- Location
- Newmarket, On
I know that Dirty Harry had a .44Mag pistol but what make/model was it? Thanks Andrew
Dirty Harry
- Thread starter andygumpers
- Start date
- Location
- Vancouver Island
- Location
- my heart in the blue sea
mmhéhéhéhéhé...i cant see him ccw something else than a huge S&W wheelgun..
This is from Wikadia (sp)
"The gun used by Clint Eastwood in the filming of the movie was reportedly not a Model 29. According to a story related by a member of the studio's prop department, Smith & Wesson did not have a Model 29 in stock at the time one was requested for filming. Instead, they used a Smith & Wesson Model 57 in .41 Remington Magnum. The Model 29 and Model 57 are identical except for minute differences in bore size, chamber dimensions, and exterior markings, none of which are visible in the film.
However, in the final scene between Callahan and Scorpio, there is a close-up of Callahan's revolver. A freeze-frame of this close-up clearly shows the markings "44 MAGNU" with the final "M" not readily distinguishable, due to pixel resolution limitations. Additionally, a careful comparison with a Smith and Wesson Model 629 (the stainless-steel version of Callahan's Model 29) shows the bore of the muzzle to be the same proportional size (a .41 caliber, while large, is visibly smaller to a trained eye). Thus, while it is certainly possible that other N-frame Smith and Wesson revolvers were used as props throughout the film, this scene clearly used a genuine Model 29.
Another version of the Dirty Harry gun story: In the scene where we see Inspector Callahan drawing his oversized revolver for the first time (bank robbery scene), the gun used was a Smith & Wesson Model 29 in .44 Magnum with a 6 1/2" barrel, but at the entrance to the alley when chasing the man with the tan suitcase, the model with the 8 3/8" barrel is clearly visible. Subsequent shooting (both with the cameras and the gun) was conducted using a Smith and Wesson Model 25 in .45 Long Colt with a 6" barrel. The choice of .45LC over .44 Magnum was to use the standard "Four-In-One" blank cartridges which were widely used in filming cowboy movies and thus, readily available (unlike blanks for a .44 Magnum, which the prop department would have had to fabricate from scratch). As in the story above, the Model 25 and Model 29 are so similar that it would be impossible to distinguish them at a glance. However, the film's co-writer, John Milius, who owns one of the original guns from "Dirty Harry" and its sequel, Magnum Force, has written in gun magazines that a .44 Magnum was indeed used for filming and publicity shots.
The 44 Magnum cartridge has since been eclipsed as "the most powerful in the world." Factory-produced examples include the .454 Casull, the .475 Wildey Magnum, the .50 Action Express, the .460 S&W Magnum and the .500 S&W Magnum. Some gunsmiths also offer custom-built or limited-production handguns chambered for proprietary calibers or high-velocity rifle cartridges. Perhaps the most powerful handguns ever made are single-shot pistols chambered for the 50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun) and .600 Nitro Express calibers.
The gun Scorpio steals from the liquor store owner and uses in the bus hijack is a 9mm Walther P38. Scorpio also uses a Sten submachine gun in his rooftop shoot-out with Harry.:
Probably more information than you wanted.
Take Care
Bob
"The gun used by Clint Eastwood in the filming of the movie was reportedly not a Model 29. According to a story related by a member of the studio's prop department, Smith & Wesson did not have a Model 29 in stock at the time one was requested for filming. Instead, they used a Smith & Wesson Model 57 in .41 Remington Magnum. The Model 29 and Model 57 are identical except for minute differences in bore size, chamber dimensions, and exterior markings, none of which are visible in the film.
However, in the final scene between Callahan and Scorpio, there is a close-up of Callahan's revolver. A freeze-frame of this close-up clearly shows the markings "44 MAGNU" with the final "M" not readily distinguishable, due to pixel resolution limitations. Additionally, a careful comparison with a Smith and Wesson Model 629 (the stainless-steel version of Callahan's Model 29) shows the bore of the muzzle to be the same proportional size (a .41 caliber, while large, is visibly smaller to a trained eye). Thus, while it is certainly possible that other N-frame Smith and Wesson revolvers were used as props throughout the film, this scene clearly used a genuine Model 29.
Another version of the Dirty Harry gun story: In the scene where we see Inspector Callahan drawing his oversized revolver for the first time (bank robbery scene), the gun used was a Smith & Wesson Model 29 in .44 Magnum with a 6 1/2" barrel, but at the entrance to the alley when chasing the man with the tan suitcase, the model with the 8 3/8" barrel is clearly visible. Subsequent shooting (both with the cameras and the gun) was conducted using a Smith and Wesson Model 25 in .45 Long Colt with a 6" barrel. The choice of .45LC over .44 Magnum was to use the standard "Four-In-One" blank cartridges which were widely used in filming cowboy movies and thus, readily available (unlike blanks for a .44 Magnum, which the prop department would have had to fabricate from scratch). As in the story above, the Model 25 and Model 29 are so similar that it would be impossible to distinguish them at a glance. However, the film's co-writer, John Milius, who owns one of the original guns from "Dirty Harry" and its sequel, Magnum Force, has written in gun magazines that a .44 Magnum was indeed used for filming and publicity shots.
The 44 Magnum cartridge has since been eclipsed as "the most powerful in the world." Factory-produced examples include the .454 Casull, the .475 Wildey Magnum, the .50 Action Express, the .460 S&W Magnum and the .500 S&W Magnum. Some gunsmiths also offer custom-built or limited-production handguns chambered for proprietary calibers or high-velocity rifle cartridges. Perhaps the most powerful handguns ever made are single-shot pistols chambered for the 50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun) and .600 Nitro Express calibers.
The gun Scorpio steals from the liquor store owner and uses in the bus hijack is a 9mm Walther P38. Scorpio also uses a Sten submachine gun in his rooftop shoot-out with Harry.:
Probably more information than you wanted.
Take Care
Bob
Actually, it's kind of interesting that a "San Francisco cop" would alternately use a 41 Mag, the model 58 was originally produced for the SFPD. Dirty Harry's 44 wasn't that much of a step up from the revolvers actually in use during the time period of the first movie.
eastwood did use a .41 in the actual movie but he did buy a .44 model 29 for his own use while filming to familiarize himself with it. the old ones had pin on hammer and the new remakes from S&W have a protective gate over pin. I actually ordered a new one and sent it back....poor quality for the $$, the old ones are ok but hard to find in good shape, also .44 kicks like a mule so not as easy to hit a target without practice....the cops quit using them cause the bullet would go through buildings risking hitting innocent bystanders in a police shooting and they are heavy as you notice the cannon hanging in Harry's holster
"Scorpio also uses a Sten submachine gun "
I thought it was an MP40, but my memory could be wrong. I've read the information posted at Wikipedia before, there have been numerous articles in gun magazines over the years. As to the recoil statement, in one of his movies Eastwood clearly states that he uses 44 Special loads for recoil control. FWIW - dan
I thought it was an MP40, but my memory could be wrong. I've read the information posted at Wikipedia before, there have been numerous articles in gun magazines over the years. As to the recoil statement, in one of his movies Eastwood clearly states that he uses 44 Special loads for recoil control. FWIW - dan
As a girl I can't even count the (must've been) thousands of .44 Specials I shotout of my dad's Model 29. He even had the same leather shoulder holster as clint lol. I grew up in the sticks and we shot a lot. FYI a 158gr 38spl +P will not go through a 6 inch thick green poplar tree from 10 feet away. But a 246gr lead RN out of a .44 Spl will! For home defense a Model 29 loaded with 44 Spl's holding those huge hollow points would be awesome. You could always keep a speed-loader of 240gr JHP Magnums handy if the bad guy is hiding behind the fridge! Hahaha
Those older models has the deepest gorgeous bluing. Real American craftsmanship from days gone by.
Those older models has the deepest gorgeous bluing. Real American craftsmanship from days gone by.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
- Location
- Southeastern Michigan
Am I the Only One?
Am I the only one that has double tapped a S&W 44 Magnum revolver? It happened after I had a tuned hammer, sear, and trigger installed; the M29 kicked so bad that I thought I had broken my good finger on my shooting hand
Regards, Richard
Am I the only one that has double tapped a S&W 44 Magnum revolver? It happened after I had a tuned hammer, sear, and trigger installed; the M29 kicked so bad that I thought I had broken my good finger on my shooting hand
Regards, Richard
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Am I the only one that has double tapped a S&W 44 Magnum revolver? It happened after I had a tuned hammer, sear, and trigger installed; the M29 kicked so bad that I thought I had broken my good finger on my shooting hand
Thats happened to me but on the 500 S&W.
