| Face/Off
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Movie Poster
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| Country
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 United States
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| Directed by
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John Woo
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| Release Date
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1997
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| Language
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English
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| Studio
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Touchstone Pictures
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| Distributor
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Paramount Pictures
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Face/Off is a 1997 American action thriller directed by John Woo and stars John Travolta as Sean Archer, an FBI agent who undergoes an experimental procedure to transplant the face of his archnemesis Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) onto his own body in order to go undercover to find the clues to disarm a bomb planted somewhere in the city of Los Angeles. Through an unfortunate turn of events, a duplicate procedure has been done on an individual that threatens both him and his family.
The following weapons were used in the film Face/Off:
WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Pistols
Custom Springfield Armory M1911-A1
The weapons of choice for Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) are two gold titanium nitride-plated Springfield Armory M1911-A1 V-12s fitted with custom gold-inlaid grips that he keeps in two small-of-the-back holsters. Among the obvious modifications to the guns include skeletonized hammers, ball stirrup cuts on the slide, beavertail grip safeties, ambidextrous thumb safeties, Heinie target sights, moderately beveled magazine wells, and V-12 ported slides/barrels. He uses them both during the first shootout of the film, putting a hole in the windshield of the helicopter Sean Archer (John Travolta) is in and later gunning down several FBI agents in the airport hangar. The pistols are then lost when Troy is knocked unconscious, and are presumed confiscated by the FBI. Later in the film, when Archer has assumed Troy's face and identity, he is given an identical pair of these weapons by Dietrich Hassler (Nick Cassavetes). He then uses one for the proceeding shootout as the police raid the apartment building, losing it during a face-off with Troy as Archer. These pistols tell you how much Castor Troy enjoys his job!
The screen-used pistols from the film have repeatedly been sold and re-sold at auction over the years, most recently in a 2018 listing from Heritage Auction (pictures below).
A “Castor Troy” edition 24k gold titanium Springfield Armory M1911-A1 V-12 pistol - .45 ACP. The weapon pictured here is one of the actual screen-used pistols from
Face/Off, as it appeared in a
2018 Heritage Auction listing.
Opposite view of the screen-used Springfield Armory M1911-A1 V-12 pistol from
Face/Off. This image shows the enlarged ejection port, which is a common modification on prop 1911-style pistols that is intended to enable them to cycle blank ammunition.
A closer view of the screen-used Springfield Armory M1911-A1 V-12 pistol from
Face/Off, showing the custom grips.
Another closer view of the screen-used Springfield Armory M1911-A1 V-12 pistol, showing the markings on the right side of the slide.
The removal of his coat reveals Troy's custom gold plated SA M1911-A1 pistols in dual holsters placed behind his waistband. Troy expertly carries both pistols in "Condition One", sometimes referred to as being "cocked, locked, and ready to rock", meaning that the weapons are chambered, cocked, and put on safety. All that needs to be done once the gun is drawn is to click the safety off and it is ready to fire. The holsters also seem to lack any retention of any kind but considering the holsters are made of leather, they seem to hold both guns firmly in place.
Castor Troy (
Nicolas Cage) fires one of his custom Springfield Armory M1911-A1 pistols at the police helicopter.
Troy reloads his one of his custom M1911-A1s while hiding in the airport hangar. Reloading is a rare sight in a John Woo film, but used sparingly to make it all the more awesome.
Troy fires his custom M1911-A1s while battling agents in the airport hangar. Note the muzzle flash emitted due to the V-12 ported slides/barrels.
Dietrich gives Archer/Troy the custom pair of M1911-A1s along with typical assortment of illegal contraband, and Chiclets. Note that these are most likely not the same pistols Troy used earlier in the film as that pair was undoubtedly seized by the FBI and placed in evidence.
Archer/Troy holds the custom M1911-A1s on Troy's friends before passing it off as a joke.
Archer/Troy holds one of the custom M1911-A1s on Agent Buzz (
James Denton) after running into him during the apartment raid. He throws him down and fires a shot next to him, convincing Dietrich he killed him.
Archer/Troy holding one of the custom M1911-A1s while talking to Troy/Archer on the other side of the mirror.
SIG-Sauer P226
Sean Archer (John Travolta) uses a factory two-tone SIG-Sauer P226 with nickel controls and a nickel slide as his sidearm, which has been fitted with a set of Hogue rubber grips. When he and Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) switch faces and identities, Troy/Archer begins using the weapon, killing Dietrich (Nick Cassavetes) and another FBI agent with it before he loses it during the "Mexican Standoff" in the funeral home.
In 2024, the SIG-Sauer P226 used by John Travolta in the film, which was provided to the production by Hand Prop Room, was auctioned off by Heritage Auction.
A two-tone SIG-Sauer P226 used in
Face/Off; the weapon pictured here is the actual screen-used pistol carried by John Travolta in the film - 9x19mm. This picture comes from a
2024 listing by Heritage Auction.
Opposite view of the screen-used SIG-Sauer P226 from
Face/Off - 9x19mm. Note Hogue rubber grips, as well as the oxidation on the slide.
Sean Archer's SIG-Sauer P226 lying on his desk before he holsters it and heads for the airport. In this beautiful shot, we can see that his P226 is fitted with Hogue combat grips.
Sean Archer (
John Travolta) searches for Troy in the airport hangar.
Troy/Archer points the SIG-Sauer P226 (with a bad low grip) at Dietrich in his apartment building.
Troy/Archer talks to Archer/Troy on the other side of the mirror while holding the SIG-Sauer P226.
Troy/Archer mourns the death of his brother Pollux while unsafely resting the muzzle of his SIG-Sauer P226 on his head with his finger on the trigger. Ironically, this is a good way to take your
Face/Off. Get it? In actuality, Troy/Archer is about to kill himself, but is interrupted by Agent Loomis.
Close-up on the SIG-Sauer P226 as Troy/Archer fires it during the shootout in the funeral home.
A non-blank adapted SIG-Sauer P226 fires on a high-speed camera to capture the bullet in flight.
Beretta 92FS
Prison guards on the oil drill platform keep Beretta 92FS pistols as their sidearms. When Sean Archer/Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) escapes from the electroshock room, he takes a guard's Beretta 92FS and uses it to fire on the guards, carefully placing his shots as not to kill them. During the final shootout Archer/Troy uses a pair of Beretta 92FS pistols, wielding them akimbo as per the standard norm of John Woo films. Jamie Archer (Dominique Swain) picks one of these up as Archer/Troy and Troy/Archer (John Travolta) struggle in the church's courtyard, only to be misled into shooting her father in the arm. Troy/Archer then picks the Beretta up and holds it on Jamie before she digs a kris-bladed butterfly knife into his leg, which he ironically gave her as a gift to protect herself.
A Beretta 92FS in the holster of a prison guard.
Archer/Troy places his Beretta 92FS on the table in the funeral home.
Archer/Troy points his Beretta 92FS during the "Mexican Standoff" in the funeral home, another trademark of John Woo (along with the doves flying all over the place).
During the shootout in the funeral home, many of the guns are shown in close-ups, except they are at different locations than the scene takes place. This is because they are non-blank adapted guns firing real bullets in front of a high-speed camera to capture the bullet in flight.
Archer/Troy fires a pair of Beretta 92FS pistols at Troy/Archer.
One of Archer/Troy's Beretta 92FS pistols lying on the grass before being picked up by Jamie.
Jamie Archer (
Dominique Swain) points the Beretta 92FS at Archer/Troy and Troy/Archer, unsure of who's who. She demonstrates exceptionally poor gun handling, having a low grip with the thumbs layered on top of each other and both index fingers on the trigger, which is expected of someone who's probably never handled a gun before.
Troy/Archer holds the Beretta 92FS on Jamie (
Dominique Swain) after she makes the wrong choice and shoots her father in the arm.
Beretta 92FS Inox
A Beretta 92FS Inox is wielded by one of the police officers during the shootout at the airport. Castor Troy/Sean Archer (John Travolta) tries to draw one, which he previously stole from an FBI agent, to use on Sean Archer/Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) while on the speedboat, but Archer/Troy kicks it away before he can use it.
Beretta 92FS Inox - 9x19mm
A motorcycle cop wields a Beretta 92FS Inox.
Troy/Archer tries to draw a Beretta 92FS Inox. Sorry for the quality of the shots, the film gives nothing better than what you see here.
Glock 17
A Glock 17 is used by one of the thugs during the raid on the apartment building and is later used by one of the thugs in the funeral home shootout.
Glock 17 (2nd Generation) - 9x19mm
A thug uses a Glock 17 in the loft shootout.
Lars (Dana Smith) points his Glock 17 during the "Mexican Standoff" in the funeral home.
Lars' Glock 17 locks empty before he is killed.
Ruger KP89
A Ruger KP89 is shown as the weapon carried by one of Castor Troy's (Nicolas Cage) victims (incorrectly listed as a Ruger P85). A Ruger KP89 is also wielded by Troy's thug, Leo (Tommy Flanagan), during the funeral home shootout.
Ruger KP89 - 9x19mm. Stainless version of P89 with stainless slide and alloy frame.
A Ruger KP89 is shown on a police file record. Due to the image being an inverted negative, the gun looks like it has a black slide and white frame. If you look closely it says P85 not KP89. The guns looks the same but the KP89 is the stainless steel version of the upgraded
P89.
Leo points his Ruger KP89 during the "Mexican Standoff".
Leo falls dead while holding his empty Ruger KP89.
SIG-Sauer P228
FBI agents are seen using SIG-Sauer P228 pistols as their sidearms during the shootout in the airport hangar.
Agent Loomis (
Matt Ross) gets his ear blown off while armed with a SIG-Sauer P228.
Agent Berkeley about to get shot while armed with a SIG-Sauer P228.
SIG-Sauer P230
On Castor Troy's (Nicolas Cage) private plane, undercover FBI Agent Winters (Lauren Sinclair) draws a SIG-Sauer P230 and holds it on Castor before Pollux Troy (Alessandro Nivola) disarms her of it.
SIG-Sauer P230 - .380 ACP
Agent Winters (
Lauren Sinclair) points her SIG-Sauer P230 at Troy. Not the lack of a slide-mounted safety/decocker switch, showing it is not, in fact, a
Walther PPK as previously thought.
Smith & Wesson 3913
During the final shootout in the church, Castor Troy's girlfriend Sasha Hassler (Gina Gershon) is armed with a Smith & Wesson 3913. She likely took it from one of Dietrich's (Nick Cassavetes) friends, who was killed while using it during the raid on the apartment building.
Smith & Wesson 3913 - 9x19mm
Aldo (
Kirk Baltz), one of Dietrich's friends, defends the apartment with a Smith & Wesson 3913.
Aldo is gunned down by a SWAT member, who in reality is firing away from him to avoid blank injury.
Sasha points the Smith & Wesson 3913 during the "Mexican Standoff" in the church.
A better side shot of the Smith & Wesson 3913.
Close-up of a non-blank adapted Smith & Wesson 3913 firing on a high-speed camera to capture the bullet in mid-flight.
Springfield Armory M1911-A1
FBI agents during the raid on the apartment building use black Springfield Armory M1911-A1 pistols fitted with Surefire 310R tactical lights.
All black Springfield Armory M1911-A1 Mil-Spec - .45 ACP
Agent Buzz (
James Denton) points his M1911-A1 at Sasha and her son Adam.
Adam touches the Surefire 310R flashlight on the M1911-A1 before Sasha disarms Buzz.
Stechkin APS
A Russian Stechkin APS machine pistol is used by one of Dietrich's (Nick Cassavetes) friends to fire on police raiding the apartment building. While in the courtyard of the funeral home, Castor Troy/Sean Archer (John Travolta) uses one briefly before having it knocked from his hand. At the conclusion of the fight, Sean Archer/Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) picks the gun up and fires a long burst at Troy/Archer after he unsuccessfully tries to kill his daughter. Earlier in the scene, Troy/Archer dives across the church to grab his henchman's fallen Armscor BXP, which makes no sense if he had the Stechkin in his jacket pocket.
Stechkin APS - 9x18mm Makarov
One of Dietrich's friends dives through the air firing a Stechkin APS.
Troy/Archer firing the Stechkin APS. Presumably he took this from the thug in Dietrich's apartment after he raided the place with the police.
The Stechkin APS lying on the grass.
Archer/Troy picks up the Stechkin APS and holds it on Troy/Archer.
Archer/Troy pointing the Stechkin APS.
Walther PPK
During the FBI raid on Dietrich's (Nick Cassavetes) apartment, one of Dietrich's thugs uses a nickel-plated Walther PPK to defend himself against the swarm of law enforcement officers.
Stainless Walther PPK - .380 ACP
One of Dietrich's friends armed with a Walther PPK.
Revolvers
Smith & Wesson Model 36
When Eve Archer (Joan Allen) goes to the hospital to test blood samples from Sean Archer/Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) and Castor Troy/Sean Archer (John Travolta) to see if they are actually swapped, Archer/Troy confronts her. She then pulls a nickel-plated Smith & Wesson Model 36 with a bobbed hammer, which she claims she took from her "fake husband".
Nickel-plated Smith & Wesson Model 36 with bobbed hammer - .38 Special
Eve Archer (
Joan Allen) points the Smith & Wesson Model 36 at Archer/Troy.
Note the bobbed hammer, which appears to be custom shaved.
Smith & Wesson Model 686 Snub
Sean Archer (John Travolta) draws his backup weapon, a snub-nosed Smith & Wesson Model 686, and fires it along with his SIG-Sauer P226 during the shootout in the airport hangar.
Smith & Wesson Model 686 with 2" barrel - .357 Magnum
Archer fires his Smith & Wesson Model 686 snub.
Submachine Guns
Armscor BXP
During the final shootout in the funeral home, Leo (Tommy Flanagan), one of Castor Troy/Sean Archer's (John Travolta) thugs, wields a South African Armscor BXP before being killed. Troy/Archer picks it up and fires it as he flees from Sean Archer/Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage), who is firing at him.
Leo (
Tommy Flanagan) wields the Ruger KP89 and the Armscor BXP in the funeral home.
The Armscor BXP lying on the floor.
Troy/Archer fires the BXP in the church courtyard.
Troy/Archer and Archer/Troy fight with a rubber BXP.
Colt Model RO635
During the shootout in Dietrich's (Nick Cassavetes) apartment, some of the FBI agents can be seen with Colt Model R0635 submachine guns fitted with C-More red-dot sights. Sasha Hassler (Gina Gershon) uses one as well.
Colt Model RO635 - 9x19mm
An FBI agent armed with a Colt Model RO635 in the airport hangar.
Sasha firing a captured Colt Model RO635.
Sasha with the Colt Model RO635.
Heckler & Koch MP5A2
Heckler & Koch MP5A2s are used by the FBI agents that raid Dietrich's (Nick Cassavetes) apartment. At one point, Dietrich also uses one captured from an FBI member.
Heckler & Koch MP5A2 with SEF trigger group - 9x19mm
Heckler & Koch MP5A2 with Navy trigger group - 9x19mm
Heckler & Koch MP5A2 with Navy trigger group and Surefire 628 dedicated forend weaponlight - 9x19mm
Agent Tito Biondi (
Robert Wisdom) aiming a Heckler & Koch MP5A2 outside the airport hangar.
FBI agents fire their Heckler & Koch MP5A2s, A3s, and SD3s at the apartment building. It's highly unlikely FBI agents would ever fire first on suspects without any visible threat, and the film depicts them as more of trigger-happy assassins than police.
An FBI agent fires his MP5A2.
An FBI agent fires his MP5A2.
Dietrich holds an FBI agent as a human shield while firing an MP5A2 fitted with a Surefire 628 dedicated forend weaponlight.
Heckler & Koch MP5A3
Heckler & Koch MP5A3s are used by the FBI agents that raid Dietrich's (Nick Cassavetes) apartment. At one point, Sasha (Gina Gershon) takes one dropped by a dead agent and uses it for some of the fight.
Heckler & Koch MP5A3 with SEF trigger group - 9x19mm
Heckler & Koch MP5-N with Navy trigger group - 9x19mm
Heckler & Koch MP5A3 with Surefire 628 dedicated forend weaponlight - 9x19mm
An FBI agent points a Heckler & Koch MP5A3 with a Navy trigger group.
Sasha picks up an MP5A3 dropped by an FBI agent.
An FBI agent with an MP5A3 fitted with a Surefire 628 dedicated forend weaponlight.
Heckler & Koch MP5K
Castor Troy/Sean Archer (John Travolta) steals a Heckler & Koch MP5K from an FBI agent and fires it at Sean Archer/Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) as he pursues him in a speedboat.
Heckler & Koch MP5K with SEF trigger group - 9x19mm
Troy/Archer guns down a boat owner with a stolen Heckler & Koch MP5K.
Troy/Archer firing the Heckler & Koch MP5K at Archer/Troy.
A good side shot of the MP5K.
Troy/Archer single-handedly (no pun intended) guns down the police patrolling the sea.
Troy/Archer disables Archer/Troy's boat.
Heckler & Koch MP5SD3
Heckler & Koch MP5SD3s are used by the FBI agents that raid Dietrich's (Nick Cassavetes) apartment.
Heckler & Koch MP5SD3 - 9x19mm
Close-up on the muzzle of a Heckler & Koch MP5SD3 firing. Note the large muzzle flash, which implies the suppressor is fake (as all film prop gun suppressors are) as a real suppressor would dampen the muzzle flash significantly.
An FBI agent shows off his advanced combat training skills by firing his MP5SD3 from the hip. Again, note the large muzzle flash.
IMI Mini Uzi
Escaping the shootout in the apartment building, Dietrich (Nick Cassavetes) chambers a Mini Uzi, but doesn't have a chance to fire it before he is shot. Sean Archer/Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) then picks it up and fires at Castor Troy/Sean Archer (John Travolta) as he runs around the room.
Archer/Troy picks up the Mini Uzi.
Archer/Troy spots Troy/Archer running around the room.
Sa vz. 61 Skorpion
A Sa vz. 61 Skorpion is used by Castor Troy's brother Pollux Troy (Alessandro Nivola) during the shootout in the airport hangar.
Sa vz. 61 Skorpion - .32 ACP
Rifles / Carbines
AKMS
One of the thugs during the apartment raid briefly uses an AKMS before being killed. It appears to be custom fitted with a side-folding stock usually fitted to a paratrooper model Sa vz. 58 V assault rifle.
A thug is gunned down while armed with a custom AKMS.
Colt Sporter II Carbine (mocked up as XM177E2)
The police patrolling the sea fire Colt Sporter II Carbines mocked up as XM177E2 Commando carbines by adding a mock XM177E2 flash-hider to them. Since the lowers have a full-auto selector switch (which the semi-auto Sporter II lower lacks), it is assumed that the guns are either converted semi-auto lowers or fitted with GAU/A5 or M16A1-style lowers. Agent Loomis (Matt Ross) also uses one with an A2-style upper receiver and fitted with an M203 grenade launcher during the shootout at Dietrich's apartment.
XM177E2 aka Colt Model 629 - 5.56x45mm
Agent Loomis (
Matt Ross) with his mocked up XM177E2 in Dietrich's apartment. Note A2-style upper receiver.
The police patrolling the sea order Troy/Archer to stop his speedboat.
The police fire their mocked up XM177E2 carbines at Troy/Archer. Note how the selector switch is on full-auto.
A police officer fires his mocked up XM177E2.
Colt Sporter II Carbine
The FBI agents in the film sometimes carry actual Colt Sporter II Carbines, noted by their collapsing stocks, A1-style upper receivers, forward assists, and 16" barrels. They do not feature the large XM177 muzzle brakes.
Colt Sporter II Carbine - 5.56x45mm
An FBI agent in the background armed with a Colt Sporter II Carbine.
An FBI agent on the right with a Colt Sporter II Carbine. Note A1-style upper receiver.
An FBI agent in the background with a Colt Sporter II Carbine.
Remington 700PSS
Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) uses a Remington 700PSS sniper rifle fitted with a suppressor, Harris bipod, and heavy stock and barrel to try to assassinate Sean Archer (John Travolta) while he rides the merry-go-round with his son Michael (Myles Jeffrey). The bullet passes through Archer's chest and fatally wounds Michael, leading to Archer's relentless pursuit of Troy in the film's story.
Remington 700PSS with Leupold Mark 4 scope and Harris bipod - .300 Win Mag
Troy aims his Remington 700.
Troy squeezes the trigger on the Remington 700.
Troy looks on at Archer as he grieves his son's death. Ever heard of a follow-up shot? Then again, it'd be a five-minute movie ... Well that and what little shred of humanity Troy had might have been struck by the fact that he just shot a child.
Ruger AC556
The prison guards on the oil drill platform are armed with Ruger AC556 assault rifles, noted by their fire selectors, flash-hiders, and bayonet lugs. During the prison break scene, Ivan Dubov (Chris Bauer), the inmate that helps Archer/Troy (Nicolas Cage) escape from the electroshock chamber, picks up an AC556 rifle from one of the incapacitated guards and kills several guards before Archer/Troy stops him.
Ruger AC556 (the full-auto version of the Mini-14) - 5.56x45mm
Prison guards fire their Ruger AC556 rifles. Note the impressive star-pattern muzzle flashes.
A prison guard fires his Ruger AC556. Here you can see the fire selector below the rear sight.
Ivan fires on a prison guard.
Close-up of the receiver and barrel of the Ruger AC556 rifle as Archer/Troy tries to save Ivan from falling to his death. Given how Ivan had just been blasting away on full auto, it's unlikely Archer/Troy could grip the barrel with a bare hand like that without getting severely burnt.
Shotguns
Benelli M1 Super 90
During the shootout in the airport hangar, Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) takes a Benelli M1 Super 90 shotgun fitted with a Benelli pistol grip stock and a Surefire dedicated forend weaponlight from an FBI agent and uses it to kill several FBI agents before discarding it.
Benelli M1 Super 90 with pistol grip stock and Surefire dedicated forend weaponlight - 12 gauge
Troy launches an FBI agent into the air with a stolen Benelli M1 Super 90 shotgun. Aside from this being impossible in real life, you can see the wires used to make the stunt possible.
Troy fires the Benelli M1 at Archer.
Troy discards the empty Benelli M1.
Ithaca 37 "Stakeout"
Dietrich Hassler (Nick Cassavetes) uses an Ithaca 37 "Stakeout" shotgun with an aftermarket Choate synthetic stock to defend against the FBI agents raiding his apartment building.
Ithaca 37 "Stakeout" - 12 gauge
Dietrich (
Nick Cassavetes) is tossed his Ithaca 37 shotgun. Note 14" barrel and partially skeletonized aftermarket Choate stock.
"Damn, my place is gettin' f****d up!" Other
M203 Grenade Launcher
During the apartment raid, FBI Special Agent Loomis (Matt Ross) uses an XM177E2 (mocked up from a Sporter II Carbine) fitted with an underslung M203 grenade launcher. He fires it at Sean Archer/Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) and somehow manages to fire off two shots from a single tube without reloading.
M203 grenade launcher - 40x46mm
Special Agent Loomis (
Matt Ross) fires a shot from his M203 grenade launcher at Archer/Troy.
Loomis fires off a second shot from his M203 without reloading. Note the fake XM177 flash-hider.
While armed with his mocked up XM177E2/M203, Loomis asks Troy/Archer (
John Travolta) why he is so sad about Pollux Troy's (
Alessandro Nivola) death. Unaware Archer is in fact Troy, he gets a bullet between the eyes.
M60 Machine Gun
When escaping from the oil drill platform prison, a helicopter with a door-mounted M60 machine gun chases down Sean Archer/Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage) just before he jumps off the platform.
M60 machine gun - 7.62x51mm NATO
The door gunner fires an M60 machine gun at Archer/Troy.
A side shot of the M60 as Archer/Troy jumps off the platform.
Unknown Smoke Grenade Launcher
The FBI fire a smoke grenade (unknown) from an unknown launcher into Dietrich's (Nick Cassavetes) apartment before the raid.
An unknown smoke grenade about to be fired from an unknown launcher.
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