The catchphrase "Say hello to my little friend" has been imitated countless times the world over - but you may not have known that actor Al Pacino was actually wielding a real M-16A1 machine gun when his character uttered the chilling phrase in the film Scarface.
 The M-16A1 has been recast in solid |
This is one of two guns used by Pacino in his iconic role as Tony Montana, the central character in director Brian De Palma's classic 1983 gangster flick which tells the story of a ruthless Cuban refugee who builds his own criminal empire.
Being a method actor through-and-through, Pacino insisted that his gun was the correct weight - hence the use of a real firearm.
Later, in 1993, the US banned the use of automatic weapons on film sets following the accidental death of Brandon Lee, son of Bruce.
When the gun featured in the film, it was still a live firing fully-automatic machine gun and grenade launcher (Montana fires the latter at the film's conclusion).
The same M-16A1 was later used by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 film Predator.
However, according to seller RM Auctions, the gun has been modified so that it no longer fires - in line with gun laws.
Its main chambers were recast in solid aluminum to prevent firing, while the original M203 grenade launcher trigger has also been modified to prevent firing.
 The gun was weilded by Al Pacino as Tony Montana in 1983's |
Since it unleashed chaos on the big screen, the M-16A1 has toured malls and county fairs for years where people have been photographed holding it. The gun was sold with a COA and letter of authenticity from Mike Pappac, weapons co-ordinator on the set of Scarface.
Billed by RM as the "the most recognisable prop perhaps in film history - certainly the most recognisable gun in film history," the machine gun blasted to a final price of $25,000.
RM's US sale took place between September 2-5 at Auburn Auction Park, Auburn, Indiana.
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