The Most Dangerous Prop in Lethal Weapon

When Lethal Weapon staged its desert scene, the filmmakers faced a small but telling decision. What kind of rifle would Martin Riggs carry if the goal was to show, without explanation, that he was precise, dangerous, and far beyond ordinary law enforcement?

They chose a PSG-1.

At the time, the rifle was almost unheard of outside elite military and police units. Only two were known to be in private hands in the entire United States. To get one on set, the studio had to borrow it from a respected Los Angeles gun shop. Because of its value, the production insured it for its full price. It was handled with the same caution reserved for the film’s most expensive stunts.

Even then, things did not go smoothly.

The rifle arrived without its specialized tripod rest, a component designed specifically for the PSG-1. Shipping delays threatened to slow production. Rather than rewrite the scene or wait, the prop team made a bold call. They welded a Harris bipod onto the rifle so filming could continue.

That decision was not taken lightly. Modifying a rifle of that rarity was risky. But the filmmakers were committed to matching Riggs’ equipment to his reputation. He was not meant to look like a man borrowing gear from the trunk of a patrol car. He was meant to look like a professional who understood precision and consequences.

On set, the cast and crew joked that the PSG-1 was the most expensive actor in the scene. Mel Gibson handled it carefully, fully aware that one careless mistake could cost the production thousands of dollars. That care shows on screen. The rifle feels real because it was real, not a stand-in or a dressed-up prop.

The choice added quiet credibility to the character. Riggs did not need to explain his skill. The rifle did that work for him. It became a subtle reminder that the filmmakers were willing to go further than necessary to get the details right, even when most of the audience would never know why.

Sometimes realism does not come from dialogue or action. Sometimes it comes from choosing the right tool and respecting what it represents.