How has Hollywood affected gun sales?

[MatthewVanitas]

A question for those with a better handle on pop film and gun sales than yours truly possesses:

To what degree are your average gun-purchaser's decisions based on Hollywood's portrayals?

Did the "Dirty Harry" films actually have a notable and lasting impact on the sales of M29s, or the .44 Rem Mag cartridge in general? Or is that simply legend? Would the .44 Mag be just a specialized hunter's cartridge of no real interest to the average joe had Callahan been packing a .357, .45, or a .41 Mag (which he supposedly did)?

It seems to me that I've met non-gun types expressing their desire for a "Desert Eagle point-five-oh". Seeing as how most folks would call it a "fifty cal Desert Eagle", I can only assume that their use of that particular phrasing comes from the film "Snatch":

[as a British gangland tough stares down three would-be robbers armed with an Airsoft toy Glock]

"...And, the fact that you've got "replica" written down the side of your guns. And, the fact that I've got "Desert Eagle point 5 0" written on the side of mine..."

Purely anecdotal, but I'm curious. The question of how the Beretta 92's omnipresence in film affects sales is muddied by their acceptance by the military, but I assume it plays a role.

Just tossing that out there, anyone else?

 

[BerettaNut92]

I know of at least one who liked the Beretta 92 because of Lethal Weapon. Can't remember if the poster was from here or the Beretta forums.

I wonder if Kimber's TLE sales picked up after the SWAT movie or because of the back cover gun magazine ads. The pistols were shown, but not really featured in the movie.

My brother in Hong Kong's favorite gun was the Walther PPK, he liked watching James Bond flicks.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

Well, at the gunshow I was at this past weekend, a guy was fondling a Desert Eagle in .44 Magnum and asking the dealer about the movies it was in. That same dealer pitches the Walther PPK as the "James Bond" gun. I saw a documentary on the M29 on the History Channel a few weeks back that suggests Callahan is responsible for the .44 not being discontinued. About a month ago at the range I was making conversation with a guy shooting a Mosin Nagant M44 and he proudly stated "Did you see the movie Enemy at the Gates ? This is his gun!" Well, sorta. And can you still get the Thompson in a violin case?

Hollywood is in the business of defining "cool" and they do a pretty good job of it. But I wonder if they can make a truly horrible gun "cool?"

 

[cool45auto]

I know of at least one who liked the Beretta 92 because of Lethal Weapon. Can't remember if the poster was from here or the Beretta forums.

No comment.

 

[Beetle Bailey]

My brother in Hong Kong's favorite gun was the Walther PPK, he liked watching James Bond flicks.

Well, I like the PPK also. It's a nice looking gun and if the same exact gun could shoot 9mm, I'm probably end up getting it . I'm not immune to the power of Hollywood, but other factors play into purchases besides just coolness. Example:

I want a Mosin Nagant 91/30 PU sniper. For the money I would probably spend I could get a Savage 10FP in .308 and modern optics that would perform better and be factory new. My groups would probably be better with the Savage and I won't have the trouble of finding the right rifle in the right condition for the right price. But I'd rather have the Mosin Nagant. One of my buddies (BamBam-31) keeps trying to talk me out of it and laughs because I've seen the movie Enemy at the Gates and enjoyed it. But to say I'm gonna get it just because of the movie wouldn't be fair. I already have one Mosin Nagant so if I get another, it will feed from the same ammo source and then I will have one with a scope and one with iron sights. I think it makes perfect sense. And it would be cool .

 

[clubsoda22]

All i know is that i want one.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Berettas and Desert Eagles

The Beretta 92 and the Desert Eagle have been in a LOT of movies.

Why? Well, for one, they're both large guns. They show up well on camera, even when filmed from a distance.

They both also have a very distinctive appearance, and are both pretty cool looking. I believe John Woo was once quoted as saying something along the lines of the Beretta 92 being what a pistol should look like.

The Beretta 92 is also easily converted to fire blanks, thus making it especially popular for movies. (And along those lines, near-identical Beretta 92 replica blank firing pistols are widely available.)

 

[dinosaur]

When "Dirty Harry" made his debut, Model 29`s became scarce. Before that, if you were on a limited budget, a DA .44 Mag was out of reach. A Holy Grail for some but impractical for others.

One friend of mine couldn`t find one and settled for a 4" M57. He eventually found a 29.

The Ruger Blackhawk was a better choice especially for hunting. In 1975 Jovino`s offered me a 8 3/8 Super for $129.

I`ve never owned a 29. I`m looking for one now and have turned down several. My Holy Grail.

The recent Clint Eastwood movie where he plays a S.S. Agent featured a S&W revolver that`s gotten some attention. Supposedly a limited edition.

If you have lots of disposable cash buying a gun you saw in a movie can be fun. If you`re a practical person on a budget, you may be disappointed.

 

[Majic]

When Dirty Harry came out the price of M29s doubled when you could find one. S&W couldn't keep up with production and gunshops gouged buyers who wanted them. Big bore revolver sales soared as people looking for the M29 settled for other models.

 

[ny32182]

I know one guy that buys guns STRICTLY on what he thinks looks cool in the movies.

This usually applies to anyone who's first gun was a Desert Eagle .50. Or anyone who thinks the tec 9 is the be all - end all of 9mms. Or anyone who bought his USP .45 because he saw it in Tears of the Sun....

OK. I'll admit that I've seeked further information on various guns I was unfamiliar with when I saw them in the movies, but this has never yet led to a purchase. It could one day though. I was quite taken with some of the rifles in HEAT. Too bad they cost 2-3K+ or I very well might have purchased one of the HK's.

 

[son of a gun]

The film industry makes America look like such a dangerous place they have probably scared a lot of people into buying guns. After 9/11 tons of woman bought guns and I can only guess it was because the news was trumpeting that the government can't protect you from everything, witch is a no brainer.

 

[Pilgrim]

When Dirty Harry came out the price of M29s doubled when you could find one. S&W couldn't keep up with production and gunshops gouged buyers who wanted them. Big bore revolver sales soared as people looking for the M29 settled for other models.

That's the way I remember it. After a while though, M29s started showing up in the used gun market as their owners just couldn't stand the recoil.

Pilgrim

 

[BerettaNut92]

After a while though, M29s started showing up in the used gun market as their owners just couldn't stand the recoil.

What do you expect though, from the most powerful handgun in the world, and will blow your head...cleeaaannn off?