Buffalo Soldiers is a 2001 black comedy starring Joaquin Phoenix as Specialist Ray Elwood, a U.S. Army soldier stationed in West Germany who runs a black market empire from within his barracks at Stuttgart, just prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. In addition to Phoenix, the film also starred Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, and Anna Paquin. The film, based on a novel by Robert O'Connor, was controversial due to its unflattering depiction of U.S. military personnel involved in criminal activity. The controversy plagued the film's release, which was, coincidentally, scheduled for roughly the same time frame as the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. After 9/11, the film's release was delayed a further two years, and it had a short theatrical run in 2003 before landing on DVD.
The following weapons were used in the film Buffalo Soldiers (2001):
The Beretta 92FS (standing in for the military-issue M9) is used by U.S. Army personnel in the film, including the Military Police officers led by Staff Sergeant Saad (Shiek Mahmud-Bey). PFC Brian Knoll (Gabriel Mann) uses Berettas twice in the film. While technically not anachronistic for the time in which the film is set (October 1989), the Beretta’s use by Army MPs during that time is unlikely; while it was adopted in 1985, it did not enter Army service widely until 1990. Prior to 1990, its use was mostly limited to Special Operations forces and Airborne infantry.
Prior to meeting Staff Sergeant Saad (Shiek Mahmud-Bey) at a bar, Specialist Ray Elwood (Joaquin Phoenix) is seen loading up a Beretta 92FS Inox. He then uses the Beretta to intimidate Saad during a confrontation. The appearance of the Beretta 92FS Inox is (slightly) anachronistic, since the movie takes place in October 1989, and the Inox variation of the 92FS was not introduced until the following year (1990).
Norinco Model 311 (or CQ) rifles are commonly seen in the film in the hands of U.S. Army personnel. The rifles are clearly intended to be stand-ins for the M16A2, but they are recognizable as CQ rifles due to their stock design, distinctive hand guards and pistol grips, and M16A1-style receivers.
Early M16 (SP1) rifles are used by U.S. Army personnel in the film, in addition to the Norinco Model 311s and M16A1s. Most are fitted with M16A1-style flash hiders to pass for actual M16A1s. During a scene in the armory, Spc. Ray Elwood (Joaquin Phoenix) is seen with an M16 (with original 3-prong flash hider) slung across his back prior to an exercise, before First Sergeant Lee (Scott Glenn) orders him to hand over his rifle and instead carry the M60.
One of the Special Forces involved in drug raid at the end of the film carries a Heckler & Koch MP5K. Though not seen clearly, the weapon appears to be fitted with a PDW folding stock. While the MP5K would have been available during the timeframe of the movie (1989), the PDW folding stock is anachronistic; it was not introduced until 1991.
During a live fire exercise, Spc. Ray Elwood (Joaquin Phoenix) is ordered by First Sergeant Lee (Scott Glenn) to use an M60 machine gun. He is later ordered to fire the M60 at his prized Mercedes.
When Spc. Ray Elwood (Joaquin Phoenix) and his crew unpack the hijacked weapons in the de-commissioned missile facility, a variety of different weapons are seen.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingElwood and Stoney remove weapons from packing crates and load them into medical crates. The weapons include Norinco CQ rifles (left and center), what appear to be MGC replicas of the XM177 (also left), FIM-92 Stinger missile launchers, and what appear to be M29 mortar tubes (center, back and right).
