Crime fiction makes up a large percentage of all fiction book sales, whether mystery, thriller, whodunit, or suspense, and has always proved to be a popular genre. We typically enjoy the aspect of solving the crime, and it is often likened to the gratification we feel when solving puzzles, The crime novel formula is generally this – a protagonist who is either a world-weary cop or a cynical private detective (or a world-weary cop who became a cynical private detective). The field is usually comprised of men, although there are a few women in the field, like Sara Paretsky’s no-nonsense V.I. Warshawski, and the always legendary Nancy Drew. (These are iconic guns used by famous Hollywood spies)
24/7 Tempo consulted firearms sites including Glock Talk, ColtForum, and Guns.com, as well as CrimeReads and websites devoted to some of the authors listed below to assemble a list of the iconic guns used by some of fiction’s most famous detectives. The detectives on the list are both private investigators and police detectives or in several cases, non-detectives who frequently find themselves involved in solving crimes. Some detectives listed are loyal to a single firearm while others are depicted using different ones under different circumstances and in different books.
These gumshoes always solve a case no matter how difficult. Quite often that means using dubious, morally questionable methods, and firing a gun. Many of crime fiction’s most famous sleuths are associated with a particular firearm – with Colt and Smith & Wesson being particularly popular manufacturers.
Philip Marlowe carries a Colt Detective .38 Special revolver in his glove compartment in Raymond Chandler’s “The Big Sleep.” Another iconic hard-boiled private investigator, Sam Spade, grabs a Colt 1911 .45 automatic off of a thug in the Dashiell Hammett novel “The Maltese Falcon.”
Jack Harrigan, the cold-blooded hero of “Walk With the Tiger,” uses firearms such as the common Colt 1911 .45 semi-automatic and the Smith & Wesson .357 magnum. Another aficionado of Smith & Wesson is Harry Bosch, the take-no-nonsense cop (and later independent investigator) in Michael Connelly’s novels. (Both Colt and Smith & Wesson are among the world’s largest gunmakers.)
In John Sandford’s best-selling “Prey” novels, Lucas Davenport, the “gun freak” Minnesota law enforcement officer has a whole collection of firearms in addition to the Heckler & Koch P7 mentioned below, including two Colt Gold Cup .45 ACP competition pistols, a Charter Arms .38 Special, and a Browning Citori over-and-under 20 gauge shotgun.
Here are famous detectives’ iconic guns
Harry Bosch
- Gun: Smith & Wesson 5906 9mm semi-automatic pistol
- Author: Michael Connelly
- Recommended reading: The Black Echo
Elvis Cole
- Gun: Dan Wesson 8-2 .357 magnum revolver
- Author: Robert Crais
- Recommended reading: The Monkey’s Raincoat
Lucas Davenport
- Gun: Heckler & Koch P7 semi-automatic pistol (and many others)
- Author: John Sandford
- Recommended reading: Rules of Prey
Cassie Dewell
- Gun: .40 Glock 27 pistol
- Author: C.J. Box
- Recommended reading: Treasure State
Marion “Doc” Ford
- Gun: .41 Colt Thunderer revolver
- Author: Randy Wayne White
- Recommended reading: Deep Blue
Bernhard “Bernie” Gunther
- Gun: Walther PPK pistol
- Author: Philip Kerr
- Recommended reading: Berlin Noir Trilogy
Mike Hammer
- Gun: Colt 1911 .45 semi-automatic pistol
- Author: Mickey Spillane
- Recommended reading: I, the Jury
Jack Harrigan
- Gun: Smith & Wesson .357 magnum revolver
- Author: Paul Smith
- Recommended reading: Walk with the Tiger
Travis McGee
- Gun: Škorpion .32 ACP machine pistol
- Author: John D. MacDonald
- Recommended reading: The Deep Blue Goodbye
Phillip Marlowe
- Gun: Colt Detective .38 Special revolver
- Author: Raymond Chandler
- Recommended reading: The Big Sleep
Kinsey Millhone
- Gun: Heckler & Koch P7 semi-automatic pistol
- Author: Sue Grafton
- Recommended reading: G Is for Gumshoe
Joe Pickett
- Gun: M14 carbine
- Author: C.J. Box
- Recommended reading: Off the Grid
Sam Spade
- Gun: Colt 1911 .45 semi-automatic pistol
- Author: Dashiell Hammett
- Recommended reading: The Maltese Falcon
Spenser
- Gun: Colt .32 Pocket Model semi-automatic pistol
- Author: Robert B. Parker
- Recommended reading: Looking for Rachel Wallace
Bob Lee Swagger
- Gun: Cheyenne Tactical M200 Intervention rifle
- Author: Stephen Hunter
- Recommended reading: Black Light
V.I. Warshawski
- Gun: Smith & Wesson .38 revolver
- Author: Sara Paretsky
- Recommended reading: Hard Time