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 the 1995 sci-fi film 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, a Hungarian copy of the Browning Hi-Power. 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.
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.
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.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingSmith & Wesson Model 19 Snub Nose - .357 MagnumError creating thumbnail: File missingNYPD Detective Trupo (Josh Brolin) pulls his revolver during a confrontation with Frank's dog. 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 film's time period, however, 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.Error creating thumbnail: File missingTrupo picks up his revolver after hearing of bad news.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
