The following weapons were used in the film Forrest Gump:
Rifles
M1 Garand
One of the first guns seen in the film is the M1 Garand, seen carried by National Guard soldiers protecting African-American students during the integration of the University of Alabama. National Guardsmen are also seen with M1 rifles slung when guarding the rioters protesting the war in Vietnam.
A National Guardsman on the right armed with an M1 Garand during news footage.
National Guardsmen armed with M1 Garands outside the University of Alabama.
National Guardsmen with M1 Garands slung over their backs.
A National Guardsman in the background with a slung M1 Garand.
M14
During the scenes when Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) is training at Boot Camp, he and other recruits are seen assembling and disassembling M14 rifles. Forrest finishes his gun in record time.
Pvt. Benjamin Buford "Bubba" Blue (
Mykelti Williamson) assembles his M14 while rambling on about shrimp.
Forrest Gump (
Tom Hanks) racks the action on his M14 after assembling it in record time.
M16/XM16E1
U.S. soldiers, including Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), in Vietnam are seen armed with M16 rifles, which due to continuity error change from slab-side M16s to XM16E1 rifles, which feature forward assists. Both rifles feature three-prong flash-hiders, so it is difficult to tell them apart from the left side of the rifle.
Forrest and other U.S. soldiers wade through a swamp with both M16 and XM16E1 rifles.
Forrest aims his XM16E1 rifle at attacking NVA troops.
Forrest fires his XM16E1 rifle. Note how his rifle is fitted with an aftermarket rear sight adjustment knob, possibly made by Rapidex.
Pvt. Benjamin Buford "Bubba" Blue (
Mykelti Williamson) fires his M16 rifle. Based on the fact the selector is on semi and he is firing on auto, it can be assumed this is a full-auto converted M16 (SP1).
Lt. Dan Taylor (
Gary Sinise) armed with an XM16E1 rifle. Note how the selector is on full-auto, which the M16 (SP1) doesn't have. While it could be an actual M16 rifle, it is assumed the guns in the film are civilian SP1s since these are easier to acquire for armorers.
Charleville 1766
When the ancestors of Lt. Dan (Gary Sinise) are seen dying in battle, the one who died during the American Revolutionary War is seen with a Charleville 1766 flintlock musket.
Charleville Musket - .69 caliber
The Revolutionary War ancestor of Lt. Dan falls dead while holding the Charleville Musket.
M1903 Springfield
During the flashbacks of Lt. Dan's (Gary Sinise) ancestors who died in battle, the one who died during World War I is seen holding an M1903 Springfield.
M1903 Springfield Mk 1 - .30-06
The World War I ancestor of Lt. Dan falls dead while holding an M1903 Springfield. Note the machine gun on the right, assumed to be a
Browning M1917 (due to the hose and water can), although it isn't seen clearly enough for confirmation.
Winchester Model 70
A Winchester Model 70 is seen in a picture of Huey P. Newton during the "Black Panther Party".
Post-1964 Winchester Model 70 Super Grade - various calibers
In the background, a picture of Huey P. Newton holds a Winchester Model 70 and a spear.
Handguns
Colt M1911A1
While in Vietnam, Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) is handed a Colt M1911A1 for "Tunnel Rat" duty, and later his commanding officer, Lt. Dan Taylor (Gary Sinise) is seen using one after he is wounded during the battle.
Forrest is handed an M1911A1 by Lt. Dan Taylor for "Tunnel Rat" duty.
Lt. Dan Taylor holds his M1911A1 pistol as he calls for a Napalm air strike.
Lt. Dan angrily returns fire with his M1911A1.
A "Black Panther" armed with an M1911A1.
Charter Arms Undercover
A Charter Arms Undercover is seen being used in the news footage of Arthur Bremer's May 15, 1972 assassination attempt on Democratic candidate George Wallace, which left the candidate paralyzed from the waist down until his death in 1998.
Charter Arms Undercover - .38 Special. This is the actual Charter Arms used by Bremer in the assassination attempt, having been put up for auction by Rock Island Auction Company. This is technically a "screen-used" weapon, as footage from the actual assassination attempt is used in the film.
Arthur Bremer (his arm can be seen) firing a Charter Arms Undercover before being subdued by the crowd.
Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub Nose
A Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub Nose is seen in the hands of then-Secret Service Agent Danny Spriggs during actual news footage of an attempted assassination on Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981. In 1981, the standard issue sidearms for the USSS Presidential Protection detail was either the Smith & Wesson Model 19, usually a snub-nosed model, or the stainless variant, the Smith & Wesson Model 66-2. Agents on the President's detail carried these weapons with six hollow-point .357 Magnum rounds in the cylinders. Both weapons can be seen in news footage of the Reagan assassination attempt, as can an Uzi submachine gun.
Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub Nose - .357 Magnum
A TV showing Secret Service Agent Danny Spriggs with his department-issue S&W Model 19 Snub Nose as he covers the agents subduing attempted assassin John Hinckley Jr.
Colt 1860 Army
When the ancestors of Lt. Dan (Gary Sinise) are seen dying in battle, the one who died during the Civil War has a Colt 1860 Army in his hip holster.
Colt 1860 Army - .44 caliber
The Civil War ancestor of Lt. Dan falls dead with a Colt 1860 Army in his holster. What appears to be a discarded rifle on the right is actually a ramrod for a cannon.
Colt Official Police
A nickel-plated Colt Official Police is seen wielded by a "Black Panther" during the "Black Panther Party".
Colt Official Police, 5" barrel, nickel finish - .38 Special
A "Black Panther" holds a Colt Official Police when forcing Forrest to leave for starting a fight.
Submachine Guns
M1928A1 Thompson
Another one of Lt. Dan's ancestors, who died during World War II, is seen holding an M1928A1 Thompson submachine gun with a 30-round magazine and lacking the Cutts compensator.
M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP
The World War II ancestor of Lt. Dan falls dead while holding an M1928A1 Thompson. Note the gun's 1928 rear sight, as well as the actuator on the top, indicating it is an M1928A1 and not a wartime-produced M1/M1A1. Note also the lack of a Cutts compensator, uncommonly seen on older Thompsons. Also notice how the environment appears to be a beach and the ancestor wears a 1st Infantry patch. This might be trying to show that he died in the battle of Omaha Beach.
Shotguns
Remington 870
A "Black Panther" is seen holding a Remington 870 in a photograph pinned to the wall during the "Black Panther Party".
A "Black Panther" in the photograph armed with a Remington 870.
Double Barreled Shotgun
A Double Barreled Shotgun is wielded by one of the "Black Panthers".
Stoeger/IGA double barreled shotgun - 12 Gauge
A "Black Panther" in the background armed with a double barreled shotgun.
Ithaca 37
One of the "Black Panthers" is seen armed with an Ithaca 37 shotgun.
Ithaca 37 Deer Slayer Police Special (note the rifle sights and riot-length barrel) - 12 Gauge
A "Black Panther" points an Ithaca 37 at Forrest as he beats up Jenny's boyfriend.
Machine Guns
M60
M60 machine guns are seen mounted on UH-1 Huey helicopters in Vietnam and carried by some of U.S. soldiers.
M60 machine gun - 7.62x51mm NATO
A doorgunner with the M60 machine gun at the ready while riding in a Huey helicopter.
A machine gun team fires the M60 at attacking NVA troops, but the gun quickly jams.
"Get that pig un-fucked!" - As the M60 jams, Lt. Dan Taylor (
Gary Sinise) lets loose some accurate Vietnam War-era dialogue.
Other
M72 LAW
M72 LAW rocket launchers are seen on several U.S. soldiers' rucksacks, including Forrest Gump's (Tom Hanks), although none of them are ever used.
M72 LAWs are seen on Forrest's and other soldier's rucksacks.
A good shot of Forrest's M72 LAW rocket launcher. He has some C4 plastic explosives strapped on there as well.
M79 Grenade Launcher
M79 grenade launchers are carried by U.S. soldiers in Vietnam.
M79 Grenade Launcher - 40x46mm
A U.S. soldier near the back of the line armed with an M79 grenade launcher.
A U.S. soldier flees the battle while holding an M79 grenade launcher.
M26/M61 Hand Grenade
M26/M61 hand grenades are seen carried by U.S. soldiers during the scenes in Vietnam.
M26 High Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade
After tossing a grenade in an NVA tunnel, Lt. Dan still has an M26/M61 grenade on his belt.
One of the soldiers Forrest saves has an M26/M61 grenade attached to his vest.
M18 Smoke Grenade
Some U.S. soldiers in Vietnam carry M18 smoke grenades.
M18 smoke grenade - Violet. Violet smoke grenades are no longer manufactured.
A U.S. soldier has three M18 smoke grenades strapped to his pack.
Forrest has an M18 smoke grenade hooked to his vest.
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