Spies Like Us

Promotional Poster for Spies Like Us (1985)

Spies Like Us is a 1985 spy comedy film directed by John Landis. Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd co-star as hapless US government employees during the time of the Cold War who find themselves recruited by the CIA to unknowingly be decoys for the real spies on a mission to reprogram a Russian ICBM.

The following weapons were used in the film Spies Like Us:

Rifles

M16

When Emmett Fitz-Hume (Chevy Chase) and Austin Millbarge (Dan Aykroyd) begin their CIA training, what appear to be US soldiers are seen carrying M16A1 rifles, such as those seen running around the base. Also, M16's are one of the many rifles used by the Mujahideen.

Slab Side M16 (AR-15/SP1) with M16A1-style flash hider - 5.56x45mm.

Emmett Fitz-Hume (Chevy Chase) and Austin Millbarge's (Dan Aykroyd) carry M16's during their GLG-20 training.

Note the lack of a forward assist on Austin's M-16 on the left.

US soldiers firing M16s as part of Emmett and Austin's training. The soldier on the right is actor Matt Frewer in an early role.

US soldiers undergoing training, with an added element of "Scorched Earth." These appear to be prop weapons.

The fighter on the far left has an M16.

The Army soldiers who storm the underground facility are armed with M16's.

Armalite AR-10

Other Afghan warriors are armed with Armalite AR-10 rifles.

Eugene Stoner AR-10 prototype 7.62x51mm NATO

US soldiers undergoing training, with an added element of "Scorched Earth." One of the soldiers appears to be armed with an AR-10.

Rifle on the near left.

A fighter uses the rifle.

Colt XM177

The guards at the abandoned outdoor theater are seen holding Colt XM177's. As was common in several of the films directed by John Landis, the actors portraying guards are in reality several well known movie directors in cameo roles including Sam Raimi, Joel Coen, and Martin Brest.

XM177E2 Carbine, aka Colt Model 629 aka - 5.56x45mm.

The guard (director Sam Raimi in a cameo) at the "abandoned" outdoor theater holds the Colt XM177.

The guard holding the Colt XM177 here is director Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men).

The guard holding the Colt XM177 here is director Martin Brest (Beverly Hills Cop).

M1 Carbine

Several of the Mujahideen are seen wielding M1 Carbines.

World War II Era M1 Carbine, with Dark Walnut Stock, 'L' peep sight and no bayonet lug.

The two Afghans on the left are holding M1 Carbines.

AK-47

True, genuine AK-47s can be seen in the hands of Soviet soldiers and Border Guards, a rarity for a US production made during the 1980's. Since the scenes for Soviet Tajikistan were filmed in Norway and scenes for Pakistan and Afghanistan were filmed in Morocco, it is quite possible that the production was able to source real Soviet AK-47s from either British and/or European film armourers.

AK-47

A member of the Soviet missile crew holds an AK-47.

"Do you know where the nearest airport is?"

The Soviet missile crew are armed with AK-47s as they approach the unusual phenomenon.

A Soviet missileer (Vanessa Angel) holds her AK.

Norinco Type 56

For some scenes, Norinco Type 56 rifles are used in place of AK's.

Norinco Type 56 (Imported into the U.S. as the Norinco AKS-47 or AKS-47 Sporter) - 7.62x39mm

Apparently, the Soviet War in Afghanistan caused a shortage of assault rifles, as the Soviets are going to the Chinese for their Type-56 rifle. Here, a Soviet Border Guard fires one of these leased weapons at Jerry and Karen. Note the hooded foresight.

A Soviet Border Guard fires at Austin and Emmett during the former's rescue of the latter. He is using an AK-47.

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE)

Several of the Mujahideen can be seen using No. 1 Mark III* Lee-Enfield's, and the No.4 rifle is later seen in the hands of the Pakistani soldiers at the guard post.

Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III* - .303 British.

Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk.I - .303 British.

A Pakistani with a No.4 Lee-Enfield. The bolt, for some reason, is retracted upwards.

Submachine Guns

Sten Mk II

A small number of the Mujahideen are seen with Sten Mk II submachine guns.

Sten Mk II Submachine gun - 9x19mm

The Afghan second from the right is holding a Sten.

Sterling SMG

A good majority of the Mujahideen are using Sterling submachine guns.

Sterling Submachine Gun - 9mm

The two Mujahideen warriors on the extreme left and extreme right are holding Sterlings.

MAC-10

The "GLG-20's" Jerry Hadley (Charles McKeown) and Karen Boyer (Donna Dixon) use MAC-10's when Soviet troops discover the spies while infiltrating the Soviet Union. Austin later uses one in his courageous attempt to rescue Emmett from the Soviet border guards. The magazine he uses to reload his MAC-10 appears to be empty.

Ingram MAC 10 submachine gun - .45 ACP.

Jerry Hadley (Charles McKeown) opens fire on Soviet Border Patrol officers with his MAC-10.

Karen Boyer (Donna Dixon) holds the MAC-10.

Austin, dual-wielding MAC-10's engages in a cavalry charge to save Emmett from the Soviet Border Guards.

Austin with the two MAC-10's.

Intelligence agencies care so much about being untraceable, they even invented invisible bullets! Here, Austin is loading a MAC-10 with a magazine full of these innovative inventions.

Handguns

Tokarev TT-33

The Soviet KGB Agents are seen using Tokarev TT-33 pistols after Emmett and Austin discover their contacts' true loyalties while in Pakistan. The agents are also seen using the pistols later at the highway patrol office. They should, however, be using Makarovs.

Tokarev TT-33 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev.

Here, the two Soviet agents prepare to engage Emmett and Austin during Austin's rescue attempt at the Border Patrol office.

M1911A1 (Nickel)

During Emmett and Austin's training, Colonel Rhombus (Bernie Casey) fires a nickel plated M1911A1 with ivory grips at their feet to persuade them to jump into the mud pit.

Rock Island Armory M1911A1 Pistol Nickel - .45 ACP.

Colonel Rhombus (Bernie Casey) cocks the hammer on his nickel-plated M1911A1.

M1911A1

An M1911A1 is also seen in the waistband of one of the operatives that speak at the front of the drive-in theater. The operative seen here is director Michael Apted, who helmed the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough, among others.

Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP.

The operative with the M1911A1 in his waistband is director Michael Apted (The World Is Not Enough), in the middle is the great Blues musician B.B. King, and to the right is B-movie director Larry Cohen (The Stuff).

Other

RPG-7

Some of the Mujahideen are seen carrying RPG-7s.

RPG-7 70mm

The Mujahideen warrior third from the left is holding an RPG-7.

A few RPGs in the hands of the Mujahideen.

Flamethrower

Flamethrowers are used on Austin and Emmett when Col. Rhombus has them take the AFPSR (Air Force Passive Strain Response) test.

Rhombus' men prepare to use the flamethrowers. The soldier on the left is actor Matt Frewer in an early role.

Austin and Emmett get cooked to see if they can survive aggravated body temperature measurement.