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Die Hard 2
The following weapons were used in the film Die Hard 2: Die Harder:
Beretta 92FS
Unlike in the original Die Hard, Lt. John McClane (Bruce Willis) carries the Beretta 92FS as his sidearm this time around (The original was a Beretta 92F). The Dulles Airport Police, along with Capt. Lorenzo (Dennis Franz) also carry 92FS Pistols. Major Grant (John Amos) carries a Beretta as his sidearm as well.
Glock 17
Although it is ID'ed as a "Glock 7", there is no such model, it is actually a Glock 17 and is one of the earliest appearances of the handgun in the major Hollywood film (it had just been featured in 1989's Johnny Handsome). These are the sidearms of the mercenaries under the command of Col. Stuart (William Sadler). In a now-notorious scene midway through the film, McClane (Bruce Willis) incorrectly identifies it to Chief Lorenzo (Dennis Franz) as a "Glock 7," and recites a string of inaccuracies, describing it as "A porcelain gun made in Germany that doesn't show up on your airport metal detectors and costs more than you make in a month."
The most glaring misconception is that the weapon is undetectable to the X-Ray machines at the airport, while in reality, Glock never produced such a handgun. In fact, 83.7% (by weight) of the Glock pistol is normal ordnance steel and the "plastic" parts are a dense polymer known as "Polymer 2", which is radio-opaque and is therefore visible to X-ray security equipment. In addition, virtually all of these "plastic" parts contain embedded steel not to make the firearms "detectable", but to increase functionality and shooting accuracy. Contrary to popular movies like Die Hard 2, neither Glock nor any other gun maker has ever produced a "porcelain", "ceramic" or "plastic" firearm which is undetectable by ordinary security screening devices. Even if a pistol that was completely undetectable by either X-ray machines or metal detectors were to be developed, the ammunition inside would still be detectable. Another mistake is the claim the Glocks are made in Germany when in reality, they are manufactured in Austria.
When Glock pistols were first introduced to the U.S. market, they were promoted as being lightweight because of their extensive use of non-metallic components. This generated controversy from people fearing that this would make them easier to conceal from metal detectors and X-ray devices - hence the scene in the movie. However, as described, the scenario shown in the film is pure Hollywood fiction. Armorer Mike Papac, whose company Cinema Weaponry supplied all of the firearms used in Die Hard 2, has commented, "I remember when we did that scene, I tried to talk them out of it. There's no such thing as a gun invisible to metal detectors, and there shouldn't be, but they wouldn't budge. They had it written into the script and that was that."
M1911A1
Corrupt General Ramon Esperanzo (Franco Nero) steals an M1911A1 off one of the crewmembers on the military aircraft that's transporting him for trial in the U.S., and he also uses it to kill the plane's two pilots up to his confrontation with Detective John McClane.
Heckler & Koch MP5A3
Colonel Stuart (William Sadler) and Garber (Don Harvey) are armed with Heckler & Koch MP5A3 submachine guns, with two magazines taped together 'jungle style'. John McClane also commandeers an MP5A3 (fitted with a scope) while it's full of blanks, and later uses it to fire several blanks at Captain Carmine Lorenzo to prove the firefight between the terrorists and the Army Team was a set up. Unlike the chopped and converted Heckler & Koch HK94 carbines that substituted for actual MP5s in the original Die Hard, the MP5A3s used in Die Hard 2 were genuine MP5A3 submachine guns with the lugged barrels and paddle magazine release catch being dead giveaways that the firearms were in fact the real deal.
- Trivia: One cannot switch between blanks rounds and live rounds in an Heckler & Koch MP5A3/MP5K or an M16A1. All firearms that 'autoload', i.e. are either semiautomatic or fully automatic, must be blank adapted in order to cycle. This does not apply to revolvers or other manually operated firearms like pump shotguns or lever/bolt action rifles. If a gun, like an MP5 has been firing blanks, one cannot just switch magazines and start firing live rounds. The blank adapter (which restricts the barrel down to anywhere from 50% to 75% of the original barrel interior) would have to be removed or else the first live round would blow up the firearm.
Heckler & Koch MP5K
The other weapon used by Stuart's men is the Heckler & Koch MP5K submachine gun. Many of them have two mags taped together 'jungle style' with blank & live ammo, just like the MP5A3's. While not commonly seen in productions during the time period (1989-1990), it's possible that these are not converted Heckler & Koch SP89's (judging from the paddle release seen).
M26 Hand Grenade
In attempt to kill John McClane after securing General Ramon Esperanza, Colonel Stuart (William Sadler) and his men throw M26 hand grenades into the cockpit of the plane McClane is in, but luckily for McClane, he manages to escape the cockpit using the pilot's ejector seat before the grenades detonate. The grenades seen in the film (especially in close up) are obviously dummy training grenades meant to represent the M26 style grenade. They are obviously 'rough' cast iron and have no MFG markings. In typical Hollywood fashion the hand grenades create explosions far in excess of their power (mockingly called nuclear hand grenades by some prop masters). Also noteworthy, the M26, at maximum, has a seven second fuse delay, and it takes over half a minute for McClane to eject himself from the time the first grenade enters the cockpit.
M16A1
The rifle used by the airport police SWAT team and the Army Team is the M16A1. Some of the M16A1s used by the Army Team also appear to have M16A2-style handguards.
Browning M2HB Heavy Machine Gun
At the beginning of the movie, a Browning M2HB heavy machine gun can be seen during the news broadcast of Esperanza's trial.
Smith & Wesson Model 19
Several airport police officers throughout the film carry Smith & Wesson Model 19 revolvers as their sidearms.
Ithaca 37
Just before the Skywalk shootout, one of the SWAT officers can be seen carrying a Ithaca 37 shotgun with shell holder on the stock.
