El Mariachi is the 1992 Spanish language action film that marked the feature film directorial debut of Robert Rodriguez. Because the film was made in Mexico on an extremely low budget, some of the guns used in the production were real guns (not converted for blanks) taken from a local police station while others were either BB guns or other toy guns. Robert Rodriguez mentioned in the film's DVD commentary that since they were using blanks in firearms that were not blank-converted, they would often only be able to fire off one round before it jammed. The film was the first in Rodriguez's "Mariachi" trilogy, which includes Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico.
The following weapons were used in the film El Mariachi:
The Iver Johnson Enforcer pistol is seen wielded by a hitman of Moco as well as by one of Azul's thugs in the movie's opening.
MAC-10
Azul carries a MAC-10 fitted with a suppressor as one of the weapons in his guitar case. El Mariachi (Carlos Gallardo) then is seen taking the MAC-10 from the case and using it. Several of Moco's thugs are seen using MAC-10's without a sound suppressor as well. The gun is frequently switched to other various guns in the many continuity errors in the film. It appears that due to the film's low budget, the MAC-10, the TEC-9 mini, and the Micro Uzi are the only submachine guns used in the film.
Micro Uzi Water Pistol
A water gun in the shape of a Micro Uzi is one of the main weapons used by Moco's thugs. It often seen changing into a MAC-10 in several shots.
Mossberg 500
A Mossberg 500 shotgun is first seen carried by one of Moco's men and then is seen used by one of Azul's thugs.
A Smith & Wesson Model 34 is seen used by a thug to threaten Azul. Azul then uses the revolver to hold Dominó hostage and then El Mariachi is seen using the revolver.
Intratec TEC-9 Mini
The Intratec TEC-9 Mini is first seen pulled out by one of Azul's men. The TEC-9 is then seen throughout the film used by Moco's thugs, sometimes without a barrel shroud. At one point, El Mariachi is seen firing the TEC-9 in a continuity error (he had held a MAC-10 just previously). Director Robert Rodriguez mentioned that when using this gun, they could only get one shot off before jamming. In order to simulate automatic fire, the frame was reprinted several times.
When Azul enters a rival gang's bar, after killing many of the men inside with his MAC-10, Azul pursues one of the men into the bathroom and kills him with what looked to be either a cut down bolt action rifle or some kind of bolt action pistol.