This Gun for Hire

Original Theatrical Poster

Country	USA
Directed by	Frank Tuttle
Release Date	1942
Studio	Paramount Pictures

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Ellen Graham	Veronica Lake
Philip Raven	Alan Ladd
Police Lt. Michael Crane	Robert Preston
Willard Gates	Laird Cregar
Alvin Brewster	Tully Marshall
Tommy	Marc Lawrence

This Gun for Hire is an American 1942 film noir, based on the 1936 novel by Graham Greene, directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Veronica Lake, Alan Ladd, and Robert Preston. The story is set in contemporary wartime San Francisco and Los Angeles. Hitman Philip Raven (Alan Ladd) kills a blackmailer but is double-crossed by his employer Willard Gates (Laird Cregar). Escaping from police, Raven meets Ellen Graham (Veronica Lake) who turns out to be a bride of Police Lt. Michael Crane (Robert Preston).

The following weapons were used in the film This Gun for Hire:

Pistols

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless

Philip Raven's (Alan Ladd) main weapon throughout the movie is a blued Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless with Colt wood grips (closeups allow to identify the pistol as Thrid ot Fourth Variant). Raven also disarms Willard Gates' driver Tommy (Marc Lawrence) of a nickel or crome plated Model 1903 with black rubber grips and uses it in several scenes.

Note: see additional images on talk page.

Colt 1903 Hammerless with Colt Wood Grips - .32 ACP

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless Pistol Nickel with pearl grips - .32 ACP. Unlike this sample, the screen nickel plated pistol has black grips of hard rubber.

Raven readies his pistol.

The wooden grips with Colt logo can be seen.

Raven kills Albert Baker.

A perfect closeup of the pistol. The marking on the slide can be seen.

Raven holds his pistol in the scene in Willard Gates' house.

Raven checks the magazine of his pistol when he and Ellen Graham (Veronica Lake) hide in a house near railroad.

Raven checks the magazine of Tommy's pistol. Seven holes in the magazine allow to identify the pistol as .32 Model 1903 unlike the .380 Model 1908 that has six holes in the magazine.

Raven holds nickel plated Colt.

Raven, dressed in driver uniform, threatens Alvin Brewster (Tully Marshall), president of Nitro Chemical Corporation.

Raven fires at Willard Gates. In next moment Raven's pistol switches to an unidentified revovler (see below) and then back to the pistol.

Revolvers

Colt Detective Special

LAPD Lt. Michael Crane (Robert Preston) carries a Colt Detective Special revolver.

Colt Detective Special 1st Gen with Square Butt - .38 Special

Plainclothes Lt. Crane holds his snub nose revolver during the police operation on the railway station. Next to him uniformed Lt. Clark (Dick Rush) holds a long-barreled Smith & Wesson.

Another view of Lt. Crane's revolver. The wide grip can be seen.

Lt. Crane's revolver is seen better.

Crane holds his revolver in the scene in Nitro Chemical Corporation building.

He prepares to go down the wall in a construction cradle.

Smith & Wesson Military & Police

Smith & Wesson Military & Police revolvers are used by police personnel.

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

LAPD Det. Steve Finnerty (Harry Shannon) holds a Smith & Wesson when police search for Raven on a gasworks.

LAPD Lt. Clark (Dick Rush) holds a revolver during the police operation on the railway station.

Det. Finnerty holds a revolver in same scene.

Police Captain (Charles C. Wilson) holds a revolver (at the left).

Finnerty's revolver is seen at the right. Another plainclothes detective holds same looking revolver at the background.

Officer Glennon (Elliott Sullivan) makes an attempt to arrest Raven.

The barrel of Glennon's pistol is seen at the right.

A security guard (at the right) and a police officer (at the left) hold revolvers in the scene in Nitro Chemical Corporation building

Unidentified revolver

In the scene when Raven shoots Willard Gates, his pistol switches to a nondescript revolver.

Raven holds a revolver instead of previously seen Colt Model 1903 pistol.

Raven spots Lt. Crane who goes down the wall of the building in a construction cradle.

Raven fires...

...but he is shot himself.

Rifles

Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine

Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbines are used by police personnel.

Winchester 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine

A police officer at the left holds a Winchester M1892 carbine.

A Winchester M1892 is seen in center.

Police Sergeant Chuck (actor is supposedly Chuck Hamilton) holds a Winchester M1892 carbine (in earlier scenes this character holds a Winchester Model 1912 and a Federal Gas Riot Gun). The saddle ring can be seen.

Chuck fires at escaping Raven.

Chuck and another police officer with Winchesters.

Shotguns

Winchester Model 1912

Winchester Model 1912 pump action shotguns are used by police personnel.

Winchester Model 1912 Riot Gun - 12 gauge

Police Sergeant Chuck (actor is supposedly Chuck Hamilton) holds a Winchester Model 1912 (in center).

Another view of same gun.

A police officer at the background left holds a Winchester Model 1912.

A close view of the barrel and pump.

A police officer at the far left holds a Winchester Model 1912.

Other Weapons

Federal Gas Riot Gun

Several police officers carry Federal Gas Riot Gun launchers (at least three are seen).

Federal L-5 Gas Riot Gun - 37mm

Abovementioned Police Sergeant Chuck (second from the right) holds a gas grenade launcher.

A launcher is seen at the right.

Sergeant Chuck with a launcher (at the right).

Two police officers with launchers.

A police officer in center holds a launcher.

Sergeant Chuck (at the left) and another police officer (at the right) hold launchers after they fires gas grenades at Ellen Graham, dressed in Raven's clothes and hiding under a railway wagon.