The Smith & Wesson Model 29, also known as the .44 Magnum, is Harry Callahan's sidearm throughout the series, which he carried concealed in a shoulder holster under his jacket. The revolver depicted here was manufactured by Smith & Wesson, as in the movies. Callahan calls it the most powerful handgun in the world in the first film, while confronting a wounded bank robber and the Scorpio killer. Harry loses the gun in Magnum Force, when Lieutenant Briggs orders him to surrender his firearm and ammunition, Sudden Impact, where Mick kicks it into the ocean ( only to be replaced by the .44 Automag), and The Dead Pool, where he is forced to give it to Harlan Rook. In those cases, Harry would have to resort to something else to kill the bad guys, such as a harpoon gun (The Dead Pool), or a Colt Python .357 Magnum (Magnum Force).
Dirty Harry
In the first film, Harry Callahan is first seen using the Model 29 to stop a bank robbery. As a result, Harry takes out most of the robbers, though is wounded in the leg by a robber armed with a 12-gauge Model 12 Shotgun. Approaching the remaining robber, he holds his firearm on the suspect, saying his famous line,
"I know what you're thinking. Did he fire six shots or only five? Well to tell the truth, I've kinda lost track myself in all this excitement. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and it can blow your head clean off. You gotta ask yourself one question, 'Do I feel lucky?' Well do you, punk?" The robber says he must know if Harry had fired five or six. With that, Harry pulls back the hammer and clicks the trigger to show the robber that he had fired all six of his rounds.
Trivia[]
- The title of "The Most Powerful Handgun in the world" was taken in 2003, when Smith & Wesson came out with the Smith & Wesson 500 magnum.