Lt. Shawn Fynn (Roger Moore) uses a suppressed Walther P38 during the scene when his team takes control of the airport. Another P38 is used by a mafia hitman during their hunt for Shawn Fynn. Col. Faulkner also uses a P38 to perform a mercy-killing later in the movie.
The Sgt. Major "Sandy" (Jack Watson) uses a Colt M1911 to discipline a soldier during training. He later uses it during the final shootout at the airfield. Another 1911 is used by a mafia hitman during the Shawn Fynn rescue.
A Czechoslovakian Sa.23 Submachine Gun with a fixed wooden stock is seen in the parachute harness of a mercenary as they prepare to do a jump from the C-130 transport plane. Later it is seen being used by the 4th NCO, Derek (Joe Cole) as the mercenaries capture Zembala airport. Derek is still carrying it when Lt. Fynn's detachment capture the battered old Dakota DC-3.
It is the 23 model because it is 9mm Parabellum, the later 7.62x25mm Tokarev model has a slanted pistol grip and magazine hence the ammunition. While it might be unusual for one of the mercenaries to be carrying a communist weapon during the Cold War, the design was actually sold to and adopted by South Africa during that time period. Some may think it is a South African Sanna-77 submachine gun. The Sanna-77 was a semi-automatic SMG issued to white Afrikaans farmers during the Aparthied era as a protection weapon, however many claim that is was merely an updated Sa.25 (folding stock 9mm). This is unlikely since the Sanna-77 was only manufactured in a folding stock version.
There is a huge mix of all manners of FAL rifles in the film. The Mercenaries use a mix of LAR, FAL 50.00 and L1A1 SLR models. Some of them are firing semi auto and others are firing full automatic.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingBritish Inch Pattern L1A1 SLR (Self Loading Rifle) chambered in 7.62x51mmError creating thumbnail: File missingMercenaries all fire the L1A1 SLR (Self Loading Rifle) chambered in 7.62x51mm. Medical Orderly Arthur Witty (far left) carries an Uzi during his jump, uses an L1A1 during the first battle, and then switches back to an Uzi for the rest of the film. Actor Percy Herbert (middle) also seen using a L1A1.Error creating thumbnail: File missingMercenary Samuels (Brook Williams on the left) uses an L1A1 during the barracks attack, while Esposito on the right (Glyn Baker son of famous actor Stanley Baker) uses a full auto FN FAL 50.00 rifle - 7.62x51mm
FN FAL 50.61
Some of the Mercenaries and nearly all of the Simbas (General Endoufa's crack troops) carry the FN FAL 50.61 paratrooper rifle. This is odd, since the junta's forces are being aided by the Soviet Bloc (note the Cuban and East German military Advisors), thus it would have been more likely that the junta's soldiers are issued AK47s or other Combloc weapon.
However, the number of FN-FAL available for the production is logical though as the movie was filmed in South Africa and used South African weapons.
Alot of the of the Mercenaries carry the FN LAR automatic rifle (early FAL variant) with a wooden stock. Faulkner is seen holding a FAL for one of the soldiers while the latter cuts through a barb-wire fence. Note the slim folded bipod.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingOriginal FN LAR (Light Automatic Rifle) - full auto rifle with Wooden buttstock - 7.62x51mm NATO. Note the folded bipod. Many of these rifles were issued with wooden buttstocks by FN Belgium and are seen in wars all over the world in this configuration.Error creating thumbnail: File missingCol. Allen Faulkner (Richard Burton) holding Keith's (Percy Herbert) FN LAR "Light Automatic Rifle" 1st pattern FAL while the latter is assisting cutting the barb wired fence. - 7.62x51mm.Error creating thumbnail: File missingMercenary Keith (Percy Herbert) fires his FN LAR "Light Automatic Rifle". Note the slim folded bipod thats shown just left of his left hand.
FN FAL 50.00
Hardy Krueger as Lt. Pieter Coetzee uses an FN FAL 50.00 with a wooden buttstock, like many of the other mercenaries.
Ex SAS member Tosh Donaldson played by Ian Yule used a weapon that was a chopped down L1A1 SLR that was converted to full auto fire with a special single dot reflex sight and flash hider (and 40 round 7.62x51mm magazines). The actor Ian Yule, was a former real life Mercenary in the Congo during the 1960s under the command of Major Mike Hoare. For many years, fans of the film assumed the weapon was a South African R1 Variant, but information directly from the actor reminds us that there was an arms embargo against South Africa during the 1970s (because of apartheid). This was a custom made L1A1 carbine that came from a UK Movie armory.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingBritish Inch Pattern L1A1 SLR (Self Loading Rifle) chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO - Variation of the FN FAL rifle. British & New Zealand SLR's were later fitted with black fibreglass furniture as seen here.Error creating thumbnail: File missingCustom shortened L1A1 SLR (Self Loading Rifle) as used in The Wild Geese (photoshopped image) - 7.62x51mmError creating thumbnail: File missingTosh Donaldson (Ian Yule) fires his Custom L1A1 Battle Carbine at the attacking plane - 7.62x51mm
SIG SG 510
During the attack on the barracks, a Mercenary carries a StG 57/SIG SG 510 Assault Rifle. It is also seen fired in the prone position during the final firefight.
A Vickers Machine Gun is used by the Mercenaries in the final firefight with the Simbas, manned first by Sgt. Jock McTaggart and then by Capt. Rafer Janders. This weapon was most likely scavanged by the Mercenaries at the Airport (by Colonel Faulkners orders) since its not a light-weight weapon and were probably not parachuted in with the Mercenaries.
Tosh Donaldson (Ian Yule) carries and uses a Belgian RL-83 Blindicide multiple times during the final firefight. Tosh's rocket launcher does not have the blast shield installed.
