American Gangster

The following guns were used in the movie American Gangster

Browning Hi-Power

Used by Frank Lucas.

Browning HP - 9mm

Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) with a nickel plated Browning Hi-Power.

This hero blank-fire Browning Hi-Power clone, manufactured by FEN, was used by Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas in the Ridley Scott film American Gangster. Inspired by a real-life events, American Gangster tells the story of notorious Harlem gangster Frank Lucas and his organization in the 1970s.

This pistol is a Browning Hi-Power clone manufactured by FEN. It 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 shocking scene in the film where Washington, as Lucas, shoots a rival gangster in the forehead, and then places the gun on his chest.

This was the only FEN pistol rented to the production and so therefore is the one seen on screen in every shot. It can be screen matched by the woodgrain of the grips and small scratches on the frame.

Beretta 950 Jetfire

The Beretta Jetfire is chambered in .25 ACP, and was first manufactured in 1953 as a carry or holdout pistol.

Ingram MAC-10

A drive-by shooting on the streets of Harlem with a MAC-10 9mm.

Colt Python

File:AG-Revolver.jpg

Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) drops a revolver of unknown make and model, most likely a Colt Python .357 Magnum revolver with a four inch barrel.The image of the revolver shows a hammer that matches the Python's hammer and the grips appear to be the 2nd generation wooden grips used by Colt on the Python throughout the sixties and seventies. Unlikely that it would be a S&W 586 since that model was not introduced by S&W until 1980 and the scene is supposed to recreate an inccident from Frank's early days as a gangster.That would put it in the late fifties or early sixties.

Colt Python with 4" Barrel - .357 Magnum

This actually looks more like a S&W 586 than a Python as the guard, grips, and sights look like those of a Smith, and the vent ribs are not seen so it's likely that there was just a continuity error in the film.

Browning Superpose Shotgun

Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) with a breech loading single barreled shotgun, the New England Firearms SB-1.

CAR-15

Commercial CAR-15 semiautomatic Rifle - 5.56mm. This is strictly a semiautomatic civilian copy of the XM177 style of rifles.

File:XM177E1.jpg

XM-177E1 Carbine 5.56mm, Used by U.S. forces in the Vietnam war.

Carried by Frank when dealing with the Nationalist heroin producers

M-16A1

The original M16, the first version, firing in a 20-round magazine, adopted in large numbers by the U.S. Army in Vietnam. This has the original 3-prong flash hider. It would later be replaced by the upgraded M16A1 - 5.56mm

M16 aka SP1 (flat "slab side receiver") with an A1 "birdcage" Flash hider, used to imitate the M16A1 in many Vietnam era movies. This version has a 20 round magazine - 5.56mm

M-16A1 with M203 Grenade Launcher

M16A1 5.56mm with M203 grenade launcher 40mm

M16A1 with Cobray CM203 37mm Flare Launcher for Comparison - 37mm. Many times these unrestricted 37mm launchers double for the real M203 launcher.

AKM

Maadi ARM - most of the AKMs seen in movies during the 1980s were imported ARMs that were legally converted to full auto fire. This image is of an actual movie gun. The laminated buttstock was replaced with a hardwood one when the original stock was broken during a stunt. This example is also loaded with a 30-round bakelite plastic magazine - 7.62x39mm

Ithaca 37

Ithaca Model 37 riot version - 12 gauge

Sawed off Double Barrel Shotgun

Used by Frank's doorman at the heroin plant

Uzi

Used by one of the guards at Frank's heroin plant

IMI Uzi 9mm

Sterling Submachine Gun

Used by one of the guards at Frank's heroin plant

Sterling Submachine Gun - 9mm