Thief is the 1981 film that marked the directorial debut of Michael Mann. It starred James Caan as Frank, a jewel thief. Mann, director of other famous films such as Heat and Collateral is known for his attention to detail, especially in firearms. He is supposedly a certified range instructor himself, but for this film, he and actor Caan attended classes at Gunsite, a renowned firearms training facility. The story goes that they trained in the "Modern Combat Technique," until Jeff Cooper (founder of Gunsite, and the technique) learned who Mann's film protagonist was (a criminal). Cooper insisted that a thief would never be allowed to learn the Modern Technique and refused to continue instruction. Allegedly, Chuck Taylor, Cooper's operations manager at the time (and a well-known instructor himself), then decided to take them off-site and teach them the methods you see in the film.
Caan's training is obvious, as he uses an exaggerated Weaver Stance, high thumbhold grip, speed reloading, and room clearing techniques directly attributable to the Modern Combat Technique.
One of the guns used by the main character, Frank (James Caan), is a 6" long slide M1911A1 pistol customized by California gunsmith Jim Hoag. There is a long vertical cutout on the skeletonized trigger, which means the pistol is most likely a Colt Gold Cup National Match, or just used such a trigger. Hoag Gun Works modified the pistol by lengthening the slide, squaring the trigger guard, adding a Bo-Mar adjustable rear sight, skeletonized hammer and beavertail grip safety. If this pistol is indeed a Gold Cup, then it is presumably chambered in .45 ACP.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingColt Gold Cup National Match - probably the base pistol for the custom Hoag longslide used in the film.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAirsoft Long Slide 1911A1 replica, very similar to what Frank used in the film.Error creating thumbnail: File missingFrank (James Caan) does a brass check on his Hoag M1911A1. Before going into Attaglia's business. Note that in the film, this is supposed to be the long slide pistol, but it is actually a normal Colt Gold Cup NM in this brief scene. Note the way he does a brass check, thumb in trigger guard, fingers in front of muzzle. At the time of filming this was the taught method, but is no longer taught anymore.Error creating thumbnail: File missing"I am the last guy in the world that you wanna fuck with." Frank holds his custom 1911A1 on Attaglia, demanding his money.Error creating thumbnail: File missingBest view of Frank's (James Caan) longslide M1911A1, as he clears the rooms in Leo's home.Error creating thumbnail: File missingLike in the scene when he does a brass check, his longslide 1911A1 changes to a normal Colt Gold Cup NM when clearing the rooms.Error creating thumbnail: File missingFrank aims his longslide 1911A1 on a wounded Leo.Error creating thumbnail: File missingFrank fires his longslide 1911A1 at Leo.Notice the muzzle flash its the same muzzle flash used in his other movie Manhunter.This is the first movie that Michael Mann used the "Mozambique Drill" or "Faliure Drill", two in the sternum,and one in the head.Error creating thumbnail: File missingFrank changing out a magazine outside Leo's home. Note that the slide isn't locked back, he only fired 5 to 6 rounds prior. So he would have 1 to 2 rounds remaining depending on how he loaded his gun. Frank is smart enough to swap in a fully loaded magazine at the opportune time rather than run out in the middle of the gun fight and then try to reload.Error creating thumbnail: File missingFrank loading in a fresh magazine.
Colt Combat Commander
When Frank (James Caan) first goes to visit Attaglia (Tom Signorelli) about his money. A Colt Commander is seen in the hidden compartment of the door panel. In one brief scene, Frank flashes the Colt Combat Commander at a nightclub bouncer played by a young William Petersen. Frank is later seen with at his car lot when he is looking for Barry (James Belushi). But he is unable to use it because he gets knock out by a mobster with an M1 Carbine.
It looks like the stainless model, but I don't think stainless CC's were available in 1980, so it's probably a chromed finish. It has a Bo-Mar adjustable rear sight, and custom skeletonized hammer. Even though the entire pistol cannot be seen, due to the crease in Frank's waistband and the shadow it casts, it appears to be the shorter slide of a Combat Commander.
looks like a G3 or HK91 -Joe (Note: Good job Joe your dead on its either definitely but you can't tell.- Tyler Durden)
More likely the Hk91 or as it would be commercially available in the USA rather than the G3 which was not imported in the same numbers. Another clue is the entire weapon is obviously black including the foreend. A G3 would have green furniture.- Jon P
