead of being on the outside of the weapon like the M26.
The compactness of the weapon forced the developers to use a proprietary lithium-ion power source, smaller than the M26's battery array. This meant a reduced power level of around 7 watts, but due to its "Shaped Pulse" technology allowing more efficient use of power, the X26 achieves slightly greater NMI effects than the M26 could. All Taser models have since used "Shaped Pulse" technology and lithium-ion power sources, but for some reason Taser International has only made one of its proprietary lithium-ion batteries available in a rechargeable version to date, which is the dual-purpose model inside the "Taser Cam" camera accessory that powers both the weapon and the attached camera.
Three variants of the X26 are currently available. The X26C is the only one that civilians can purchase, and unlike the others does not record firing data. The variants available to law enforcement and military clients are the X26E (which was the earliest variant) and the more advanced X26P. The latter can be distinguished from the others by its more detailed information display, a differently-shaped grip, a redesigned exterior shell, and the ability to use a variety of battery packs that are unavailable to civilians.
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Specifications
Years in Production:
X26/X26E: 2003 - Present
X26C: 2004 - Present
X26P: 2013 - Present
Range (All are LE only unless otherwise noted): 15'(Civilian), 21', 25', 35'
Pulse Cycle (All are LE only unless otherwise noted): 5 seconds (Law Enforcement/Military), 10 - 30 seconds (Civilian)
Film
| Title | Actor | Character | Notation | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District 13: Ultimatum | Cyril Raffaelli | Damien | 2009 | |
| Salt | Angelina Jolie | Evelyn Salt | 2010 | |
| Piranha | Elisabeth Shue | Sheriff Julie Forester | 2010 | |
| Thor | Kat Dennings | Darcy Lewis | 2011 | |
| Courageous | Police | 2011 | ||
| Cosmopolis | Patricia McKenzie | Kendra Hays | With XDPM and spare cartridge | 2012 |
| 21 Jump Street | Channing Tatum | Jenko | holstered | 2012 |
| 21 Jump Street | Jonah Hill | Schmidt | holstered | 2012 |
| Fruitvale Station | Chad Michael Murray | BART Officer Ingram | 2013 | |
| Fruitvale Station | Kevin Durand | BART Officer Caruso | 2013 |
Television
| Show Title | Actor | Character | Notation/Episode | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSI: NY | NYPD Officer | "Uncertainty Rules" (S06E16) | 2004-Present | |
| Future Weapons | Less-Than Lethal | 11/29/07 | ||
| Prison Break - Season 2 | Wade Williams | Brad Bellick | with yellow finish and XDPM | 2006 - 2007 |
| My Name is Earl | Ethan Suplee | Randy | 11/08/07 | |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | George Eads | Nick Stokes | 05/01/08 | |
| FlashForward | NCAP Guard | 05/27/10 | ||
| Law & Order: Los Angeles | Skeet Ulrich | Det. Rex Winters | "Harbor City" | |
| Deadliest Warrior | 04/20/10 |
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears as | Mods | Notation | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Bond 007: Blood Stone | "Stun Gun" | Used by Bangkok police | 2010 | |
| Ghost Recon: Future Soldier | "UB Stun Gun" | can be mounted on ACR, 5.56A-91, AK-200, AKM, AN-94, HK417, Mk 14 Mod 0 and TAR-21 | 2012 | |
| Battlefield Hardline | "T62 CEW" | Can mount a fictional holographic sight even though the real X26 has no rails or other mounting points for sights | 2015 |
Taser X12 LLS
The Taser X12 LLS (for Less Lethal Shotgun) was the result of a collaboration between Taser International and Mossberg that took a standard Mossberg 500-series shotgun and modified it by giving it ghost ring iron sights, a rifled barrel set to a custom 1:18 twist rate, yellow furniture to indicate that it was a dedicated less-lethal weapon, a Picatinny rail, and the Radial Ammunition Key to prevent the firing of lethal 12-gauge shells. Its associated ammunition, the Taser XREP (EXtended Range Electro-Muscular Projectile) shell, on the other hand, can be fired out of any 12-gauge shotgun. The XREP ammunition was released in 2007, with the LLS released in 2009, and both were available to Law Enforcement only.
Given the high cost of the ammunition (the shells were essentially flying, self-contained stun guns good only for a single hit, and may or may not have been recyclable after use), issues with effectiveness in the field, and concerns about its ability to cause inadvertent lethalities, TASER International discontinued sales of the Taser X12 and the Taser XREP ammunition in April 2012. It is therefore unlikely that either will appear in live-action productions after that date.
Specifications
Range: Max of 100'
Pulse Cycle: 20 seconds
Fire Mode: Pump-action
Television
| Show Title | Actor | Character | Notation/Episode | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Five-0 (2010) - Season 1 | Alex O'Loughlin | Lt. Cmdr. Steve McGarrett | "Powa Maka Moani" (S1E17) | |
| Hawaii Five-0 (2010) - Season 1 | Daniel Dae Kim | Chin Ho Kelly | "Powa Maka Moani" (S1E17) | |
| Future Weapons | "Less-Than Lethal" | 11/29/07 | ||
| Strike Back | Philip Winchester | Sergeant Michael Stonebridge | S03E08 | 2012 |
Taser X3/X2 Defender
The Taser X2 and X3 are the newest Tasers on the market, though neither was the first multi-shot CEW to be developed. The X2 and X3 use "Smart Cartridges" which differ from those used by the M26 and the X26, by virtue of being slimmer and having the ability to emit a "warning arc" of electricity to intimidate a potential target or otherwise allow the X2 or X3 to be used in "Drive Stun" mode without needing to be fired or unloaded.
The weapon themselves are fully ambidextrous, have a more detailed LCD screen than the X26, dual visible aiming lasers, an aiming light, plastic blade sights on top, and a new button on the side of the gun to trigger the "warning arc," engage "Drive Stun" mode, or to keep applying electricity to any target(s) previously hit. The difference between the X2, and X3, as their names state, are the amount of cartridges they hold. The Taser X2 can, however, also mount a night-vision-capable "Taser cam."
The Taser X3 was introduced in 2009 and discontinued around 2013, most likely due to its higher weight, bulk, and comparatively low sales. The Taser X2 was introduced in 2011 and currently remains in production. The two models' lithium-ion batteries are not interchangeable.
Specifications
Range: 15'(Training and Civilian versions), 25', 30'
Pulse Cycle: 5 seconds
Television
| Show Title | Actor | Character | Notation/Episode | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Day of the Triffids (2009) | Eddie Izzard | Torrence | Episode 1 | 2009 |
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears as | Notation | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghost Recon: Future Soldier | "Stun Gun" | Black finish, incorrectly shown to be single-shot | 2012 |