The Internet Movie Firearms Database is a great resource and a powerful tool. The brains behind IMFDB use its accumulated data to compile a variety of fascinating facts on guns in pop culture and the results of this list — the most frequently used guns on-screen — may surprise you . . .
Number five is the iconic MP40 submachine gun. Popular culture has portrayed the MP40 as the most common weapon in the hands of German soldiers during World War II. This is actually incorrect, as the bolt-action Karabiner 98k was more common, but in films, television, and especially in video games, the MP40 will be seen issued on at least a one-to-one basis with the Kar 98k. We tallied it at 375 individual onscreen depictions.
Number four on the list with 406 appearances is the classic Luger P08. This seems to be one of those firearms that everybody knows the second they see it. Its unique grip angle and toggle-action made it one of the most desirable “trophy guns” for American GI’s to bring back when they came home from the Second World War.
Coming in at number three with 523 screen appearances is the venerable M1911A1. The U.S. military was re-issued the 1911 pistol in 1924, now designated the M1911A1. Changes to the gun included a larger ejection port, a shortened trigger, a longer grip-safety spur and slightly shaved hammer spur to prevent hammer bite, serrated front sight, a curved mainspring housing, simplified checkered grips (although diamond grips still appeared on some), and relief cuts around the trigger guard on the frame.
Our guess is that if you lumped in all the M1911 appearances with this of the M1911A1 it still wouldn’t surpass number two on our list, the Teutonic GLOCK 17. The G17 tallied 713 appearances. That’s pretty amazing with a lifespan of only a hair over three decades compared to the lower ranked guns on the list.
And the number one firearm on our list is the ubiquitous Beretta Model 92FS with 847 appearances. The pistol is also known as the M9 in U.S. military service (there are few actual M9’s seen in movies and TV shows; property masters and armorers almost always use the civilian 92FS, even when the pistols are seen in the hands of actors playing U.S. military personnel).
Four out of five branches of the military issued the Beretta M9. It was all five did until 2006 when the USCG adopted the SIG-Sauer P229. Of course the Beretta’s 30+ years of illustrious service will be coming to an end with the announcement of the Army’s new handgun choice: the SIG SAUER P320.
We were amazed that the Uzi, Colt SAA, Thompson submachine gun or even the AK-47, MAC-10 or AR-15/M16 did not make the list, but the numbers don’t lie.
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https://apnews.com/article/guns-missouri-lawsuit-republicans-laws-4596a7cc5999085db69a0c763f333ee8
i always liked
al pacinos officers acp in heat
blued with the ivory grips
nice…
FNC
Can’t be true.
You’re telling me there’s no cowboy action Colts or Winchesters that made the cut ?!?
No way. This list is going by “screen appearance “, right? All the cowboy movies in cinema history and all the cowboys and Indians gatted up w/ aforementioned firearms doesn’t add up?
Can’t be true…
Western Film Production Statistics:
During the years 1930-1954, approximately 2700 western films were churned out.
Uh, the author(s) of the article must have used the same clearinghouse that oversaw the 2020 presidential election.
Yep this list is fos????
Including movies set in time period BEFORE cartridges for revolver had been introduced. Frequently a “20 shooter”.
Yep. Gotta call ???????? on that one.
Left out the Thompson Submachine Gun AKA ‘Tommy Gun’, among many others that are just as popular ‘movie guns’ if not more than these in this article. Heck, for the tommy gun alone the list of movies in which it appeared (starting in 1931 to 2022) is so long ya lose count and dwarfs all these others in number.
Heck, even the model gun used by Alec Baldwin appeared in movies (older westerns) more times than the Beretta Model 92FS
The Tommy Gun was even in an episode of the original StarTrek.
As was the MP40
Per Wiki……
“……..The Desert Eagle has been featured in more than 600 films, television shows and video games….. ”
No mention of the DEagle here?
List=fail.
the 92 series is super common as they are easy to convert to plank firing vs a tilting barrel action.
I was watching a John Wayne movie, True Grit I believe it was, everytime hed take a shot of whiskey I’d take a shot of whiskey,. By the end of the movie I was shitfaced drunk falling on my face and he was still loading his Winchester and 1873 colt killing badguys, John Wayne was a badass he could hold his liquor better then a french woman can hold hers.
you’re a french woman ?
That is what he identifies as, you meanie.
????
Hows a french woman hold her liquor?
By the ears.
It’s why Patton was always going to Europe.
What about ray guns?
Just what you see on the racks, pal.
well, Ray has guns too.
Can’t always tell the brand but what about the .38 snubs in every cop/detective movie set before the 80s ?
Man yall are smoken crack. Number 1 is easily the AR followed by the M1 Garand if you are a WWII history buff. For most of us, the most iconic movies/shows are ones like Saving Private Ryan and Band Of Brothers.
Number 3 is a lever action Glock that Hollywood uses… you know, the kind you hear go “click” when they pull it out like they just flipped the safety or cocked it like a revolver.
He’s holding that MP40 wrong. Holding the magazine can induce a malfunction. On an MP-40 your weak hand is supposed to grasp the fore end. It’s just behind the magazine. What you see in the movies (sorry Clint and Where Eagles Dare) looks cool, but it’s wrong.
What idiot can could up with a list of most popular movie guns without the top spots going to the COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY and the 1892 WINCHESTER ??????????
Have what you want for whatever reason you want it.
For me, Hollywood does not choose my firearms. Sure Bruce Willis made the 92FS an icon. But that does not have any bearing on any decision I might make to own one. I would consider that just as ridiculous as buying a double barrel shotgun based on Biden’s recommendation. I’ve seen grease guns used in tv shows but I still am not likely to ever buy one. This whole thing is just too much like keeping up with the Jones’s.
Now if I ever officially become a licensed collector then all bets are off.
No license, but I’ve collected certain guns just for the sheer hell of it, some of which I tracked down specifically because I noticed them in movies or games, and I don’t have to justify that anyone, anywhere. A collector owning nothing but GLOCKs is like a car buff with a garage full of nothing but Honda Civics.
“A collector owning nothing but GLOCKs is like a car buff with a garage full of nothing but Honda Civics”
Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
FWIW, the straight dustcover version of the 92FS (as shown) *is* the M9 in all but the markings.
Desert Eagle, Beretta M9, MP5, Rem 870 wood, non functional airsoft type pistols that look like a PX4 and P226 had a baby.
Nothing better than The Duke breaking out the Mac-10 in what I think was its first on screen appearance in McQ.
How about the LEAST seen handgun in Movies/TV/Vid Games.
????
Must provide one example of use.
I’ll start.
The bank robber in front seat (of the BMW) puts a Pardini PC9 to the head of Jason Statham in the opening of the movie.
Don’t think I’ve seen a Pardini PC/GT series handgun used in ANY other movie/TV show/game.
Bergmann in Big Jake. Only it wasn’t really a Bergmann, but a mockup.
I’m referring to “The Transporter” above.
With the hundreds of B film Westerns Hollywood cranked out (far more than the number of WW2 movies), I’d think both the SAA type of Revolver and a Lever Action type Rifle would far outstrip the others listed.
Putting a specific firearm in the spotlight of a fantastic film, in my opinion, is the best way to pique people’s interest in it. No matter if it’s real or not, if it looks awesome enough in the movie, it becomes our top pick for a holiday gift.