What is the gun he bought?
What make and model is that gun he bought at the gun store before he went to meet the detective. The gun holds 14, i remember the gunsmith say.
shareAs I recall, it was a Browning High-Power, 9mm pistol.
Before the advent of high-capacity automatics like the Beretta 92F and the Glock, the Browning 9mm was -as far as I know- the only high-capacity pistol available. It held a thirteen round magazine, with one in the barrel.
When you compare that to other automatics of the time, like the Colt 1911 or 1911A1 (the classic Colt .45 automatic pistol), you can see the difference. The Colt only had about a seven round capacity.
Were New York cops allowed to carry automatics back in the 1970's? I was under the impression that they were only allowed to pack .38 revolvers.
I thought as much, i was watching it again lastnight to try and ID the gun positively and it does look like a browning hp kinda shape but you never get a good view of it for long. Anyways thanks for solving the puzzle buddy.
shareThere are two S&W models that could have been used; the model 39 was chronologically correct -- it was available in the 1960s, but didn't hold 14 rounds. The model 59 was chronologically wrong, it was unavailable until 1971, but did hold 14 rounds.
I'd guess for movie prop purposes either the Hi-Power or the S&W model 59 could have been used, and they both look a lot alike. It'd be just like the movie people to use the model 59, too, since he could have never carried one in real life.
I'd guess in the 1960s you could probably carry whatever you wanted if you worked plainclothes like Serpico did. Considering the department's lack of interest in corruption, plainclothes guys carrying non-standard guns seems like a non-factor.
The gun in question was, in fact, a Browning Hi-Power. However, as I recall, the magazine capacity of the Hi-Power was 13 rounds, not 14. A bit of a flub there. BTW-Jovino's, the gun store where Serpico bought the pistol, was a staple of NYPD cops for years. A lot of guys bought a lot of guns there.
"Beaver? You mean vagina?"
Actually, the gun could very well have been a Czech-made CZ-75, which is based on the Browning Hi-Power (BHP) design, is also 9mm (now available in .40 S&W cal. as well), and since it is sold largely to military and police agencies, it does have a magazine capacity of up to 15 rounds. I do agree, however, that it is more likely that it was the BHP. The advantage of the CZ-75 would be that it is a Single/Double Action semi-auto design, meaning that the first shot can be fired double action like a revolver -- pulling the trigger both cocks the hammer and fires at the end of the pull. All subsequent shots are single action, since the blowback/recoil action automatically ejects the spent case, chambers a new round, and recocks the hammer. A SA/DA pistol design is faster to make ready for action and safer to carry with a chambered round, since the hammer does not have to be kept in the "cocked and locked" condition when the weapon isn't in use. It's a lot faster and easier to just pull the trigger through than it is to fumble with a safety lever before firing your first shot.
NYPD police officers were not restricted to .38 cal. revolvers for plain clothes or off-duty carry, but the gun they used had to be approved by the department, and they were required to use it during official weapons training and qualification in addition to their department-issued weapon. If it required non-department standard ammunition, they had to supply their own and "rotate" the stock -- i.e. use it for practice, on the same basis as department-issued ammo. Also, the bullets had to be the same type as department issue ammo, meaning FMJ hardball or round-nose lead bullets -- no hollow-points. This technical requirement may have evolved over the years, however, with the advent of better-armed criminals and better performing ammo.
My personal choice for a duty carry handgun would have been a M1911A1 .45 automatic with 185 or 200-grain FMJ ammo loaded for maximum velocity. One shot, perp drops. End of story.
The CZ-75 wasn't introduced until 1975 - hence the model number.Serpico left the NYPD in 1971. Also a genuine CZ-75 was almost impossible to get in the U.S.A. until the early 90's.The Czechs were part of the Warsaw Pact nations until 90.
The Hi-Power was considered the cutting edge of combat handguns by many up until the eighties. Now it's considered to be obsolete by some, but many don't agree.It was a big deal being able to carry thirteen rounds in a magazine.
Back in the sixties and seventies it was very unusual for NYPD detectives to be given permission to carry semi-autos. The few that were were part of Jim Cirillo's Stakeout Squad and I've read some undercover narcotic officers as well. The UC officers argued that if they were discovered carrying a 38 caliber Colt or Smith and Wesson revolver it would mark them as being cops. There were other reason as well no doubt.
I'm willing to bet that if the real Frank Serpico did carry a Browning Hi-Power he did so without permission.He probably felt that given his situation (isolated, not many officers coming to his aid, some cops possibly gunning for him) he would have rather had alot of firepower avilable at the moment and deal with the reprecussions of violating policy later.
I wonder if the real Serpico has disarmed? Because while he seems to be a member of the Counterculture he isn't a Pacifist. Not if he was a cop for twelve years.
NYPD cops purchase their own handguns and when they retire, or quit, they can take those guns with them. Serpico would have owned at least two 38 special revolvers. A 4" barrel model for his patrol uniform and his snubbie (2" barrel) for when he was a detective and possibly the Hi-Power.Just thinking. Perhaps he's a reformer and activist, but not stupid.
Five years later......
It's a Browning Hi-Power with adjustable sights. Also known as target sights. The salesman is wrong. The magazine only hold thirteen rounds, but if ou chamber a round and then load another cartridge into the magazine you will have fourteen rounds. I knew I had forgotten to post on a message board somewhere.
Mr C, you are correct; it is a Browning Hi-Power 9mm. I recognized it from the movie and also the book says it was a Hi-Power.
Probably one of John M Browning's finest designs.
Man. The myth of the big bullet endures. The L.A. shootout where cops were following the bad guys gave birth to the S&W .40. The cops could have issued .45 but they wanted a "messiah" round so S&W stepped in and invented the .40. That round has very high pressure chambers. But all you need is a 9mm with Talon projectiles. As for your .45 dropping people, that is wrong. A tall boxer confronted a cop who pulled his .40 and shot him in the stomach. It didn't even slow the boxer down. A Georgia state trooper stopped a guy who had a kilo of cocaine and the guy pulled a knife and tried to stab the GST who shot him in the gut with a .45. It didn't stop the guy from trying to stab the GST again. The GST had to knock the guy down and sit on him. Your .45 has an inferior magazine capacity and and the 200 grain slug makes no difference. Better you learn now than before it's too late.
shareFiNX tac 45 with a 14 shot mag and one in the pipe with JHP cor bon bullets should put the perp down!
Aim for the chest, not the gut.
Spoiler alert for them spoil sports out there! Y'all like spoiled milk, stop crying over it!
technically they shortened the Bren 10 as it was too powerful.to a .40 s $w
I just watched the firing range scene, and I couldn't make out the gun he used, other than that it had an adjustable rear sight.
I've owned both the Browning Hi-Power and the S&W Model 59 - which, as I recall, held a total (when chambered) of 14 and 15 rounds, respectively. If Serpico was as small as Pacino, the 59 wouldn't have suited him. I have big hands, but holding the 59's grip was like holding a brick; I sold it soon after trying it. By contrast, the Hi-Power's grip was smaller and quite comfortable. The 9mm caliber sucked, though; I far prefer a .45.
I just watched the firing range scene, and I couldn't make out the gun he used, other than that it had an adjustable rear sight.I've shot the Browning Hi-Power and it is a very easy gun to control. Plus, it is ridiculously simple to field strip, and maintain.
I've owned both the Browning Hi-Power and the S&W Model 59 - which, as I recall, held a total (when chambered) of 14 and 15 rounds, respectively. If Serpico was as small as Pacino, the 59 wouldn't have suited him. I have big hands, but holding the 59's grip was like holding a brick; I sold it soon after trying it. By contrast, the Hi-Power's grip was smaller and quite comfortable. The 9mm caliber sucked, though; I far prefer a .45.
I like the 45 ACP too, but in a wheelgun. I just got back from my range (about half a mile from my house) after function-firing a S&W revolver in 45 ACP. It is a 1950 Army 45 although it was made in the 2000's. After a lot of work on it from my gunsmith, I am finally getting the feelings that the problems with it are solved. share
If they had it chambered in a .45ACP it would have sold better the browning HP
Spoiler alert for them spoil sports out there! Y'all like spoiled milk, stop crying over it!
I just saw it again, but focused on the gun shop scene, where the salesman handled the gun by the barrel and Serpico handled it by the grip. It's pretty clearly a blued Hi-Power with adjustable sights.
share