Sledge Hammer! was a television parody of the Dirty Harry series which ran from 1986 to 1988 starring David Rasche, Anne-Marie Martin and Harrison Page. Creator Alan Spencer, who envisioned the show as a mix between Dirty Harry and Get Smart, first pitched the show to HBO, but finally went to ABC after HBO didn't like the pilot.
The pilot established the setting as San Francisco, like Dirty Harry, even bringing in John Vernon to reprise his role as the mayor, but apparently San Francisco was appalled and wanted nothing to do with the show, so the setting was never mentioned again. (Stock shots of the police station and police cars used throughout the series still referred to the SFPD, however.) The show struggled with ratings during the first season, as it was scheduled against two heavyweights, Miami Vice on NBC and Dallas on CBS. With prospects for renewal dim, the show pulled out all the stops, and the season, and probable series finale, ended with Sledge Hammer accidentally destroying his unnamed city (and presumable killing himself and all the regulars) while disarming a nuclear warhead. The season finale surprisingly did garner much higher ratings however, and the show was renewed for a second season, albeit with its budget cut to a third of what it was in season one. This left the writers in a bind, however, with the city now destroyed and everyone dead. The show simply aired a disclaimer at the beginning of the season two premiere, stating that season two is set five years before the events of season one. This was quickly ignored, and season two proceeded as if nothing had happened. The budget cut forced the show to switch to 16mm film from 35mm (which is obvious when looking at the screen shots below) and fewer location shoots. The show struggled with ratings in season two as well, and was finally canceled in 1988.
The following guns were used in the television series Sledge Hammer! (1986):
Inspector Sledge Hammer (David Rasche) carries a Smith & Wesson Model 629 as his sidearm. The revolver is arguably the star of the show, as it gets the vast majority of the screen time during the opening credits. The plastic grips have the image of a sledge hammer on each side. Hammer talks to it sometimes, but when people catch him doing it, he always denies it. He also cooks with it, sleeps next to it and showers with it. For a guy who talks a big game and casually discharges his weapon for fun, however, Hammer never actually killed anyone using the gun on the show, most likely constrained by the standards of prime time network television. And for a guy who fires his gun so frequently, Hammer appears to carry few, if any, reloads.
Hammer's partner, Detective Dori Doreau (Anne-Marie Martin) carries either a Smith & Wesson Model 38 or Model 49 as her sidearm. There's no way to tell which it is. Sometimes she keeps it in her purse, others in an outside-the-waistband holster on her skirt.
A thief (Robert Hallak) uses a Browning Hi-Power during a convenience store robbery in "Hammer Gets Nailed" (S01E02), but Hammer takes it away and hands it to his partner, Detective Dori Doreau (Anne-Marie Martin).
Taurus Model 65's appear to be the sidearm of the police department in this show. Officer Lenny (John Milford) tries to collect the bounty on Hammer in "Witless" (S01E03). Vigilante #2 (David Leisure) later uses one to gun down a recently released criminal in "Magnum Farce" (S01E09).
Two syndicate hitmen posing as cops carry Luger P08s in their holsters in "Over My Dead Bodyguard" (S01E08). Hammer recognizes this detail and saves Captain Trunk's life.
Retired cop Gilmore Yates (Stephen Elliot) uses a Colt New Service, which was presumably also his service weapon when he was still a cop.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingColt New Service Revolver - .45 ACP. The Army adopted a version of the New Service, the Colt M1917, with plain wooden grips and a lanyard ring in WWI.Error creating thumbnail: File missingGilly Yates fires his Colt New Service at the range in "The Old Man and the Sledge" (S01E13). Too bad the targets are behind him.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA shot of the other side of the revolver shows the Colt-style cylinder release.
Colt Detective Special (3rd Gen)
Bruce Raddish (Patrick Wayne), posing as Hammer's brother Myles, uses a nickel 3rd Gen Colt Detective Special with white grips in "Brother, Can You Spare a Crime?" (S01E17).
One of counterfeiter Jean-Claude Baptiste's goons uses a Smith & Wesson 39 in "Desperately Seeking Dori" (S01E18). One of the party guests in "Hammer Hits the Rock" (S02E08) draws a nickel-plated S&W 39.
One of counterfeiter Jean-Claude Baptiste's goons uses a Walther PPK in "Desperately Seeking Dori" (S01E18). The killer in "Sledge, Rattle 'n' Roll" (S02E15) kills his first victim with a suppressed PPK.
Myles Theiss' (Ken Letner) Colt Official Police morphs into a Heckler & Koch VP70 of all guns, in a glaring continuity error. It would appear the the switch was made just so the VP70 could fire one round. It morphs back into a Colt Official Police in the next shot.
Officer Elizabeth Jenkins (Beverly Leech) uses a Smith & Wesson Model 19 as her duty weapon in "Wild About Hammer" (S02E04). Armored car guards and cops use S&W 19's in "Hammeroid" (S02E10).
The Hit Man (Al Israel) in "Vertical" (S02E06) uses a Smith & Wesson Model 659. One of the party guests in "Hammer Hits the Rock" (S02E08) has one shot out of his hand.
Claude Goldfunger (Michael Ensign) draws what appears to be a Clerke First .32 revolver in "Sledge in Toyland" (S02E11). It's supposed to be a toy that's modified to fire real ammo.
Tina Clanton (Lisa Robins) uses a suppressed Beretta 92F in "Suppose They Gave a War and Sledge Came?" (S02E16). Hammer picks it up afterwards. He describes it as a "nine-shot Beretta," which might mean it's supposed to be a Beretta M1951, but the prop is clearly a Beretta 92F. It sometimes changes to an M1911A1 in Tina's hands.
Hammer has a Heckler & Koch HK94A3 slung over his shoulder in "State of Sledge" (S01E14). It appears to be a rubber copy, as Hammer never fires it and flops around on the floor with it.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe "Fake MP5", the Heckler & Koch HK94A3 Converted to full auto fire, shortened barrel and added third firing position on trigger pack - 9x19mm. This version was used in many films during the 1980s and 1990s.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe rubber HK94 is visible to Hammer's left.
Heckler & Koch MP5K
Hammer has a Heckler & Koch MP5K slung over his shoulder in "State of Sledge" (S01E14). It appears to be a rubber copy, as Hammer never fires it and flops around on the floor with it.
A police officer is armed with an Ithaca 37 during the sniper standoff. Hammer later takes an Ithaca 37 with an extended magazine from DA Collins (Janice Lynde) in "Magnum Farce" (S01E09).
Hammer coerces a confession from a suspect (Don Stark) using a Winchester Model 1866 "Yellow Boy". This scene was cut from the original pilot, and only reinserted for the DVD release.
One of the mob assassins uses a Armalite AR-18 when they try to kill Hammer in "Witless" (S01E03). An army guard has one shouldered in "They Call Me Mr. Trunk" (S02E13).
One of the mob assassins uses a Steyr AUG when they try to kill Hammer in "Witless" (S01E03). Colonel Poltz (William Smithers) and his soldiers are all armed with AUGs in "They Call Me Mr. Trunk" (S02E13).
Hammer has a AKMS slung over his shoulder in "State of Sledge" (S01E14). It appears to be a rubber copy, as Hammer never fires it and flops around on the floor with it.
Slag (Mark Blankfield) fires an M60 machine gun while perched on the edge of the police headquarters roof in "State of Sledge" (S01E14). The recoil knocks him off the roof.
Isadora (Ann Ryerson) finds a Mk 2 Hand Grenade (and several pairs of sunglasses) in Hammer's bag. Hammer also has a (presumably) deactivated Mk 2 hand grenade decorating his desk.
Hammer is given an M8 Flare Pistol to try to signal a passing helicopter in "State of Sledge" (S01E14). He ends up shooting down the helicopter with the flare pistol.
