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Mesrine: Killer Instinct (2008) (Original title: L'instinct de mort

Mesrine: Killer Instinct is part 1 of a two-part 2008 French-Canadian Mesrine film series directed by Jean-François Richet and starring Vincent Cassel as the French criminal Jacques Mesrine. Based on Mesrine's autobiographical book "L'instinct de mort", Killer Instinct details Mesrine's rise in the Paris criminal underworld after serving in the army in Algeria, as well as his early exploits in Paris, and later in Quebec, Canada. Part 2 is known as Mesrine: Public Enemy Number 1.

The following weapons were used in the film Mesrine: Killer Instinct:

WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Handguns

M1911A1

Mesrine uses an M1911A1 when serving in the French Army to shoot a prisoner in Algeria in the 1950s. Later, he acquires a nickel-plated M1911A1 in France that he uses for most of the movie.

Pre-War Colt M1911A1 - .45 ACP

Mesrine executes a prisoner in Algeria during the Algerian War of Independence.

Upon Mesrine's return to France, he carries a nickel plated M1911A1.

His own pistol is turned against him by his new boss, Guido (Gérard Depardieu) who lifted it from him when they hugged for the first time. This is the pistol that Mesrine uses throughout most of the rest of the movie.

Smith & Wesson Model 28

Members of the Arizona Highway Patrol as wield the Smith & Wesson Model 28 during a high speed chase with Mesrine and his girlfriend in 1969 (when he is caught and returned to Quebec). The real life Mesrine was caught in Arkansas, not Arizona.

Smith & Wesson Model 28 Highway Patrolman - .357 Magnum

Smith & Wesson Model 60

During the high speed chase in Arizona in 1969, Jeanne Schneider (Cécile De France) attempts to use a Smith & Wesson Model 60 when they hit the police roadblock, but Jacques Mesrine tells her to stop and throws the gun to the floor of the car.

Smith & Wesson Model 60 - .38 Special

Smith & Wesson Model 64

Arizona Highway Patrol officers also use the Smith & Wesson Model 64.

Smith & Wesson Model 64 - .38 Special

Smith & Wesson Model 10

A Smith & Wesson Model 10 is also used by an Arizona Highway Patrolman.

Smith & Wesson Model 10 Revolver - .38 Special

Unknown Revolvers

During a bar fight, Mesrine pulls out a small revolver which he uses to shoot a thug with twice.

Production still showing Vincent Cassel shooting the unknown revolver.

Jean-Paul target shooting.

Same scene as above.

Unknown Silenced Pistols

Guido uses a silenced pistol to kill a rival.

Same scene from above, different angle.

Later on, both Guido and Paul are killed by an assassin also armed with a silenced pistol.

Submachine Guns

MAT-49

Jacques Mesrine (Vincent Cassel) uses a MAT-49 during his military service in Algeria.

MAT-49 - 9x19mm

Mesrine is about to use this weapon to hit a prisoner during an interrogation during the war in Algeria.

The officer hands Mesrine his pistol to shoot the prisoner. The officer exchanges his pistol for the MAT-49.

Uzi

During the shootout at the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul prison in Quebec, Mesrine throws an Uzi submachine gun into the prison yard in an attempt to enable the prisoners to escape.

Uzi - 9x19mm

During the final shootout, Mesrine throws weapons into the prison yard to try and enable a breakout. Only one weapon makes it, this Uzi with extra mags attached.

The prisoner shoots from the hip

M1A1 Thompson

A gangster uses what appears to be an M1A1 Thompson during a drive-by shooting in Paris.

M1A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP

In Paris, Mesrine is attacked by another gang, who shoot at him from a moving vehicle.

Rifles

Ruger Mini-14

Guards in the watchtowers at the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul prison are armed with the Ruger Mini-14.

Ruger Mini 14 - 5.56x45mm

During the breakout attempt, most of the injuries and deaths are caused by the riflemen in the watchtowers armed with Mini 14s.

AR-15A2 HBAR

Mesrine and his accomplice Jean-Paul Mercier (Roy Dupuis) are armed with anachronistic post-ban AR-15A2 HBAR rifles (most likely a Bushmaster XM15E2) when they attack the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul prison. Their rifles have multiple magazines taped together. These rifles are "post-ban" AR-15 rifles (which was a cosmetic change forced on the gun industry in 1994 by the Clinton Administration, and expired in 2004). The heavy barreled rifles have no flash hiders, muzzle threads or bayonet lugs. Even if they would standing in for period-correct AR-15 rifles, the use of these rifles is doubly anachronistic since the sequence takes place in the early 1970s and their design is based on the M16A2 introduced in the mid-1980s. During the real assault, they carried M1 Carbines.

Colt Match Target Competition with 10 round magazine - 5.56x45mm

Mesrine firing his rifle- note the lack of bayonet lug or muzzle device.

Jean-Paul with his AR-15 - note that the rifle has a bayonet lug, unlike the post-ban AR-15 that Mesrine is firing, however the barrel is still missing its flash hider and threaded barrel.

As the battle is quite long, the filmmakers take time to show both sides reloading which adds to the overall realism of the sequence.

Jean-Paul sustains a shoulder wound early in the battle and is unable to use his left arm.

Jean-Paul attempts to fire his AR-15 single handed, but his aim is ineffective as the rifle jumps around uncontrollably.

Shotguns

12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun

Paul (Gilles Lellouche) steals a 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun from an apartment that he and Mesrine rob in Paris. Mesrine's partner in Quebec, Jean-Paul Mercier (Roy Dupuis), also carries a double barreled shotgun when he is confronted by two park rangers in the forest.