Public Enemies

Public Enemies (2009)

The following weapons were used in the film Public Enemies:

Handguns

Colt M1911A1

John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) carries two Colt M1911A1 pistols kept in a leather crossdraw shoulder holster rig throughout the film, although he rarely fires them. In the second bank robbery, he is seen training one of them on the bank manager as he opens the vault and the other on the lobby. Several of his gang members also carry and use them, including Harry "Pete" Pierpont (David Wenham), Homer Van Meter (Stephen Dorff), Walter Dietrich (James Russo), Charley Makley (Christian Stolte), and "Baby Face" Nelson (Stephen Graham). Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd (Channing Tatum) reaches for a nickel 1911 when he is shot down in an Ohio field, but Purvis kicks it from his hand. The pistols used by the prison escapees (most of Dillinger's gang) in the opening scene are 1911s smuggled into the prison by Dillinger. FBI agents such as Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) and Charles Winstead (Stephen Lang) also fire 1911s, during the Little Bohemia and Biograph Theater scenes respectively.

While Dillinger was said to prefer .38 Super pistols in real life, there are currently no .38 Super blanks in the armorer industry, and all of the M1911A1s in the film were chambered in .45 ACP, except for the machine pistol. In the actual screenplay, the pistols are said to be "Colt .45 automatics".

Pre-War Colt M1911A1 Pistol Commercial - .45 ACP.

Pre-War Colt M1911A1 used on Public Enemies

The Indiana State Prison escapees pull 1911A1s out of a box of string sent to the prison's shirt factory. Whether Dillinger actually smuggled the guns into the prison in the way seen in this picture is unclear. According to the book that this movie was based off of, one account states that he tossed the guns over the wall of the prison. Another inmate plotter claimed that the guns were smuggled inside boxes of string. Probably because of dramatic purposes, Mann has gone with the latter account.

Walter Dietrich with his 1911A1 during the escape.

Dillinger sticks his 1911A1 into the neck of escapee Ed Shouse before tossing him out of the car. In the script, Dillinger was to grab Red's Remington Model 11 shotgun and thrust it into Shouse's chest before kicking him out.

"You can be a dead hero or a live coward. Get it open." Dillinger holds his 1911A1 on the bank manager in the Racine robbery to tell him to hurry up.

Dillinger draws both 1911A1s during the Greencastle, Indiana bank robbery.

Dillinger informs Phil D'Andrea and the other mobsters in the betting parlor that he is, in fact, armed.

Dillinger draws his 1911A1 as he watches Billie get arrested.

Purvis aims his 1911A1 at Dillinger outside the Biograph Theater.

Winstead shoots Dillinger.

Special

On the DVD featurette "Criminal Technology", Johnny Depp talks about his weaponry, including two ".45s".

Johnny Depp with his two 1911s during the filming of the Greencastle bank robbery.

Colt Model 1902

John "Red" Hamilton (Jason Clarke) fires a Colt Model 1902 at vigilantes and police during the Sioux Falls robbery after his Thompson runs out of ammunition.

Colt Model 1902 Sporting Model - .38 ACP

Red's Colt pistol is visible in his waistband while visiting the whorehouse after the opening prison break.

Red fires at vigilantes and police in Sioux Falls before jumping into the getaway car.

Special

Hamilton's pistol during the Sioux Falls robbery is best seen during the DVD featurette "Criminal Technology".

Hamilton fires his pistol, offering a good shot of the hammer.

Hamilton fires his pistol, offering a good shot of the frame and slide.

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless

John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) keeps a Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless as a secondary sidearm, most notably as a "pocket pistol" when in hiding in Chicago after the Little Bohemia shootout. It is also seen when he places it down on a hotel room table in Tucson, earlier in the film. The script describes it as a "Colt .380 automatic", which was the pistol Dillinger was supposedly carrying the night he was killed on July 22, 1934.

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless Pistol Blued - .32 ACP

On the last day of his life, Dillinger holds the Colt in his pocket before meeting his lawyer Piquett on a park bench in Chicago.

Dillinger's Colt Model 1903 sits on a table as he gets ready.

Dillinger picks up his Colt and pockets it.

Colt Official Police

The FBI agent who beats Billie Frechette, Harold Reinecke (Adam Mucci), carries a Colt Official Police. An Official Police is also seen inside the gun safe in the Crown Point jail.

Colt Official Police - .38 Special

The contents of the Crown Point jail gun safe.

The Police Positive on the wall next to an Official Police.

Reinecke angrily searches the apartment Billie told him to bust.

Reinecke aims his Official Police at Dillinger.

Reinecke lowers his Official Police when he makes eye contact with Dillinger.

Colt Police Positive

John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) takes a Colt Police Positive when he breaks out of Crown Point, tucking it in his waist.

Colt Police Positive - .38 Special.

The contents of the Crown Point jail gun safe.

The Police Positive on the wall with several other revolvers.

Dillinger's Police Positive in his waistband moments after breaking out of Crown Point jail.

Colt Detective Special

Several FBI agents are seen with Colt Detective Specials, usually seen in their hip holsters. Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) is notably seen with one holstered in several scenes.

Colt Detective Special 1st Gen - .38 Special

Pre-War Colt Detective Special used on Public Enemies

Purvis approaches a mortally wounded Floyd with his Colt DS in his holster.

An FBI agent with his Detective Special drawn inside the empty apartment Billie tricks them into searching.

Colt New Service

A Colt New Service revolver with a 5 1/2" barrel is seen in a man's hand before Nelson opens fire on him in Sioux Falls.

Colt New Service - .45 Colt

The Sioux Falls vigilante stands with his New Service.

Smith & Wesson Military & Police

The Tucson policeman who removes Dillinger's handcuffs after he is arrested in the hotel has a very early production Smith & Wesson Military & Police revolver in his holster. It has the rounded hard rubber grips only used between 1899-1905.

Early Smith & Wesson Military & Police - .38 Special

The policeman's Smith & Wesson in his holster.

Smith & Wesson Model 10

When Purvis tells FBI agent Carter Baum (Rory Cochrane) to wait in the alley when going to arrest Nelson in the apartment building, Baum draws a Smith & Wesson Model 10 that he later uses to fruitlessly trade shots with the Thompson-armed Nelson. Several other FBI agents are seen with Model 10s.

Smith & Wesson Model M&P Revolver - .38 Special

Baum draws his Smith & Wesson.

The contents of the Crown Point jail gun safe. Some Model 10s are seen hanging near the Police Positive.

The barrel of a Model 10 is seen before busting into the apartment Billie told them to search.

Special

On the DVD featurette "Criminal Technology", a Racine police officer is seen firing a Model 10 at the Dillinger gang from behind the car. In the actual film, this shot is too far away to tell what model of revolver he is using.

The Racine cop fires his Model 10.

Submachine Gun, Machine Pistol & Automatic Rifle

Colt Thompson Hybrids

John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) and several other of his gang members, notably "Baby Face" Nelson (Stephen Graham), Harry "Pete" Pierpont (David Wenham), and John "Red" Hamilton (Jason Clarke) have Thompsons, sometimes seen with the stock removed with a lanyard attached. Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd (Channing Tatum) carries and fires one as he is being pursued by Purvis. During the breakout from Crown Point jail, Dillinger hands a Thompson to Herbert Youngblood (Michael Bentt). FBI agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) also uses a Thompson in several scenes. During the Little Bohemia shootout, there was a continuity error with Purvis' Thompson. He starts out with a drum magazine, but when reloading, continuity errors show him instantly switching to a stick magazine.

The guns used in the film were a mix of Colt M1921s (Some the same used in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) with 1928 internals, M1928A1s refinished to look like M1921s (by adding a polished blued finish) and there were some Thompson hybrids that were built out of various models. (thanks goes to Steve Karnes for the information on the guns)

Colt M1921AC Thompson with 50-round drum - .45 ACP.

Colt M1921AC Thompson with 20-round magazine - .45 ACP.

Dillinger fires his Thompson at the guard tower during the Indiana State Prison break. In the actual escape, Dillinger was not present because he was imprisoned in Lima, Ohio. Also, few shots were fired during the prison breakout - only a clerk was injured.

Dillinger dismantles the Thompson at a farmhouse after the opening prison break. Director Michael Mann said that Johnny Depp was fascinated by the Thompson and became quite adept at firing and handling it and, in this scene, he took it apart professionally by himself.

Dillinger fires on the police with his Thompson next to the bank president during the Racine shootout. This bank president must have been deafened by the first gunshot, since he doesn't flinch at all despite two men firing a Tommy gun and a rifle mere feet from his feet.

A close up of Dillinger aiming his Thompson as he mows down the police before the car drives away.

Pierpont aims his Thompson inside the Greencastle bank.

Red holds up two Thompsons, each attached to him via a lanyard, inside the Chicago betting parlor.

The trigger-happy Nelson guns down a motorcycle cop outside the Sioux Falls bank robbery. Then he exclaims, "I GOT ONE!", laughs maniacally, and fires a deafening burst into the ceiling. Nelson was notorious for his trigger-happy temper, and was known to have killed more federal agents than any other person.

Dillinger takes a shot in the arm from a vigilante while ducking outside the Sioux Falls bank with his Thompson.

Red lays down a base of fire from his Thompson in Sioux Falls.

Purvis fires his Thompson outside Little Bohemia.

Purvis fires a Thompson one-handed while pursuing Nelson on the running board of Agent Crowley's car after the Little Bohemia fiasco.

Nelson lays dead next to his Thompson.

Deleted Scenes

Although featured in the trailer, some shots of Dillinger riding on a getaway car's running board holding a Thompson didn't make it into the final cut of the film. Based on the clothing and the fact that this scene appears in the script but not the film, it can be deduced that these scenes were supposed to be the gang's getaway from the Greencastle bank robbery (the second one shown in the film).

Dillinger fires his Thompson and Van Meter fires his B.A.R.

Dillinger holds his Thompson while riding on the getaway car (trailer).

Special

On the DVD featurette "Criminal Technology", Johnny Depp and director Michael Mann both talk about the Thompson, with Depp referring to it as a "1921 Thompson" and how it should be aimed and fired like a rifle, rather than fired from the hip.

Johnny Depp behind the scenes with a Thompson.

Depp rehearses a getaway scene with a Thompson, unloaded for safety reasons.

FBI technical adviser Dale Shelton shows of the fifty-round drum of a Thompson.

Depp receives a Thompson on a practice range.

Depp aims and fires the Thompson on the practice range.

A crew member (who has a 1911 tucked into his belt) loads a Thompson. This is the best view offered of the removed stock end.

Depp loads a Thompson behind the scenes, seen in the documentary "Last of the Legendary Outlaws".

Dillinger's Colt .38 Super "Machine Pistol"

The real Dillinger and Nelson each owned a rather unique firearm at one point, a Colt Government Model chambered in .38 Super (which would pierce body armor when the .45 ACP round wouldn't) which was specially modified by gunsmith Hyman Lebman (also referred as Hyman S. Lehman) to fire full auto, loaded with an extended magazine, was fitted with a Thompson's fore-grip and a Thompson's Cutts compensator to turn it into a miniaturized "machine pistol". In the film Dillinger is sadly never seen using it, and it is only wielded by Nelson, who uses it during the Little Bohemia shootout to fire out of the windows and later when shooting Agent Carter Baum (Rory Cochrane). The Colt "machine pistol" used in the film was a Colt Government Model originally chambered in .38 Super that was converted to 9mm to fire blanks. Note before the the Colt Mark IV Series 70 Government Models, Colt 38 Supers were not classified or marked as "Government Models". Since they aren't that common in the film industry it's easier to list them under Government Model.

Dillinger's actual .38 Super M1911A1 Machine Pistol, for comparison purposes.

Nelson firing a machine pistol during the Little Bohemia shootout before switching to a Thompson.

Nelson fires into Baum's car when Baum stops, mistaking Nelson for a hitchhiker.

"I know you bastards wear vests, so I'm gonna give it to you high and give it to you low!" Nelson fires his machine pistol into Baum.

Browning Automatic Rifle

One of Dillinger's bank robbers, Homer Van Meter (Stephen Dorff), uses a Browning Automatic Rifle during several of the gang's robberies. One of Purvis' FBI men is also seen firing a BAR during the Little Bohemia shootout. Van Meter's BAR has a notably shorter barrel than the standard models released, although it was actually Bonnie & Clyde who favored the sawed down BARs, and not Dillinger's gang. The weapons were modified in the "Bonnie & Clyde" configuration and supplied by Gibbons Ltd. for the film. In a documentary about the film, Dorff joked that handling the weapon one-handed often felt like it weighed seventy five pounds.

Trivia: The screenplay called for Van Meter to use a .351 Winchester rifle during the Racine bank robbery. Although he doesn't use it in this scene, Van Meter is later seen with a .351 Winchester during the Sioux Falls robbery.

Browning Automatic Rifle .30-06

This is an actual Clyde Barrow cut down Browning Automatic Rifle. Like the one in the film the front sight is reattached.

"What for?" The first cop runs up to the bank during the Racine robbery, and is taken off guard when Van Meter, pretending to be a pedestrian, suddenly whips out his BAR, strikes him across the neck, locks him into a chokehold with his left hand, levels the rifle across the cop's right shoulder, and shoots up the police car. These gunshots would be deafeningly loud for the cop.

The muzzle flash of Van Meter's BAR.

An FBI agent's BAR is illuminated by the muzzle flash of Purvis's Thompson.

The FBI agent fires his BAR at Little Bohemia.

Van Meter fires a BAR at Purvis and his men during the car chase from Little Bohemia.

Special

On the DVD featurette "Criminal Technology", Michael Mann and Stephen Dorff both talk about the heavy BAR and its use by Dorff in the film.

Dorff is instructed on using the BAR by the armorer (Harry Lu).

Dorff behind the scenes, during the filming of the Racine bank robbery, with his BAR.

Rifles & Carbines

Mauser 98 Sporter

Melvin Purvis fires a half-stocked Mauser 98 Sporter when searching for "Pretty Boy" Floyd (Channing Tatum) in Ohio. He ultimately uses it to fatally wound Floyd after taking a well aimed shot at him as he flees, making use of the double set triggers to lighten the trigger pull and make his shot more accurate. This is a German-style purpose-built sporter with a ribbed barrel, double or set trigger, express sights and a flat "butter-knife" style bolt handle, and not a converted military rifle. It is not, as some have suggested, a Mannlicher-Schonauer, though they were quite popular among sportsman of the era.

Trivia: Floyd was killed after Dillinger had died. However, Floyd's death scene mirrors the FBI's account - that Floyd was shot at long range by a sharpshooter, fell, and died.

The screenplay reads: "[Purvis] carries an 8mm Mauser sports rifle with a slim fore-stock and wrist and a turned-down bolt handle. It's the best rifle made in 1933."

Mauser sporting rifle by Emil Kerner & Sohn. Actual Hero Mauser used by Christian Bale in Public Enemies. 9.3mm x 57mm. Courtesy of NRA National Firearms Museum.

Purvis runs with his Mauser rifle.

Purvis aims at Floyd.

Purvis fires.

Purvis ejects a spent round.

Purvis aims again at Floyd.

Purvis takes advantage of the double set triggers.

Purvis fires a long range shot that tears through Floyd's back and exits out his chest.

The Mauser's rounds on Purvis' belt as he aims at the mortally wounded Floyd.

M1903 Springfield

Some of the Indiana State Prison guards at Michigan City carry M1903 Springfield rifles, as do soldiers guarding the streets outside Crown Point jail several months later. These are not, as previously suggested, 1940s-era M1903A3s, but the correct M1903, identified by its humped upper hand-guard. A vigilante in Sioux Falls is also briefly seen with one.

M1903 Springfield Rifle - this one has the 1920s-era finger-grooved stock, as do many in the film

The prison guard shoots Walter Dietrich.

A policeman in front of Dillinger holds a Springfield rifle.

A group of soldiers with Springfields linger on a corner in Crown Point, carrying coffee cups to keep warm.

One of the soldiers makes eye contact with Dillinger.

Policemen in Indiana stand with a Winchester shotgun and Springfield rifle.

A guard with a Springfield rifle stands to the left of the car transporting Dillinger to Crown Point.

Soldiers in Crown Point carry Springfield rifles.

U.S. Krag 1898

The uniformed Ohio police officers aiding in Purvis's pursuit of "Pretty Boy" Floyd carry US Krag rifles, most likely M1898s. Similarly, a plainclothes guard is seen carrying an M1898 Krag carbine when Dillinger leaves his interview at the jail.

US M1898 Krag-Jørgensen Rifle - .30-40 Krag

1896 U.S.Krag-Jorgensen carbine,.30-40 Krag

East Liverpool, Ohio officers run through the woods behind Purvis and the FBI agents.

A Sioux Falls vigilante retreats with what seems to be a Krag rifle.

Remington Model 8

John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) grabs a Remington Model 8 autoloading rifle during his breakout from Crown Point jail. These rifles are also seen in the hands of several FBI agents and policemen.

Remington Model 8 Semiautomatic Rifle - chambered in .25, .30, .32 and .35 Remington

Dillinger is escorted off the plane in Indiana by a policeman with a Remington Model 8.

A policeman behind Dillinger holds a Remington Model 8 in the Crown Point jail.

Dillinger takes a Remington Model 8 and a fedora during his escape.

Dillinger holds the Remington Model 8 on prison mechanic Ed Saager.

Winchester Model 1907

After Dillinger breaks out of Crown Point, a customized Winchester Model 1907 with a ten-round magazine and a Thompson fore-grip enters the gang's armory, with Homer Van Meter (Stephen Dorff) using one during the Sioux Falls robbery and Ed Shouse (Michael Vieau) firing it during the Little Bohemia gunfight. This is historically accurate since this weapon, built by gunsmith Hyman Lebman, was found among the weaponry in Dillinger's crew, seen in the photo linked from this article. John "Red" Hamilton (Jason Clarke) aims a Winchester at the mobster at the farmhouse after Dillinger's prison break. Earlier in the film, Purvis also tells his agents that they will receive, in addition to Thompsons and B.A.R.s, .351 Winchester semi-automatic rifles, most likely referring to the Model 1907.

Actual Hero Winchester 1907. Courtesy of NRA National Firearms Museum

Red aims the Winchester 1907.

Van Meter fires his Winchester '07 over the shoulder of a hostage in Sioux Falls.

Van Meter aims at a vigilante during the Sioux Falls shootout.

Shouse fires the Winchester 1907 out the window during the Little Bohemia gunfight.

Winchester Model 1892

Winchester Model 1892 rifles are used by prison guards at the Michigan City prison. One is also used by a vigilante to graze Dillinger in the shoulder during the Sioux Falls bank robbery botched by "Baby Face" Nelson. The screenplay states this vigilante to be a deputy with a .44-40 Winchester.

Winchester 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine - .32WCF/.38-40/.44-40/.25-20.

The guard aims at Dillinger and the escapees.

The guard is shot while firing at the escapees.

The Sioux Falls vigilante aims at Dillinger, then shoots him in the shoulder.

Winchester 1894

Court officers in Crown Point carry Winchester 1894 rifles during Dillinger's arraignment in Crown Point.

Winchester 1894 - .30-30.

A guard with his Winchester.

Two court officers watch the proceedings.

Shotguns

Winchester Model 1897

Many lawmen use the Winchester Model 1897 pump shotgun throughout the film, including the two FBI agents, Carter Baum (Rory Cochrane) and Warren Barton (Madison Dirks), who are right behind Purvis as he chases Floyd through Ohio. Many of Dillinger's guards upon his arrival in Crown Point also have Riot and full-barreled versions.

Winchester Model 1897 - 12 gauge.

The agents aim their Winchesters at Floyd as he expires.

A Tucson policeman oversees the extradition process.

Policemen in Indiana stand with a Winchester shotgun and Krag rifle.

Policemen escorting Dillinger in Crown Point have Winchester '97s.

The silhouette of a guard's Winchester is visible as Dillinger's car rides past his fans.

Dillinger's guards stand next to him with Winchester shotguns.

An FBI agent fires the hinges off of the door at the apartment address given by Billie under heavy questioning.

Winchester Model 1897 Trench

When Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard) is apprehended by the FBI, one of the agents is seen carrying Winchester Model 1897 "Trench" model with a heat shield and a bayonet lug.

Winchester Model 1897 "Trench Gun" - 12 gauge. This is an original mint condition 1935 Manufacture commercial trench gun by Winchester.

The agent behind Billie carries a Winchester '97 "Trench" model.

Winchester Model 1901

FBI agent Charles Winstead (Stephen Lang) fires a sawed-off Winchester Model 1901 chambered in 10-gauge during the Little Bohemia shootout. The script called for a "pump action 10-gauge", but Winstead in the film used the lever action Winchester 10-gauge.

Winchester 1901 shotgun in 10 Gauge

Winstead aims at the cabin during the Little Bohemia gunfight.

Winstead fires a 10-gauge blast from his shotgun.

After performing an impressive roll while pursuing Dillinger and Red, Winstead fires his shotgun at them.

Special

On the DVD featurette "Criminal Technology", Stephen Lang talks about the Winchester 10-gauge lever action shotgun, referring to the weapon's looks and how it's the perfect weapon for the character of Charles Winstead.

Lang practices the roll, load, and fire technique he uses during the Little Bohemia shootout.

Lang and weapons advisor Taran Butler load the Winchester.

Taran Butler aims the Winchester 10-gauge.

Lang, with Taran Butler, describes the shotgun for the featurette.

Remington Model 11

John "Red" Hamilton (Jason Clarke) uses a sawed-off Remington Model 11 as his primary weapon during the film's early scenes, such as the Indiana State Prison break and the Racine bank robbery. The lead Tucson policeman arresting Dillinger and several FBI agents also have Remington Model 11 shotguns, mostly with sawed-down stocks and barrels.

A reproduction of the Remington Model 11 "Whipit" gun.

The Remington Model 11s recovered from the real-life John Dillinger's gang, for comparison purposes to the movie guns. Note how one has been sawed down.

Red sticks his Remington Model 11 between the bars in the Indiana State Prison.

Dillinger walks past Red inside the prison.

The lead Tucson policeman before he hits Dillinger with his Remington Model 11.

Red ducks behind a tree with a Remington Model 11 after the Little Bohemia shootout.

Machine Gun

Colt Model 1922 Machine Gun

Army soldiers guarding the streets during Dillinger's Crown Point jail escape are seen manning a Colt Model 1922 Machine Gun.

Browning M1917 - .30-06. Similar to Colt Model 1922.

A Colt Model 1922 machine gun in the foreground before Dillinger escapes Crown Point.

Several soldiers stand around a Colt Model 1922 machine gun.

Trivia

"Wooden Gun"

John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) crafts himself a "Wooden Gun" that he uses to break out of Crown Point jail before several guards realize it was fake. It has been confirmed that the real Dillinger did escape using this method, although the number of guards he took hostage likely differs from the number seen in the movie.

The real Dillinger's "wooden gun".

Dillinger thrusts his "wooden gun" into trustee Sam Cahoon.

Dillinger "aims" at a door inside Crown Point jail.