Three Kings

Three Kings (1999)

Three Kings is a 1999 Gulf War movie set during the waning days of Operation Desert Storm. Three Army reservists, SFC Barlow (Mark Wahlberg), SSG "Chief" Elgin (Ice Cube), and PFC Vig (Spike Jonze), who, while searching Iraqi POW's, find a map of Iraqi bunkers that may contain captured Kuwaiti gold. A retiring Special Forces major (George Clooney) gets wind of it and takes them on a search for the gold.

The following weapons were used in the film Three Kings:

Rifles

M16A2 Rifle

The M16A2 can be seen throughout the movie in use by the various US soldiers including SFC Barlow (Mark Wahlberg), SSG "Chief" Elgin (Ice Cube), and PFC Vig (Spike Jonze).

M16A2 5.56x45mm

Barlow (Mark Wahlberg) takes aim with his M16A2.

Barlow (Mark Wahlberg) adjusts the sight on his M16A2 as he spots an armed Iraqi soldier.

A soldier stands around with his M16A2. (I'd be careful, as a senior NCO or Officer would chew him out for holding his weapon like that).

SSG "Chief" Elgin (Ice Cube) stands with his M16A2.

Colt Model 727

Major Archie Gates (George Clooney), the former Delta Force Operator and now soon-to-be-retired Green Beret, is seen armed with an Colt Model 727 carbine in the film and in promotional pictures. This is accurate for a Special Forces soldier during the time period of the film to carry.

Colt Model 727 5.56x45mm

In a promotional photo, George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube hang out on set, Model 727 in tow.

Maj. Gates explains to the Iraqis of their intentions, Model 727 slung.

When they come back, Maj. Gates takes a much more serious approach.

Maj. Gates runs through the bunker with his Model 727.

Maj. Gates meets with the Iraqi Officers, bringing his Model 727 to a fire-ready position.

AKMSU Carbine

An AKMSU carbine can be seen in the hands of the Iraqi officer in the "moving of the gold" scene at the Karbala bunker. He is later shot in the leg with his own weapon during a struggle with Major Archie Gates (George Clooney), the incident leading to a shootout between the protagonists and the Iraqis.

AKMSU Krinkov - 7.62x39mm. This is a blank adapted full auto transferable AKM (7.62x39mm) pistol that was converted into a Krinkov via parts kit.

An AKMSU carbine is carried by the Iraqi officer.

Maj. Gates grabs the barrel, then pushes it down and the officer gets shot in the leg.

Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE)

The Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) is seen being carried and fired by one of the Shiite refugees.

Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III* - .303 British.

SMLE on the left. It appears that he unloads two cartridges while cycling the action of the rifle.

The SMLE is seen on the left.

Mauser Gewehr 98/ Mauser Karabiner 98k rifle

Many of the Shiite refugees are seen armed with Mauser 98 bolt-action rifles - both the Gewehr 98 rifle and the Karabiner 98k rifle. The brother of the Shiite refugee with the SMLE is armed with a k98k.

Mauser Gewehr 1898 7.92x57mm Mauser

Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm

The rifle on the left.

Lee-Enfield No.5 "Jungle Carbine"

Seen once in the hands of another refugee is what appears to be a Lee-Enfield No.5 "Jungle Carbine".

Lee-Enfield No.5 Jungle Carbine - .303. This is not a chopped down No. 4 conversion (like many jungle carbines are) but an original No.5

The rifle on the left.

Mosin-Nagant

Many of the Shiite refugees and rebel Iraqi troops can be seen armed with Mosin-Nagant M91/30 rifles and M1944 carbines. Most notably in the scene where a child rebel uses a scoped version to shoot an Iraqi soldier shortly before the gas scene. He was then killed by the Iraqi tank in the village. It appears that the Mosin Nagant rifle has a folding bayonet, Also the scope is blocked by the cement design, also the boy is sticking the rifle to far out. It looks like the used a M44 on one seen then filmed this again with a M91-30 Sniper and mixed the stills.

Full-length, Mosin Nagant M91/30 Sniper Rifle with Russian PU 3.5x sniper scope (this example is one of the repurposed SVT-40 scopes, 91/30 PU scopes had consistent tube diameter as the mount rings were shorter) and down turned bolt handle - 7.62x54mm R

A young boy takes pot shots at the Iraqis, but it outgunned by the tank's cannon.

The boy fires the rifle.

AKM

The AKM can be seen throughout the movie in use by Iraqi forces. After the accident, Maj. Gates, SSG Elgin, PFC Vig, and several other refugees use these weapons as well.

AKM 7.62x39mm

The Iraqi holding the AKM is seen through Barlow's 0-200 yards close range sight on his M16A2. The sights are NOT night and day! The bigger peep is for 0-200 yards and the smaller is for 200 + yards.

The wounded Iraqi is seen with his AKM nearby. Note the white flag.

Chief dumps two guards' AKMs.

The Hair Brothers watch the standoff, with AKMs behind them.

The camera focuses on a soldier's AKM receiver.

The stand-off ensues.

Maj. Gates inspects his new weapon.

Chief holds the AKM.

Guards at the border armed with AKMs.

SKS

Amir (Cliff Curtis), a number of Shiite refugees and rebel Iraqi soldiers are seen armed with the Siminov SKS carbine.

Russian Simonov Type 45 aka the SKS rifle - 7.62x39mm

Amir moves through the crowd with his SKS.

Chief takes cover, a SKS nearby.

Handguns

Beretta 92FS

The Beretta 92FS can be seen throughout the movie as well. Used by SFC Troy Barlow (Mark Wahlberg), SSG Chief Elgin (Ice Cube), PFC Conrad Vig (Spike Jonze), Maj. Gates (George Clooney), as well as several other characters. When raiding the Karbala bunker, Chief pistol-whips an Iraqi soldier with his Beretta, causing him to accidentally fire the weapon since he had his finger on the trigger. The stray round thankfully doesn't harm anyone, Gates chastising him for his lack of firearm handling proficiency.

Beretta 92FS 9x19mm

SFG Barlow decocks his Beretta after chambering a round.

He later fires into a metal lock. (Good thing it didn't ricochet. It would've hurt pretty bad,)

Walter Wogaman (Jamie Kennedy) draws his Beretta on Adriana Cruz.

Barlow fires his Beretta.

Thunder 5 Pistol

The Thunder 5 is the peculiar-looking "big revolver" carried by PFC Conrad Vig (Spike Jonze). He uses it throughout the movie, but loses it when he is shot. As the revolver obviously is not Army-issue, Vig is seen receiving (in a deleted scene) the weapon inside a chocolate bunny from his parents. He specifically calls it a Thunder 5, and it shoots .410 shotgun shells and Colt .45 long.

The actual Thunder Five used by Spike Jonze in the film, note the sand on the grips.

Conrad shows off his new Thunder 5.

In a deleted scene, Conrad inspects the T5 when he unwraps it from his parents.

Conrad puts the Thunder Five to the head of Troy (not exactly the best way to treat your friend).

Conrad hits the dirt with the Thunder 5. If you look close enough, you can see the little .410 rounds in the cylinder.

Closeup of the Thunder 5.

Makarov PM pistol

The Makarov PM pistol can be seen being used by Iraqi Officers. Maj. Gates also disarms a soldier who was carrying one and later gives one to SFG Barlow (Mark Wahlberg) to confront the Iraqi soldier who was his torturer.

Makarov PM 9x18mm PM

An Iraqi Officer puts a Makarov to the head of Amir's wife.

The Makarov lays in the Officer's hand.

Barlow (Mark Wahlberg) holds the Makarov on Amir after mistaking him for an enemy.

Nagant M1895 Revolver

An Iraqi officer points a vintage Nagant M1895 revolver in the face of Adriana Cruz (Nora Dunn) to deter her from wanting her video tape back. (The character of Cruz is likely inspired by real-life journalist Christiane Amanpour).

Nagant M1895 7.62x38 N

Adriana Cruz looking down the barrel of an Iraqi soldier's Nagant M1895.

CZ 52

When Gates is seen working as a Hollywood military adviser, he is seen showing an action star how to disarm an enemy of what appears to be a CZ 52.

CZ 52

Maj. Gates retires from the Army and becomes a Hollywood Military Adviser. He is seen here showing the Action Star (Brian Bosworth) how to disarm and subdue an opponent.

Another view of the pistol.

Machine Guns

M60 Machine Gun

The M60 machine gun is seen mounted on top of the Humvee, and is fired a few times during the confrontation between the main characters and the Iraqi soldiers at the Karbala bunker. The same Humvee-mounted M60 machine gun struck the windscreen of a van driven by SFC Troy Barlow (Mark Wahlberg) after the Humvee ran over a land mine and exploded.

M60 machine gun 7.62x51mm NATO

Chief and Maj. Gates ride in the Humvee, while Chief mans the M60.

Maj. Gates near the M60.

"Don't make me shoot you Abdul. There'll be no monkey business this time." Vig levels the M60 at Iraqi soldiers at the Karbala bunker.

Note the barrel plug for firing blanks.

Browning M2

The Browning M2 is seen mounted on a UH-1 Huey Helicopter.

The Browning M2 is seen mounted on a UH-1 Huey Helicopter carrying Col. Horn (Mykelti Williamson).

The Browning M2 mounted as a doorgun.

RPK light machine gun

During the mission to rescue Barlow from the Iraqi's, one of the Iraqi's can be seen with an RPK light machine gun, which he discards when fleeing from the ruse of Saddam's arrival.

RPK light machine gun 7.62x39mm

An Iraqi soldier runs from "Saddam's" convoy, throwing his RPK away.

An RPK lies abandoned as the helicopter strafes the area.

Shotguns

Remington 870

A Remington 870 with a sawed-off barrel and stock can be seen in one of the flashback scenes where Conrad Vig is blasting away at objects arranged in a makeshift shooting range during his civilian life.

Remington 870 12 gauge with sawed-off barrel and stock

Conrad during his time as a civilian was spent firing off a short barreled Remington 870 Shotgun - 12 gauge.

A massive muzzle flash from the Remington.

Other

M72 LAW

Conrad Vig (Spike Jonze) can be seen pulling out an M72 LAW in the village when the Iraqi T-62 tank arrives. He later puts it away when Major Gates decides to leave.

M72A2 LAW 66mm

Conrad Vig (Spike Jonze) arms the M72 LAW.

Type 69 RPG

The Type 69 RPG launcher, fitted with a PGO-7 scope, can be seen used by Iraqi soldiers in two scenes; first to blow up a tanker truck full of milk at the Karbala bunker, then to destroy one of the cars in the convoy pretending to be "Saddam’s” entourage.

Chinese Type 69 40mm

The Type 69 RPG at a milk truck.

Preparing to fire his Type 69 RPG.

A Republican Guard soldier fires his Type 69 RPG at "Saddam's" convoy. If you look closely at the actor's left ear, it appears that the actor is wearing ear plugs.

M134 Minigun

During the rescue, an Iraqi helicopter arrives, firing its M134 Minigun.

GE M134 Minigun - 7.62x51mm NATO.

During the rescue, an Iraqi helicopter arrives, firing its M134 Minigun.

DShK 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun

A DShK 12.7mm Soviet Machine Gun is seen mounted atop the Iraqi tank.

A DShK 12.7mm Soviet Machine Gun is seen mounted atop the Iraqi tank.

T-72 Tank

An Iraqi T-72 tank is seen arriving at the bunker. Because the production was filmed in Arizona, the tank is the same one seen in the film Red Dawn and Rambo III that was manufactured by Veluzat Armored Vehicles out of Newhall, California.

The tank arrives at the bunker.

Sideview of the Iraqi tank.

Trivia

Bullet Wound Description

In a very rare un-Hollywood moment, Maj. Gates (George Clooney) explains what a bullet does, when it enters a human body. His finger, which he uses to point at SFG Barlow as a demonstration, seems to “shoot” a 9x19mm bullet. Gates explains penetrating abdominal trauma accurately; the abdomen has a number of organs with large blood supplies, and several which accommodate normally benign bacterial colonies that can become severe infections outside them.

"Say that a bullet ..."

"... tears into your gut. It creates a cavity in the dead tissue. That cavity, it fills up with bile and bacteria..." Maj. Gates explains.

Realism

Three Kings is notable for its depiction of military details.

Maj. Gates appearance

Major Archie Gates (George Clooney) is a Special Forces officer, who appears to have been in Delta Force as well. Also, his patches, skill tabs, and general appearance is exactly what a SF soldier would have. He uses the Colt M727, which Delta uses, as seen in the film Black Hawk Down.

Major Gates is shown wearing a Special Forces tab, meaning he completed the Special Forces Qualification Course.

Maj. Gates hand to hand combat

Maj. Gates also uses the hand-to-hand combat that is taught to Special Forces as well, as seen here when he disarms an Iraqi soldier who has a knife.

Gates disarms an Iraqi of his knife.

Surrender Card

While it may look unusual, these are the real cards that U.S. soldiers released over Iraq during Operation: Desert Storm.

An Iraqi shows the "surrender" card that was dropped during the Operation.

This Deleted Scene

In this deleted scene, the characters confront a fake bunker, but they spread out properly, using hand signals and tactics.