Magnum Force

Magnum Force Cinema Poster Country United States Directed by Ted Post Release Date 1973 Language English Studio Warner Bros. Distributor Warner Bros. Main Cast Character Actor Harry Callahan Clint Eastwood Lt. Briggs Hal Holbrook Charlie McCoy Mitchell Ryan Davis David Soul Sweet Tim Matheson Early Smith Felton Perry Frank Palancio Tony Giorgio DiGiorgio John Mitchum Alan "Red" Astrachan Kip Niven

Magnum Force is the second installment in the Dirty Harry film franchise, with Clint Eastwood returning as SFPD Inspector "Dirty Harry" Callahan. In the film, Callahan investigates a series of murders of notorious criminals, most of them shot dead with Magnum-caliber revolvers. The 1973 film was written by Dirty Harry co-writer John Milius, and the cast included Hal Holbrook, David Soul, Robert Urich, and Felton Perry. At 122 minutes, it is the longest of the five Dirty Harry films.

The following weapons were used in the film Magnum Force:

WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS!!

Revolvers

Smith & Wesson Model 29

San Francisco Police Inspector "Dirty Harry" Callahan (Clint Eastwood) returns armed with his famous ".44 Magnum", a Smith & Wesson Model 29 with a 6 1/2" pinned barrel. The handgun is very prominently displayed during the film's opening credits and Harry is heard reciting his famous "Do you feel lucky?" speech from the first film. In the posters for the film, Harry is pictured holding a Model 29 with a 8 3/8" barrel for a more imposing silhouette.

Magnum Force has perpetuated a false notion that Dirty Harry uses .44 Special in his S&W Model 29 due to confusing dialogue in the SFPD firing range scene; Harry encounters some rookie officers on the firing range, who then chat up with him. One of them asks what load he uses in his revolver and Callahan states: "It's a light Special. This size gun it gives you better control and less recoil than a .357 Magnum with wadcutters." A viewer could easily misunderstand that Harry meant .44 Special rounds, however in the 2008 video release of the film, Magnum Force screenwriter John Milius confirms in the audio commentary that the "light Special" line was in fact misinterpreted by the cast and crew and actually meant he used a specially prepared lighter .44 Magnum load.

Smith & Wesson Model 29 with 6 1/2" barrel - .44 Magnum

Smith & Wesson Model 29 with 8 3/8" barrel - .44 Magnum

"This is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world. And it could blow your head clean off... Do you feel lucky?"
Callahan's Smith & Wesson Model 29 during the opening credits.

Callahan aims his Model 29 at a cardboard target inside the SFPD underground shooting range.

Callahan finishes shooting the target, landing all six rounds inside the abdomen circle (police back then were trained to gut shoot).

Callahan uses a Safariland speed loader to reload his Model 29. This is one of the rare instances Harry is seen reloading his revolver in the series.

Callahan lends his revolver to Officer Sweet, who then takes up a two-handed stance and rapid fires six rounds into another target, missing the first shot in his haste.

Callahan aims his Model 29 through the two-way glass during the stakeout in the Cost Plus, ready to shoot.

Callahan fires his Model 29 during the SFPD Police Pistol Competition combat course.

Callahan checks his Smith & Wesson Model 29 while in his apartment.

Callahan surrenders his Model 29 to Lt. Briggs as he is held at gunpoint.

Promotional poster for Magnum Force featuring Harry with a 8 3/8" barrel Model 29.

Colt Python

The motorcycle traffic cops featured in the film: Officers John Davis (David Soul), Philip Sweet (Tim Matheson), Alan "Red" Astrachan (Kip Niven) and Michael Grimes (Robert Urich) carry 4" barreled Colt Python revolvers, as does just about every other officer of the SFPD. During the annual San Francisco Police Pistol Competition, Davis lets Insp. Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) try out his Python: he deliberately misses a target to analyze the slug with a ballistics microscope. At the end of the film, Lieutenant Neil Briggs (Hal Holbrook), using a Colt Python, confronts Callahan after losing his Model 19 Snub as well. In the film, the guns are shown capable of having a suppressor attached by sliding it onto the end of the barrel. Almost all revolvers have a gap between the barrel and cylinder which allows gases to escape, as well as sound, meaning they cannot be effectively suppressed. The device shown in the movie also seems to be attached to the weapon purely by friction between the barrel and the long side arms; it seems fairly likely that the first attempt to fire with it in place would shoot the device off the end of the gun were it actually trapping propellant gases rather than simply being a functionless barrel extension.

Colt Python with 4" Barrel - .357 Magnum

A closeup of an officer's Colt Python as he executes the criminals at the beginning of the film.

Albert Popwell returns for his second role in the Dirty Harry series, this time playing J.J. Wilson, a pimp who is pulled over the day after he kills one of his own prostitutes. His bribes prove useless against an SFPD motorcycle officer, who quickly executes him by shooting him five times - once in the neck and four times in the chest. Notice the squib and fake skin on his neck used to show the first bullet's impact.

A traffic officer smacks a suppressor on to his Colt Python before a hit. A suppressor like the one shown here would be ineffective in real life.

Side view of the suppressed Python.

The suppressed Python is used in the parking garage during a confrontation.

Officer John Davis (David Soul) loads up his Colt Python with a Safariland Comp II speed loader then holsters it during the SFPD Police Pistol Competition.

Davis draws and fires his Colt Python during the competition.

Davis reloads his revolver during the competition, using his thumb to guide the rounds inside the chambers before twisting the speed loader knob.

"Out!" Davis dumps his empties with a proper shove to the ejector rod.

Callahan runs a cylinder through Davis' Colt Python. Note that here you can clearly see a flash of escaping gas between the cylinder and the frame, showing why the suppressor would not be effective.

Davis with his Python just before he guns down Palancio's men.

Officer Grimes (Robert Urich) fires his Colt Python.

Lt. Neil Briggs (Hal Holbrook) with a Colt Python as he confronts Callahan after losing his Model 19 Snub.

Colt Diamondback

Callahan's partner, Inspector Early Smith (Felton Perry) carries a Colt Diamondback as his sidearm in the film.

Colt Diamondback Snub - .38 Special

Insp. Smith reaches for his Colt Diamondback during the Cost Plus robbery, but is stopped by a robber.

Inspector Early Smith (Felton Perry) with his Colt Diamondback at the ready outside the Cost Plus.

Insp. Smith fires his Colt Diamondback outside the hideout of Frank Palancio (Tony Giorgio).

Smith & Wesson Victory Model

During the plane hijacking, the two hijackers use Smith & Wesson Victory Model revolvers as their weapons. When Insp. Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) infiltrates the plane disguised as a pilot, he knocks out one of them and uses the gun to kill the other hijacker as he flees. Another is seen in the hands of a robber during the Cost Plus stakeout scene.

Smith & Wesson Victory Model - .38 S&W

Callahan is greeted by nervous hijackers with Smith & Wesson Victory Models.

The hijacker points his S&W at Callahan.

This is a pretty neutral way to hold a revolver, and an obvious opening to disarm the gunman, but that isn't Callahan's style.

The hijacker holds Callahan at gunpoint.

Callahan beats him unconscious and takes his Victory Model to kill the other hijacker with. Just visible are the smooth grips unique to the Victory Model.

A robber in the Cost Plus with a Smith & Wesson Victory Model.

Colt Detective Special

J.J. Wilson (Albert Popwell) hides a Colt Detective Special between his legs when pulled over by Sweet (Tim Matheson) but is shot before he can use it.

Colt Detective Special - .38 Special

Wilson prepares to hide his Colt Detective Special.

Smith & Wesson Model 10 Snub

Inspector Frank Digiorgio (John Mitchum) is seen using a snub-nosed Smith & Wesson Model 10 to shoot targets during the police competition.

Smith & Wesson Model 10 Snub - .38 Special

Insp. DeGeorgio during the shooting competition fires and checks his Smith & Wesson Model 10 Snub.

Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub Nose

Lieutenant Neil Briggs (Hal Holbrook) is seen pulling a Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub Nose during a conversation with Callahan. Briggs mentioned earlier in the film that he's proud of the fact that he never had to take his gun out of its holster once, to which Callahan replies, "Well, you're a good man, Briggs. A good man always knows his limitations."

Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub - .357 Magnum

"Your gun's out of its holster Briggs. First time?" Lt. Briggs holds Callahan at gunpoint with his Smith & Wesson Model 19 Snub.

A good side shot of the Model 19 Snub.

Pistols

Beretta 951

One of the robbers during the stakeout scene in the Cost Plus uses a Beretta 951. During the shootout in Frank Palancio's (Tony Giorgio) hideout, the shotgun-wielding thug Dickie tries to draw a Beretta but is killed by Officer Davis (David Soul) before he can fire off a shot.

Beretta 951 - 9x19mm

A thug in the Cost Plus armed with a Beretta 951.

The thug fires his Beretta 951 at the shotgun wielding cop.

A Palancio thug is shot by officer Davis while armed with a Beretta 951.

Browning Hi-Power

Ricca's bodyguard during the start of the film tries to draw his Browning Hi-Power, but is shot before he can pull the trigger.

Browning Hi-Power - 9x19mm

The bodyguard is shot while trying to draw his Browning Hi-Power.

M1911A1

During the combat scenario in the police competition, one of the man targets is armed with an M1911A1. During the penthouse shootout, Lou Guzman (Clifford Pellow) reaches for one when he sees an alarm, but is shot before he can aim it.

M1911A1 - .45 ACP

A man target armed with an M1911A1.

Shotguns

Double Barreled Shotgun

When Insp. Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) and Insp. Early Smith (Felton Perry) are assigned to the stakeout mission in the Cost Plus, one of the robbers holds a sawed off Double Barreled Shotgun with exposed hammers on Smith before the robber is shot by Callahan. During the shootout outside Frank Palancio's (Tony Giorgio) place with the police, one of Frank's men, Ed, uses a hammerless double-barreled shotgun, also sawed off. Due to a continuity error, the gun fires off three shots from only two barrels.

Sawed off side by side shotgun with exposed hammers - 12 gauge

A robber with his Sawed Off Double Barreled Shotgun.

The robber holds his shotgun on Smith.

A good shot of the receiver.

The robber cocks the right hammer of his shotgun while hurling racial slurs at Smith.

"Get on your knees!"

Smith takes the shotgun after Callahan kills the robber.

1960s Era Commercial Stevens hammerless side by side shotgun - 12 gauge

One of Palancio's thugs, Ed, yells at police with a sawed off shotgun in hand.

Browning Auto-5

Another one of Palancio's thugs retrieves a Browning Auto-5 from a closet before the shootout with the SFPD. It could also be the Remington 11 or the Savage 720, both of which are near identical clones by those companies.

Browning Auto 5 (pre WWII) - 12 gauge

The thug to the right carries out a Browning A5.

Winchester Model 1897

Frank Palancio (Tony Giorgio) uses a Winchester Model 1897 to shoot an SFPD officer through the door of his hideout and spark the shootout with the SFPD. Another one of his men, Dickie, uses one as well.

Winchester Model 1897 - 12 gauge. This is an imported copy of the non-take down version of the Winchester 1897 Shotgun (a Norinco 97W shotgun, imported by IAC).

A man target during the police competition combat course is seen armed with a Winchester 1897.

"I'm just a watchman. Nobody's here." Palancio aims his Winchester 1897 at Officer Sweet through the door.

Palancio and Dickie fire on the SFPD.

Dickie fires his Winchester 1897 at the cops.

Ithaca 37

The uniformed cop in the break room during the stakeout in the Cost Plus is seen using an Ithaca 37 shotgun while watching the robbery through the two-way glass. During the shootout with Frank Palancio's men, Early Smith uses an Ithaca with an 18" barrel and rifle sights.

Ithaca 37 - 12 gauge

A "police cadet" (Tony Piazza) behind the two-way glass holds an Ithaca 37.

The officer runs out with the Ithaca.

Ithaca Model 37 Deer Slayer Police Special (note the rifle sights and riot-length barrel) - 12 gauge

Insp. Smith fires his Ithaca 37 at Palancio's men.

Submachine Guns

Smith & Wesson M76

A Smith & Wesson M76 submachine gun is seen used by an officer to kill a large number of mobsters at a swimming pool party.

Trivia: Anyone who owns a copy of the DVD may note this scene is called "The Dead Pool" in the scene index, a play on the fifth installment in the Dirty Harry series, The Dead Pool.

Smith & Wesson M76 Submachine gun - 9x19mm

The officer loads his Smith & Wesson M76 with a magazine, where the crimp-nosed blanks are readily visible.

The officer locks the bolt back on his Smith & Wesson M76.

Firing the Smith & Wesson M76 on the people in the pool.

The pool party massacred.

M1 Thompson

One of Frank Palancio's (Tony Giorgio) thugs, Chuck, fires on the SFPD officers with an M1 Thompson before being killed by Insp. Callahan (Clint Eastwood). Another also fires on Callahan but it is harder to see and he is killed quickly.

M1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP

Chuck fires his M1 Thompson out the window.

Chuck takes cover from Callahan's fire.

Chuck is shot by Callahan and fires his Thompson as he falls back.

Rifles

Winchester Model 70

San Francisco Police carry scoped Winchester Model 70s throughout the film. Frank DiGeorgio (John Mitchum) and his partner Casale (Will Hutchins) carry one during a stakeout mission

Winchester Model 70 - .30-06

The Winchester Model 70 resting at a wall to the right.

Casale and DiGeorgio run with Winchester Model 70s to the scene after Davis kills the criminals they are observing.

A cop fires his Winchester Model 70 outside Palancio's place.

Other

Ballistics Analysis Armory

The room at the police station used for Ballistics Analysis has a vast array of guns, many of which are obscured from view or are too difficult to identify.

Note the AR-15 variant behind Callahan.

Various revolvers and pistols are seen on the table.

Several long-arms on seen on the rack above Callahan.