A video has been released wherein the wrist mounted Glock 19s used by Will Smiths character Deadshot, are being tested in a movie prop facility, most likely the Movie Armaments Group based out of Toronto. In collaboration with Walter Klassen FX, the groups worked together to create a sort of gripless frame, that used a system to release the sear on the Glock 19 slide. This is from Imfdb, explaining how it all came together-

The props used in the film were designed and custom made by Walter Klassen FX and Movie Armaments Group (this included “design work, CAD renderings, machining, assembly, finishing and powder coating”). New CNC-machined frames were created for the the Glock 19s and the magazine release and ejection of the one mounted to Smith’s right wrist were reversed so that the casings would be able to eject upwards. The blank-firing wrist guns were fully automatic, fired via a thumb trigger connected to a system involving air tubes, a pneumatic actuator, and regulated CO2 canisters hidden in the holstered Glock 18s on Smith’s back. According to Walter Klassen FX employee Taku Dazai, firing them created a “rooster tail of fire” and a “huge plume of fire”, plus they “sound insane”. They are chambered in 9x19mm, due to the fact that they can be seen loaded with the magazines from Deadshot’s Glock 18s.

Props are all well and dandy in a movie, but what is the feasibility of this in real life? Considering that the slides were functioning and seemed to be designed well, is a plus. However, the only rounds through these things look to be blanks, and in many cases, blank cartridges don’t have as much power, recoil or force to equal that of its equivalent live round. So would this work with live rounds? It looks like it would functionally work, the CNC machined frame that the slide rides on certainly seems rigid enough. But as is the case with most machine pistols from the earliest Mausers to the latest Glock 18s, their ability to stay on target during fully automatic fire, at any considerable distance is extremely challenging without a stock. But then again, who needs a stock when you have arms? The armchair debate is certainly an interesting one. However, the support system for this seems to be more than awkward. A cord running behind your back, connected to a CO2 container?

Pictures are from IMFDB. Notice how the compensators are angled above the wrist. If this thing were shooting live rounds, I’d imagine some wrist safety awareness would have to be trained into the shooter!-

A trailer for the movie if you haven’t seen it yet!

-By the way TFB, I’m back from my hiatus in hiking the 1,200 mile Ice Age Trail across the state of Wisconsin. I’ll be contributing very regularly from now on again!