Toy Soldiers is a 1991 American action thriller film that focuses on a group of mostly problematic, non-disciplined students who have their prep school taken over by a group of Colombian terrorists. The terrorist leader, Luis Cali (Andrew Divoff) plants explosives throughout the school grounds and threatens to blow it up along with everyone in it if his demands aren't met or the school is assaulted. As the US Army is called in to figure out a way to effectively deal with the situation, the students take it upon themselves to make efforts to re-take the school. In addition to Divoff, the film's cast includes Sean Astin, Louis Gossett Jr., Michael Champion, and Wil Wheaton. The film received assistance from the US Department of Defense, who provided UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters (both new in Army inventory at the time) for the production.
The following weapons were used in the film Toy Soldiers:
Luis Cali (Andrew Divoff) carries a Glock 19 pistol as his weapon of choice. Along with The Hard Way and New Jack City, this is one of very first appearances of the Glock 19 in a feature film.
Jack Thorpe (Michael Champion), the American terrorist and Luis' second in command, carries a Beretta 92SB as his sidearm, noted by its rounded trigger guard. When Thorpe shows his Beretta to the campus guard when the terrorists first arrive at the school, it has a suppressor mounted. A Special Forces soldier also uses a Beretta 92SB at the end of the film.
Jack Thorpe (Michael Champion) and some of other terrorists overrunning the school are mainly armed with Heckler & Koch SP89 submachine guns mocked up as the Heckler & Koch MP5K. These weapons are also used by FBI HRT operators and US Army Special Forces soldiers as well. Billy Tepper (Sean Astin) takes one from a terrorist when the US Army launched the assault and tries to ambush Luis Cali (Andrew Divoff) with it, but is thwarted.
One of the terrorists is seen multiple times holding an Uzi Carbine, the civilian model of the Uzi, fitted with a 16-inch barrel with a barrel shroud. It seems the armorers converted it to full-auto fire for the film. It is most notably used when Joey Trotta (Wil Wheaton) knocks out a terrorist and attempts to kill another, failing as the muzzle rise, very inaccurately depicted, raises his fire to the sky.
A King's County Sheriff's deputy is seen pulling what appears to be a Remington 870 shotgun from his police car when the police officers first arrive at the school.
Several terrorists carry the Norinco Type 56-1 assault rifle, noted by the hooded front sight and underfolding stock. It is fitted with an AKM-style muzzle brake, making it similar to the gun used in Heat, meaning it was a semi-automatic Chinese import, fitted with the slanted muzzle by the gun's importer and converted to full-auto for the film.
Most of US Army Special Forces soldiers are armed with mocked Colt XM177-type Carbines. These weapons feature 16-inch lightweight barrels with slip-over fake XM177 moderators. Some appear to be built-up from a combination of A1 and SP1 receivers, while others feature full SP1 upper and lower receivers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingActual XM177E2 Carbine aka Colt Model 629 - 5.56x45mmError creating thumbnail: File missingAR-15 Sporter 1 Carbine converted into an XM177 Lookalike - 5.56x45mmError creating thumbnail: File missingTwo U.S. Army soldiers in ghillie suits detain Billy Tepper (Sean Astin). The one on the right wields a mockup Colt XM177/Commando Carbine, built off an A1 upper receiver (noted by the forward assist) and a 'slabside' SP1 lower (noted by the lack of 'fencing' around the magazine release).Error creating thumbnail: File missingTwo Special Forces soldiers fire their Commando Carbines.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAnother Special Forces soldier fires his Colt Commando. This weapon mocked up from an SP1 upper and lower as evident by the lack of forward assist, shell deflector and magazine fencing.
Iver Johnson AMAC-1500
The FBI team has two snipers armed with what appear to be Iver Johnson AMAC-1500 sniper rifles. They have heavy muzzle brakes and fluted barrels. One appears to be an older spec than the other based on the different muzzle brakes.
Another Colombian soldier in the opening sequence is briefly seen with a Heckler & Koch G3 rifle. However it could be a Heckler & Koch HK91 rifle, but it is never seen close enough.
A Colombian soldier in the opening sequence is briefly seen with a Beretta AR-70/223 assault rifle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingBeretta AR-70/.223. - 5.56x45mm NATOError creating thumbnail: File missingA Colombian soldier with his AR-70/223. Note that the Colombian Ministry of Defense has never purchased/issued the aforementioned SKS rifles, Steyr AUG rifles or the Beretta AR-70/223 shown here.
Machine Guns
Browning M1919A4
A Browning M1919A4 machine gun is mounted on a Colombian Army jeep during the opening sequence in Colombia.
The belltower guards set up a .50 caliber Browning M2HB heavy machine gun to watch the front gate. They notably use it to disable an approaching sheriff's police car. M2HBs are also seen set up at other positions of the school.
The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, notably those transporting and dropping the soldiers into the school, are armed with two door-mounted M60D machine guns.
The belltower guard uses an M72 LAW anti-tank rocket launcher to blow up sheriff's police car. Several additional LAW launchers are seen in the film. Jack Thorpe (Michael Champion) notably attempts to use one on the incoming UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. Throughout the film, several rockets are seen next to the launchers, suggesting that the LAW can be reloaded, but in reality, it is a single use weapon.
Still partially alive after being shot by the snipers, one of the roof guards' last act is to drop an M67 hand grenade down on the FBI team and kill all but the leader, who is wounded in the leg.
M230 Chain Guns are mounted on the AH-64 Apache gunships that provide cover for the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters during the assault on the school. It appears that when the Apache is actually seen firing its M230 (notably at Thorpe), a prop mockup that emits acetylene flame is used.
