Let Him Have It

Let Him Have It (1991)

Let Him Have It is a 1991 biographical film directed by Peter Medak (The Krays) that focuses on the life and death of Derek Bentley (Christopher Eccleston), who in 1953, was convicted of, and ultimately executed at the age of 19 for the murder of Police Constable Sidney Miles. His accomplice, Christopher Craig, was the only one with the gun that night. The title refers to something Bentley shouted at Craig on that fateful night. This line had been interpreted by the prosecution as Bentley encouraging Craig to shoot, while the defense claimed it was in fact a plea by Bentley for Craig to surrender, to literally, let the police officer have his gun.
The following weapons were used in the film Let Him Have It:

Colt New Service .455 Revolver

A Colt New Service in .455 Eley is used by Christopher Craig (Paul Reynolds) through the movie, as in real life. Early in the film he claims it uses "Tommy Gun rounds", implying that it is chambered in .45 ACP. In reality, unable to procure .455 rounds, Craig used a mixture of random obsolete rimmed .45 and .41 rounds, the bases of some of which he had to file down before they would fit in the revolver! He also cut down the barrel to about an inch short of the ejector rod, so crudely that the burr from one edge extended into the bore enough to obliterate the rifling on the corresponding side of any bullet fired through it.

New Service chambered in .455 Eley.

Craig shows Derek (Christopher Eccleston) his Colt New Service when they first meet.

Craig flips it over. Here you can see the shortened barrel and the large bore.

Craig lays his Colt New Service on his night stand.

Craig reloads his revolver.

As stated, he has a variety of ammunition, some of which will never fit into his Colt New Service. At the trial, the ballistics expert said that the combination of Craig's mismatched ammunition and the sawn-off barrel meant that the revolver would have been inaccurate to a degree of six feet when fired from a distance of only 39 feet. It would be impossible for Craig to actually hit anything he was actually aiming for - and indeed possible to hit something he wasn't aiming for - and thus the death of PC Miles should have been considered manslaughter.

Craig aiming at the advancing Fairfax.

Craig's Colt New Service on the evidence table during the trial.

Colt Detective Special

Craig offers a first gen Colt Detective Special to a classmate for his Luger P08. He claims to have three of them.

Colt Detective Special 1st Gen - .38 Special

Craig shows his DS to his classmates.

Luger P08

A classmate (Tony Sands) trades Craig a Luger P08 for a Colt Detective Special in their classroom. Craig is disappointed to learn that the Luger doesn't come with ammo, but his classmate says he could force ".38s" into the chamber. (Presumably, he meant .38/200 or .38 S&W, as .38 Special would be too long.) Craig is successfully able to do so and fires a round into the ceiling. Craig's brother Niven (Mark McGann) brandishes one while struggling with the police.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm. This is blank adapted movie gun.

Craig checks the bore.

Craig is surprised by the lack of ammo when he opens the chamber. Mind you, this is AFTER he looks down the bore.

Niven struggles with the police with a Luger in hand.

Webley No. 1 Mk. III* Flare Pistol

A Webley & Scott No. 1 Mk. III* Signal Pistol manufactured by the Wolseley Car Company is seen amongst various pistols in the classroom. It gets handed in to the schoolteacher (Murray Melvin) who knowledgeably observes: "a Wolseley... it's a long time since I've seen one of these!"

Webley & Scott No. 1 Mk. III* Signal Pistol - 1 inch - brass frame and barrel

The school teacher with the Wolseley.

Smith & Wesson Mk II Hand Ejector

A Smith & Wesson Mk II Hand Ejector is used by Detective Sergeant Frederick Fairfax (Tom Bell) when confronting Christopher Craig on the warehouse rooftop. In reality Fairfax and all the other police officers were armed with the semi-automatic Webley & Scott Metropolitan Police Pistol in .32 ACP, which as the name suggests was the force's standard firearm at the time.

British-issued Mk.II Hand Ejector

Detective Sergeant Fairfax now armed after fetching a Smith & Wesson Mk II Hand Ejector

Detective Sergeant Fairfax uses his left hand, despite having been shot in the left shoulder.

Detective Sergeant Frederick Fairfax would be issued the UK's highest civil decoration, the George Cross, for his actions that night.

Enfield No.2

When Craig starts shooting and the police call for reinforcements, constables are seen being issued Enfield No.2 revolvers. As with Fairfax, they should be more accurately depicted with Webley semi-automatics, rather than any sort of revolver.

Enfield No.2 Mk.1* - .38 S&W

A police constable with the Enfield. Interestingly, the police are only issued the revolvers themselves, without extra ammo or even a belt or holster.

Smith & Wesson Model 10

Several Smith & Wesson Model 10s is seen amongst various pistols in the classroom.

Smith & Wesson Model M&P Revolver with 5" Barrel - .38 Special

The revolver on the left, the one in the back and the revolver being placed on the desk are Model 10s.

Webley Mk I

A Webley Mk I is seen amongst various pistols in the classroom.

Webley Mk I - .455 Webley

Webley Mk.I at 6 o'clock - identifiable by its knuckled frame.

FN Model 1900 Automatic Pistol

A FN Model 1900 is seen amongst various pistols in the classroom.

FN Model 1900, .32 ACP

Webley Mk 1 Air Pistol

A Webley Mk 1 Air Pistol is seen amongst various pistols in the classroom.

Webley Mk 1 Air Pistol, straight grip - .22 pellet