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Die Hard

From Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
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Die Hard (1988)

Die Hard is the 1988 action film starring Bruce Willis as John McClane, an NYPD detective who on Christmas Eve travels to Los Angeles to visit his estranged wife at the office tower where she works. He then finds himself having to battle terrorists who seize the tower and hold his wife and 30 others hostage. The film, which was directed by John McTiernan, spawned four sequels and helped launch Bruce Willis' action movie career. In addition, the basic plot of a single person taking on terrorists while trapped in a confined space would serve as the basis for a great number of action films in the following decades.

The following weapons were used in the film Die Hard:


SPOILERS.jpg WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!


Handguns

Beretta 92F

The Beretta 92F features prominently in the film as the sidearm of Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis). At one point, Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) is seen holding the Beretta. Karl (Alexander Godunov) gets ahold of it during a fight near the end of the film as well. Another Beretta can also be seen being carried by one of the SWAT officers involved in the ill-fated raid on the Nakatomi Building.

Beretta 92F (9x19mm) used by Bruce Willis in Die Hard. This is the screen-used gun from the film; note the extended mag release and slide release, which were modifications made specifically for Bruce Willis.
In the beginning of the movie, a fellow plane passenger cautiously eyes McClane's 92F in his shoulder holster, but McClane assures him he's a cop.
John McClane (Bruce Willis) holds the Beretta 92F while hiding in the Nakatomi boardrooom.
McClane draws his Beretta 92F when confronted by Hans Gruber's henchmen in the boardroom.
McClane with his Beretta 92F drawn while taking cover from incoming fire from both Hans and Karl. Clearly visible in this image (if enlarged to full-size) is the extended slide release - compare to the picture of the screen-used gun above.
McClane fires over 15 rounds from his Beretta 92F. Two rounds were fired on the terrorist first entering the room, and about 15 were fired through the table.
A SWAT officer with a Beretta 92F.
McClane loads another mag into his Beretta.
McClane pretends to chamber a round into his Beretta. Note his finger is on the slide release so it doesn't lock.
Hans Gruber holds Detective John McClane at gunpoint with McClane's own Beretta 92F.
Karl goes to grab McClane's Beretta during their fight.
"Happy Trails, Hans..." McClane blows away the smoke from the barrel of his 92F.

Heckler & Koch P7M13

Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) carries a hard chrome Heckler & Koch P7M13 as his main weapon, notably using it to threaten Joseph Takagi (James Shigeta) and Harry Ellis (Hart Bochner), and then brandishing it at the climax of the film, holding McClane's wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) at gunpoint. When he first brings out the weapon while threatening Takagi, he is shown removing a matching suppressor from the barrel, thus indicating it's not a P7M13SD because there is no threaded barrel to use a suppressor. According to the script, Hans was supposed to carry a Walther (likely a PPK, but it's not specifically identified) It is assumed that the P7M13 was used in place of this, as it bears resemblance to a Walther PPK.

Hard Chrome Heckler & Koch P7M13 - 9x19mm
Hans Gruber taking the suppressor off his P7M13.
Hans Gruber prepares to use his H&K P7M13. When he fires, the camera smash-cuts to another shot, presumably because, according to director John McTiernan, Alan Rickman could not help flinching.
Closeup of the P7M13.
"How nice to make your acquaintance!" Hans fires his H&K in the air.
Another shot of Hans Gruber holding Holly Gennaro at gunpoint with his Heckler & Koch P7M13.
Holly Gennaro with Hans Gruber's Heckler & Koch P7M13 to her head.
Hans falls from the 30th floor of the Nakatomi Building while still holding his Heckler & Koch P7M13. The look on his face is authentic as Rickman was dropped prematurely when performing the stunt.

Walther P5

The terrorist Heinrich is seen pulling what appears to be a Walther P5 as he and Marco confront McClane in the boardroom.

Walther P5 - 9x19mm
Heinrich pulls his pistol on McClane as Marco tries to get out of the way.

Walther PPK

During the takeover of the Nakatomi Building, Karl (Alexander Godunov) can be seen using a suppressed Walther PPK to kill the security guards at the front desk and by the elevators. He later has it without the silencer when he hears McClane leave following Takagi's death and goes to investigate.

Suppressed Walther PPK - .380 ACP
Karl (Alexander Godunov) takes out the security guard.
Karl (Alexander Godunov) with his suppressed Walther PPK in one hand and a hockey puck flash bang in the other before taking out the second security guard.

Smith & Wesson Model 15

At the end of the film, McClane finally gets to meet Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson) in person and is introducing him to his wife when Powell has to pull his Smith & Wesson Model 15. He is seen firing 5 rounds.

Smith & Wesson Model 15 - .38 Special
Closeup of Powell's Model 15 as he fires.
Sergeant Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson, right) with his Smith & Wesson Model 15.

Submachine Guns

Heckler & Koch HK94 (chopped and converted)

Another frequently-seen weapon in the film is the Heckler & Koch HK94s chopped and converted to look like MP5A3s. The Heckler & Koch MP5A3 was often considered the Rolls Royce of submachine guns when it was first introduced to the market (as of now, it is being phased out by much more sophisticated submachine guns) and are used primarily by Gruber's men (and occasionally Gruber himself). When Gruber gives the order for his two men in the lobby to only wound the SWAT trying to break in, that might have prevented much bloodshed, as the MP5 has a much higher rate of fire and its compact size makes it more maneuverable in CQB compared to the SWAT's M16s. McClane manages to commandeer one from one of the terrorists, Tony Vreski (Andreas Wisniewski), informing his comrades of this by leaving a note on Tony's corpse saying that "Now I have a machine gun. Ho Ho Ho.". At one point, McClane extends the stock hoping to use it as an anchor so he can descend down the ventilation shaft via the sling, though the sling doesn't support his weight for long, soon coming undone and sending him falling into the shaft before he catches himself on the opening of an air vent. He then procures another MP5 from another slain terrorist, using it until he runs out of ammunition during a gun battle with Karl. He then procures yet another MP5 from a terrorist on the roof, firing it into the air to scare the hostages brought up. He discards it when it runs out of ammunition before the final battle with Hans.

Heckler & Koch HK94 chopped and converted to resemble an MP5A3. Note the lack of a paddle magazine release, a lugged barrel, and a push pin set - 9x19mm
The terrorists arrive at the party wielding Heckler & Koch HK94A3's
Tony Vreski (Andreas Wisniewski) searches for McClane while armed with the HK94.
McClane holds the converted HK94 while attempting to evade Karl and his men.
Closeup of the barrel of the "MP5A3" as McClane uses it to hold back a ventilation fan. Note the lack of barrel lugs; this shows it to be a converted HK94.
McClane uses the converted HK94 as an anchor in the shaft. Note lack of paddle magazine release and push pin set.
"No more Table! Where are you going, Pal? Next time you get the chance to kill someone, don't hesitate!" Note that Marco uses the button release to eject the magazine.
McClane with his HK94 when he talks to Hans Gruber on the walkie-talkie.
Uli (Al Leong) is armed with the HK94 as he prepares to repel the SWAT officers.

Rifles

MGC M-16 Model Gun Corp Replica Rifle

When the SWAT team makes their ill-fated raid on the Nakatomi building, they can be seen carrying MGC M-16 Model Gun Corp Replica Rifles. Furthermore, the SWAT team's M16 rifles despite their power are notably bulky and do not handle easily in CQB. Some M16's can be seen with 20-round magazines, while others appear to have 30-round magazines.

MGC rifle
A SWAT officer with an MGC M-16, as noted by the bolt insert. Note the magazine, which appears to be too long for a 20-round model, but too short for a 30-round.
SWAT officers in the crowd with M16s

Steyr AUG

One of the most unusual weapons in the film, as the writers are contrasting the terrorists' exotic European weapons versus the American weapons used by the LAPD, the Steyr AUG assault rifle's bullpup design enables a decent barrel length in a compact design, and it also has an integrated scope. The AUG is used by Karl (Alexander Godunov) during his personal mission to get revenge against McClane after he killed the first terrorist, who happened to be his brother. In a memorable scene of the film, Karl emerges with his AUG in hand.

Steyr AUG - 5.56x45mm
Karl assembles his Steyr AUG on the elevator.
Karl shoots at the vents with Steyr AUG hoping to hit McClane.
Karl with his Steyr AUG to McClane's head. The AUG appears to be a rubber prop here, as the scope seems to be filled in and no glass can be seen. It is also knocked away soon.
A bloodied Karl wields his Steyr AUG.

Steyr SSG 69

Mistaking McClane for a terrorist shooting hostages, FBI Special Agent Johnson (Robert Davi) is seen taking aim with what appears to be a Steyr SSG 69 fitted with an AN/PVS-3 Starlight night-vision scope.

Steyr SSG 69 - 7.62x51mm NATO
Special Agent Johnson #1 (Robert Davi) readies his sniper rifle.
Special Agent Johnson #1 (Robert Davi) rides in the gunship with his sniper rifle.
Johnson #1 aims his sniper rifle at McClane.
Another shot of Johnson #1 with the sniper rifle as the roof is blown. Note that the rifle appears to have a magazine attached to it.

Machine Guns

M60E3 Machine Gun

Another weapon in the terrorists' arsenal, an M60E3 machine gun is the weapon used by Alexander to turn Sgt. Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson)'s police car into "swiss cheese" after McClane throws Marco out of a window and onto the hood of his car. It is also used to shoot out spotlights during the attempted SWAT raid on the Nakatomi building.

M60E3 machine gun - 7.62x51mm NATO
The terrorist Alexander fires the M60E3 at Powell's police car.

M60 Machine Gun

The gunner on the Huey helicopter carrying FBI Special Agents Johnson and Johnson is seen opening fire on McClane with a full-sized M60 Machine Gun.

M60 machine gun with bipod folded - 7.62x51mm NATO
"Nail that sucker!" Special Agent Johnson #1 (Robert Davi) orders the US Army UH-1 Huey doorgunner to open fire with his M60 machine gun on McClane (whom they thought was one of the terrorists).

Other

"Hockey Puck" Flash Bang

During the takeover of the Nakatomi building, the terrorists use flash-bang grenades shaped like hockey pucks to disorient the guard by the elevators long enough for Karl to kill him. One of these weapons is also used during the gun battle that ensues after McClane and Gruber's first meeting when the terrorists are attempting to pin down McClane by shattering the glass windows surrounding him.

One of the "Hockey Puck" flash-bangs moments before detonating and disorienting a security guard

Custom Rocket Launcher

When the building is surrounded by the police, Hans has his men set up a custom rocket launcher. The launcher is fitted onto a tripod mount that is seen being bolted down before firing. It's fired twice to take out a SWAT APC.

The launcher is seen being taken out.
The launcher is loaded.
Alexander uses the sight to line up the target.
Firing the launcher.
Alexander fires the rocket launcher at the APC a second time. Note that the glass that was shattered by the terrorist's previous shot is shattered again.

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