The Man on the Roof

The Man on the Roof (1976)

The Man on the Roof (Mannen på taket) is a Swedish 1976 crime/action movie based on the 1971 Sjöwall-Wahlöö novel "The Abominable Man". It follows Homicide detective Martin Beck in his investigation of a brutal murder of a fellow policeman. The investigation eventually leads to a shootout in downtown Stockholm where a mad gunman is shooting on anything with a police uniform.

The following firearms were seen in the film The Man on the Roof: WARNING! POSSIBLE SPOILERS!

Smith & Wesson Model 52

Detective Gunvald Larsson (Thomas Hellberg) carries a Smith & Wesson Model 52 pistol during the movie.

Smith & Wesson M52 - .38 special

A closeup of the S&W M52

A wounded Larsson brandishing his S&W Model 52 during the final shootout.

Walther PP

A Walther PP is carried by Police Lieutenant Martin Beck carries a Walther PP pistol, which along with the PPK was the most common service pistols of the Swedish police until it was replaced by the SIG-Sauer P226 in the 1990's.

Post war Walther PP Pistol - .32 ACP.

Martin Beck, Carl Gustaf Lindstedt, looking startled with his Walther PP. He is moments away from being shot by the gunman who discovered his failed attempt at infiltration

Carl Gustav M/45

The Carl Gustav M/45B is used by the Swedish S.W.A.T team during the shootout.

Swedish K / Carl Gustav M45 Submachine Gun - 9x19mm‎. The Swedish police variant, although virtually identical to the military M/45B version, had an added single-shot switch.

A member of the Swedish tactical police force preparing his M/45B.

Another police officer with a M/45B preparing to insert via helicopter on the roof where the gunman is holed up.

"Swedish Mauser" 6.5x55mm

In the shootout the gunman is both seen and described as using a "Mauser" fitted with a scope. He is most likely using the "Swedish Mauser" 6.5x55mm due to its availability in Sweden.

Mauser 1896/38 Rifle (Carl Gustaf) - 6.5x55mm

FN FAL (M1941 Johnson machine gun mock-up)

In the original novel the gunman uses a M1941 Johnson machine gun throughout the shootout. For the movie a FN FAL rifle was mocked up to look like a Johnson machine gun. The charging handle is on the right side on the original but on the left in the FN FAL movie version. The original Johnson MG also does not have a carrying handle unlike the FN FAL. The original Johnson has a left side magazine housing, but in the movie version a false magazine housing had been welded on the left side of the FN FAL. For scenes that required the weapon to be fired the camera was angled or the weapons bottom part was somehow hidden as to conceal a regular bottom fed FN FAL magazine.

A FN FAL - 7.62x51mm NATO

M1941 Johnson LMG - .30-06

M1944 Johnson LMG - .30-06

The gunman (Ingvar Hirdwall) with his mockup Johnson LMG. Note the classical FN FAL carrying handle and the equally distinctive breech. Also note the lack of a charging handle which is set on the left side of the FN FAL but on the right side of the original Johnson LMG. The magazine is also different from that of a Johnson LMG.

The gunman shooting down a police helicopter. Note the magazine inserted at the bottom of the weapon just below his left hand rather than on the left, further indicating it is a mockup Johnson LMG rather than an original.