Guns of The Punisher (2004)
Thomas Jane played Frank Castle in this big-budget adaptation that wasn't enough of a success to spawn immediate sequels like other superhero movies.
Check out the guns used in other screen versions of The Punisher here In 2004, in the wake of the success of Spider-Man (2002), The Punisher got the big-budget, big screen treatment, though the film ultimately fell flat with audiences. Many blame the fact that the uber-violent character was constricted by a PG-13 rating on the film. That and John Travolta’s odd and underwhelming main villain character, Howard Saint. Regardless of the rating, the filmakers made Frank Castle’s backstory even more traumatic this time around. In the original story, Castle was a highly decorated Vietnam veteran whose wife and children were killed in the crossfire of a mafia shootout in Central Park (or so he thinks). Castle was badly wounded, and thought to be dead, but survived to take his vengeance on the criminals who killed his family. And then on pretty much any bad guys he could find. This film updates the Castle character to being a Gulf War vet who has been working as a FBI undercover agent ever since. When he causes the death of a prominent gangster’s son while on the job, the crime family responds by killing his wife, kids, and his entire extended family while at a reunion on a secluded island. Yeah…pretty heavy for PG-13. The Punisher (2004) Thomas Jane Custom 1911s
Before the massacre, Frank’s father shows him a pair of 1911A1s he says he finally finished customizing, which struck quite a cord with many a-1911 fan.
Frank Castle Sr. (Roy Scheider) says be over-bored the chambers, customized the triggers, and added some thread-on compensators.
The screen-used guns also feature Novak night sights, a Smith and Alexander extended magazine well, combat hammers, combat triggers, Kings Gun Works extended slide stops and extended slide releases, all in silver to contrast the otherwise black gun. It also features Ed Brown Memory Grove beavertail grip safeties and front cocking serrations on the slide.
After Castle heals from his wounds, he returns to the home where his family was killed and retrieves the guns from the glass case where his father kept them (apparently when the authorities cleared away the bodies of his loved ones they just left all the guns?). He then carries them in twin custom Blade-Tech tactical thigh holsters for the rest of the film.
Glock 17
During a preparation montage, we see Frank affix a stock to a 3rd Gen Glock 17 with a stainless slide. He then adds a 33-round magazine to the pistol, but unfortunately, he is never seen using it again.
Colt Officer’s 1911
Smith & Wesson Model 66
During the fight with The Russian, Castle retrieves a Smith & Wesson Model 66 from a custom secret drawer he installed in his apartment, only to have the barrel crushed by the bad guy’s superhuman strength before he can get a shot off.
Savage/Stevens 311A
During the massacre at the Castle home, Frank and his father both arm themselves with Savage/Stevens 311A double-barrel break action shotguns and take down a number of bad guys before they’re both shot, Castle Sr. fatally.
Later in the film, after returning to his family’s home, Frank carries a Savage/Stevens 311A shotgun that has been cut down to a sawed off shotgun. Presumably, it’s the same gun that was modified by Castle in the interim, which fits with Frank’s deeply personal revenge quest.
Ted Williams Model 21 Deluxe (sawed-off)
In a desperate attempt to save his wife and children, Frank is armed with a Ted Williams Model 21 Deluxe (sawed-off) semi-auto shotgun which he takes from one of the assassins. It has a cut-down ribbed barrel and cut-down stock.
Castle fires four shots with the gun, which pattern like buckshot rounds, before running dry and being shot in the chest.
Mossberg 590 “Compact Cruiser”
When Castle goes to Howard Saint’s bank to dump all his money in the street, he takes a Mossberg 590 Compact Cruiser, which he hides under his long black coat. He uses the gun to force Saint’s money launderers to dump the money from the top floor and rain money on the streets.
M4A1 with M203 Grenade Launcher
Castle arms up for a final assault with an M4A1 carbine fitted with an M203 grenade launcher. The carbine is topped with an Aimpoint CompM2 red dot sight. He has to ditch the carbine when an enemy’s bullet hits the receiver and disables it.
In posters for the movie, Castle is show holding an M16A2 fitted with an M203 grenade launcher via the older-style vented forend adapter, though he never uses the rifle in the movie.
Check out the guns used in other screen versions of The Punisher here
