Law & Order was a crime procedural series that originally aired on NBC from 1990 to 2010. Each episode in the series followed a particular case from the perspective of the police that investigated the crime to the district attorneys who prosecuted the offenders. Despite several cast changes over its two decade run, the show endured to be tied for the longest running drama in US television history. The show would also spawn several direct spinoff series including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, and Law & Order: Los Angeles.
The following weapons were used in the series Law & Order:
The Glock 19 is the main sidearm carried by the majority of NYPD detectives on the show. The first regular detective seen carrying the Glock was Det. Rey Curtis (Benjamin Bratt). The other detectives seen carrying the Glock include Detectives Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin), Nick Falco (Michael Imperioli), Nina Cassidy (Milena Govich), Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson). NYPD Officers are seen carrying Glocks as well. The Glock Model 19 is one of the three semi-automatic 9mm pistols authorized by the NYPD for their officers to carry.
Detective Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) can be seen carrying a Smith and Wesson Model 36 during his time on the show. Det. Mike Logan (Chris Noth), Sgt. Max Greevey (George Dzundza), Sgt. Phil Cerreta (Paul Sorvino), as well as Lt. Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson) and Captain Donald Cragen (Dann Florek) are seen carrying Model 36s as well. Van Buren notably using hers in Season 5's "Competence" (S05E18). The Model 36 is used by many veteran NYPD Detectives.
Detective Joe Fontana (Dennis Farina) carries a Smith & Wesson Model 19 with a 2.5-inch barrel. It could be assumed that his revolver is loaded with .38 special rounds since .357 Magnum revolvers are not on the approved carry list.
A Beretta 92FS is found in Season 3's "Securitate" (S3E20) and is identified as a "Beretta nine millimeter" by Detective Logan. In a continuity break, a M1911A1 on the counter turns into a Beretta 92F in "Poison Ivy" (S01E08). (It's likely a 92F rather than a 92FS because the episode was filmed in 1990.)
In the episode "Animal Instinct", Dirk Chesney (David Schechter) carries an M1911A1 pistol, which is taken by Det. Logan and Det. Briscoe when they arrest him. Another appears in the episode "Mother Love". Sgt. Greevey pulls a M1911A1 out of a gunsmith's (John Capodice) drawer in "Poison Ivy" (S01E08). A patron at a shooting range is seen with a 9mm M1911A1 in "Trust" (S02E15).
A .357 Magnum Ruger Redhawk is a piece of evidence in "Poison Ivy" (S01E08). While it is never called that by name, characters refer to it as a Magnum and say that it was chambered in .357 Magnum. A patron at a shooting range is seen with a Redhawk in "Trust" (S02E15).
Smith & Wesson Model 10s are carried by the NYPD Officers in the initial seasons of the series. The Smith and Wesson Model 10 was an authorized weapon for all NYPD officers who had entered onto the job on or prior to 1986.
What appears to be a Astra 200 is used to kill a police officer in "A Death in the Family" (S01E13). It is picked up off the street by Revina (Karina Arroyave) who draws it on Dets. Greevey and Logan. It is described as a "Smith & Wesson .32."
A Charter Arms Undercover is found in a victim's apartment in "Mushrooms" (S01E17). Another one appears in Season 5's "Wannabe" (S05E16). The gun is said to be chambered in .32 H&R Magnum, which is incorrect, since the Undercover is only chambered in .38 Special, and would therefore be the Undercoverette model, which would be chambered in .32 H&R Magnum.
The murder weapon in "Trust" (S02E15) is a Ruger Speed Six. It is described, however, by the ballistics expert as a Ruger Security Six, with "custom Pachmayr grip, modified hammer and trigger." Since the owner is described as a target shooter, a Security Six, which has adjustable sights, would make more sense than a Speed Six, which only has fixed sights.
A nickel-plated or stainless Tanfoglio Titan II is the murder weapon in "Intolerance" (S02E20). It is described by ballistics as a "Tanfoglio Titan .380."
Two third gen Colt Detective Specials are seen in a "lineup" of revolvers in "Working Stiff" (S02E22). The murder weapon in "White Rabbit" (S05E05) is a first generation Colt Detective Special. The murder weapon in "Causa Mortis" (S07E01) was one as well, but victim was not shot, but bludgeoned with the butt of the gun.
In the episode "Mother Love" (S03E15), Det. Logan finds a Smith & Wesson 61 Escort in the apartment of Jonas "Skate" Stark (Leland Gantt), identifying it as a ".22". Another appears in the episode "Purple Heart" (S05E23).
Smith & Wesson Model 64's are seen in various episodes. The S&W Model 64 was modified to meet NYPD requirements and designated as the Model NY-1 by the NYPD and was the authorized issued revolver for all officers of the NYPD who entered on to "the Job" after 1986 until the department stopped issuing revolvers and began issuing semi-automatic 9mm pistols starting around 1992.
Shane Sutter (Peter Facinelli) performs a mock execution with a stainless Walther PPK in "Performance" (S05E14). Susan Parker (Donna Mitchell) uses one in "Seed" (S05E15). Henry H. Harp (Luke Reilly) draws and fires a stainless PPK in "Double Down" (S07E19).
What appears to be a Beretta Model 70 is seen in the episode "Pride" (S05E23). While it's said to be a .22, the gun's front sights are not seen clearly enough to distinguish it from the Model 71, which is a .22.
The murder weapon in "I.D." (S07E02) is a .25 caliber Budischowsky TP-70. It is described by both EADA Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) and Det. Rey Curtis as a ".25 caliber Fluger pistol," although the close captions say "Ruger" instead of "Fluger."
Lennie Briscoe is shown with a Smith & Wesson 5946 at a police range in "Corruption" (S07E05). He drew his usual Smith & Wesson Model 36 earlier in the episode. He explains to a colleague that he's being forced to transition from a revolver to an automatic, although Lenny is seen still using the S&W 36 in later episodes. It's described as "the Smith & Wesson."
A Kahr K9 can be seen wielded by Henry Young (Bambadjan Bamba) when he takes Det. Falco "hostage" in Falco's apartment in the episode "Hindsight" (16.21). It is later revealed that the gun was not loaded, and Henry was involved with the police in an attempt to get his mother to confess to his girlfriend's murder.
Officers of the NYPD's Emergency Service Unit can be seen armed with Heckler & Koch MP5A3 submachine guns, usually with a Surefire dedicated forend weaponlight.
Heckler & Koch MP5A3 9x19mm with Navy trigger group and Surefire dedicated forend weaponlight
Heckler & Koch MP5KA4
A Heckler & Koch MP5KA4 with a 30-round magazine is held by a Russian Consulate security guard (David Ross) in Season 17's "Fallout" (S17E19).
A school shooter (Andrew Pastides) uses a Hi-Point carbine in what turned out to be the series finale, Season 20's "Rubber Room." It's hard to tell if it is in 9mm or .40 S&W.
A fake suicide is staged with an Over and Under Shotgun in "Rage" (S05E13). Brisco described it a "Perazzi" and said it cost "between ten and twenty grand."
A Steyr AUG is used by a Colombian cartel hitman in Season 3's 'Prince of Darkness" (S3E08) due to the ambidextrous ejection port. Det. Sgt. Phil Ceretta (Paul Sorvino) is seen handling the weapon during an undercover arms deal in the same episode.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe MGC M16 Assault rifle: a non firing metal replica built by the Model Gun Corp of Japan and one of the most used non firing replicas of the M16 in movies and television. The 'forward assist' on the early models like the one imaged here are bolt inserts to keep the receiver together. Modern MGC M16 replicas have improved by third parties over the years (like adding A1 flash hiders) making it more accurate to the real thing making it harder for 'Connoisseurs' to identifyError creating thumbnail: File missingIt's a good thing that's only a replica, because not only is the ESU officer's finger on the trigger, he appears to be pulling it as well.
Miscellanea
The episode "A Death in the Family" (S01E13) features a scene at John Jovino Gun Shop, the oldest gun shop in New York City, and possibly the oldest one in the nation.
