American Gangster is the 2007 biographical crime drama that centers on the life of Frank Lucas, a low level gangster working out of Harlem who in the late 1960's rose to power after devising a way to smuggle a pure form of heroin to the States directly from the Far East during the height of the Vietnam War. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film stars Denzel Washington as Lucas and Russell Crowe as Richie Roberts, a New Jersey detective who was instrumental in taking the crime boss down. (Ironically, both actors previously starred together in Virtuosity, in which Washington played the cop and Crowe played the criminal.)
The following weapons were used in the film American Gangster:
Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) carries a Fegyver és Gépgyár PJK-9HP. This weapon is chrome plated with wood grips, and has been converted for blank fire. During production the gun was set up as a "solid plug" version, meaning the barrel was completely blocked off so the gun could safely be fired close to a person's skin. This was necessary for the scene in the film where Lucas shoots a rival gangster in the forehead, and then places the gun on his chest.
There was only one FÉG pistol rented for the production, so the same gun can be seen on screen in every shot. It can be matched by the wood grain of the grips and small scratches on the frame.
Beretta 950 Jetfire
A nickel-plated Beretta 950 Jetfire is used by one of Lucas's party guests to wound another with a leg shot.
What appears to be a Colt Combat Commander is used by Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) to dispatch a rival who also was set on fire at the film's beginning.
Revolvers
Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub Nose
NYPD Detective Trupo (Josh Brolin) uses a Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub Nose throughout the movie. This is a technical inaccuracy as the NYPD did not authorize the .357 magnum revolver (and never has) for use by its officers during the time period covered in the movie. Officers were restricted to .38 special Colt or Smith & Wesson revolvers in the sixties and seventies. But Trupo is a corrupt cop who ignores the rules and has "juice", so it could be argued he received a special exemption as long as he loaded it with .38 Special only.
Smith & Wesson Model 629
Huey Lucas (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Frank Lucas's brother, uses a Smith & Wesson Model 629 during the raid at the drug factory. This would be inaccurate for the time period as the raid takes place in 1975, while the revolver first came out in 1978.
Smith & Wesson Model 64
Det. Ritchie Roberts (Russell Crowe) carries a Smith & Wesson Model 64 with a 3" barrel as his sidearm. This particular model is anachronistic as it was first introduced in 1981, while the film takes place in the late 60s and early to mid 70s.
Colt Official Police
The Colt Official Police revolver is used by various police officers throughout the movie. Both the 2" snub nosed version and the 4" standard configuration are carried.
Colt Python
In an alternate opening, Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) drops one of his guns which most closely resembles a Colt Python with electrical tape on it in several places.
Röhm RG-24
Frank's cousin uses a Röhm RG-24 revolver to shoot and injure Darlynn (Quisha Saunders).
Submachine Guns
Ingram MAC-10
A suppressed MAC-10 is used by one of the drive-by shooters during a assassination attempt on Frank and his wife.
Uzi
One of the guards at Frank's heroin plant carries an IMI Uzi.
Detective Roberts (Russell Crowe) and various other police officers use Ithaca 37 shotguns during the raid on Frank's heroin distribution center. Another Ithaca 37 is seen in the hands of one of the thugs at the distribution center.
High Standard K-1200 Riot Standard Shotgun
One of the men guarding the processing center is armed with a shotgun that resembles a High Standard K-1200 Riot Standard Shotgun. A similar shotgun is wielded by Detective Alfonse Abruzzo (Yul Vazquez) during the raid.
Sawed-off Double Barrel Shotgun
Frank's doorman at the heroin plant uses a Sawed-off double-barreled shotgun. He has it loaded with birdshot, and foolishly tries to shoot it through a steel door, which injures on him and the girls in the room when the shot ricochets.
Double Barreled Shotgun
A standard Double barrel shotgun is held by one of Lucas's guards at heroin processing center.
Frank carries a CAR-15 carbine when dealing with the Nationalist heroin producers in Vietnam. As with most appearances of this weapon on film, this is likely another M16 variant that has been modified to resemble a CAR-15.
M16A1
A M16A1 assault rifle is seen during the Vietnam sequence.
AKM
One of the guards in the Nationalists' heroin fields is seen with an AKM assault rifle.
Machine Gun
M60 Machine Gun
An M60 machine gun is briefly seen in the hands of a soldier in Vietnam.