Once a Thief (1965)

Unidentified This article currently has one or more unidentified weapons. If you can help identify any of the weapons labelled "unknown," please do so.

Once a Thief Theatrical Release Poster Country USA France Directed by Ralph Nelson Release Date 1965 Language English; Italian Studio CIPRA Distributor MGM Main Cast Character Actor Eddie Pedak Alain Delon Kristine Pedak Ann-Margret Inspector Mike Vido Van Heflin Walter Pedak Jack Palance James Sargatanas John Davis Chandler Cleve Shoenstein Tony Musante Kathy Pedak Tammy Locke

Once a Thief is a 1965 noir crime drama directed by Ralph Nelson and starring Alain Delon as a retired criminal Eddie Pedak who is forced to participate in a new crime by his elder brother Walter.

The following weapons were used in the film Once a Thief:

Smith & Wesson Military & Police

A Smith & Wesson Military & Police revolver with 6" barrel is a valuable plot item. In the opening scene it is used during the robbery in Chinese general store (the identity of the robber is revealed only in the end of the movie). Later the same revolver is carried by Eddie Pedak (Alain Delon).

Smith & Wesson Model M&P Revolver with long barrel and Gold Medallion grips - .38 Special

A robber draws the revolver in the opening scene.

Eddie, disguised as SFPD officer, holds his revolver during the robbery.

Eddie with revolver in Vido's apartments.

The revolver is perfectly seen on a promotion still.

M1911A1-style pistol

James Arthur Sargatanas (John Davis Chandler), Walter Pedak's henchman, carries an M1911A1-style pistol, allways fitted with a sound suppressor. In the final scene the pistol is used by Eddie Pedak (Alain Delon). The pistol differs from a standard M1911 as is has slanted grooves on the slide (like Auto-Ordnance M1911A1 though the latter didn't exist in 1965).

Auto-Ordnance M1911A1 - .45 ACP. This is a well worn blank adapted movie gun used in multiple World War 2 movies as a substitute for the Colt M1911A1

Sargatanas holds his suppressed pistol.

Sargatanas, disguised as SFPD officer, holds his pistol during the robbery. Note the slanted grooves.

Sargatanas and Eddie Pedak struggle for the pistol in the final scene.

Eddie fires the pistol until it runs dry.

Unidentified revolvers

Various characters carry revolvers in several scenes.

Inspector Mike Vido (Van Heflin) holds a revolver. It resembles a Smith & Wesson Model 10 HB with 3" barrel but unlike Model 10 HB the revolver has a round front sight.

Mike Vido holds a snub nose revolver. It resembles a Colt Detective Special.

A security guard carries a revolver in holster. Only a grip can be seen.

Mike Vido fires his snub nose revolver in the final scene.

Vido's partner Inspector Frank Kane (Steve Mitchell) fires a snub nose revolver in the final scene.

Another view of Kane's revolver.