Firearms Featured in The Professionals: CI5 Agents' Pistols and Submachine Guns

The British TV series The Professionals is remembered for far more than its high-speed car chases, memorable one-liners and the iconic Bodie–Doyle partnership. It also showcased an impressive selection of period firearms. Which pistols and submachine guns appeared throughout the series, why were they chosen, and what made them stand out? Let's take a closer look at the weapons carried by CI5 agents and their adversaries through the eyes of today's firearms enthusiast.

If you grew up in the 1980s or 1990s, chances are you've seen The Professionals. Produced between 1977 and 1983, the British action series followed two operatives of the fictional CI5 agency—loosely inspired by Britain's MI5 and Criminal Investigation Department (CID)—over the course of 57 episodes. Even in its day, the show drew criticism for its violence, political incorrectness and racial stereotypes, and many of its themes would likely spark even greater controversy if produced today.

Then again, The Professionals never tried to portray an idealised world. Set against the backdrop of the late Cold War, the series reflected an era shaped by terrorism, organised crime and political unrest. Whether in the grey streets of London or the British countryside, these were the everyday challenges faced by CI5.

Throughout the series, Bodie (Agent 3-7), Doyle (Agent 4-5) and their commanding officer George Cowley carry a wide variety of interesting firearms. Their opponents are no less well equipped, making The Professionals a fascinating showcase of late-Cold War small arms. In this first instalment, we'll focus on the pistols and submachine guns featured throughout the series. Rifles deserve an article of their own—and we'll cover those next time.

The UZI became famous for its simple design, telescoping bolt and magazine housed in the pistol grip. During the 1970s and 1980s, it ranked among the world's most widely used submachine guns.
Photo: Jose Fernandez / Pexels

Pistols Featured in The Professionals

Inglis Hi-Power: Bodie and Doyle's Original Sidearm

During the first two seasons, both CI5 agents carry Inglis Hi-Power pistols alongside radio handsets that, by today's standards, look suspiciously like electric shavers. The Inglis Hi-Power is a licensed Canadian-produced version of the famous FN Browning Hi-Power. Originally developed in the early 1930s at FN Herstal in Belgium, the pistol was designed by Dieudonné Saive, building on concepts introduced by the legendary John M. Browning. For its time, it was an exceptionally advanced service pistol, most notably thanks to its double-stack 13-round magazine chambered in 9×19 mm Parabellum.

Both agents carry their pistols in leather shoulder holsters, typically in either Condition Three (empty chamber) or Condition Two (round chambered with the hammer manually lowered). Modern tactical influencers would probably have a collective meltdown watching that, but it reflected common practice at the time. Kydex holsters did not yet exist, concealing a full-size service pistol was far more challenging, and double-action semi-automatic pistols had yet to become the standard—particularly those offering the capacity and firepower of the Hi-Power. It's also worth remembering that one of the first modern "Wonder Nines," the CZ 75, had been introduced only two years before filming began and was still entering production.

Walther P38: A Step Toward Modern Service Pistols

The third season brought a significant change. Ray Doyle replaced his Hi-Power with a Walther P38. Although its exposed barrel gives it an older appearance compared to the Hi-Power, the P38 was actually one of the most innovative military pistols of its era. In the episodes Blind Run and Long Shot, it even appears fitted with a suppressor.

The Walther P38 holds only eight rounds of 9×19 mm ammunition, but it introduced several features that would later become standard on service pistols, including a double-action/single-action trigger and a decocking lever. In theory, this eliminated the need to manually lower the hammer on a loaded chamber. Interestingly, the series rarely shows the decocker being used. The real advantage was the ability to fire the first shot in double-action mode, allowing the pistol to be carried safely with a chambered round while remaining immediately ready for use. Once the first shot was fired, the cycling slide automatically cocked the hammer for subsequent single-action shots.

Smith & Wesson Model 19: Bodie's New Sidearm

Speaking of double-action triggers, we arrive at the firearm that replaced the Hi-Power in Bodie's shoulder holster. At first glance, the Smith & Wesson Model 19 revolver may seem like a step backwards compared to the modern-looking Browning, but it perfectly suits Bodie's aggressive and uncompromising character. While its six-round cylinder limits capacity, the .357 Magnum cartridge delivers significantly greater stopping power than Doyle's 9 mm pistol.

Like the P38, the Model 19 features a double-action trigger, but its operation differs in practice. Shooters seeking the greater precision of single-action fire must manually cock the hammer before every shot, whereas a semi-automatic pistol does this automatically as the slide cycles. On the other hand, a revolver requires neither a manual safety nor a decocking procedure. Load the cylinder, close it, and it's ready to fire. Admittedly, accurate double-action shooting takes practice—but Bodie is a professional, after all.

The Smith & Wesson Model 19 replaced the Browning Hi-Power as Bodie's service sidearm from Season Three onward.
Photo: Tim Dobbelaere / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Smith & Wesson Model 36: Cowley's Snub-Nose Revolver

George Cowley, the head of CI5, carries a compact Smith & Wesson Model 36 throughout the series. Like Bodie's Model 19, it is a snub-nose revolver with a 2-inch barrel, but the Model 36 is smaller, lighter and chambered in .38 Special. Snub-nose revolvers of this type were immensely popular, particularly in the United States, where they served for decades as concealed-carry and backup firearms for law enforcement officers, private citizens and countless other users.

Smith & Wesson Model 29: Dirty Harry's Revolver Comes to The Professionals

British armourers clearly had a soft spot for Smith & Wesson revolvers, and none was more famous in the 1970s than the Model 29. Much of its popularity came from Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry films, which turned the .44 Magnum revolver into a true icon. The Model 29 appears in several episodes of The Professionals, but its most memorable appearance comes in Mixed Doubles.

In that episode, Bodie and Doyle are assigned to protect a visiting VIP from a fictional Arab state, while a pair of professional assassins is hired to eliminate him. Coincidentally, both teams carry the same sidearm—a Smith & Wesson Model 29 with a 6-inch barrel chambered in .44 Magnum. Once again, leather shoulder holsters are the order of the day, and stopping power takes precedence over magazine capacity.

The episode also touches on the subject of "dum-dum" bullets. Today we would simply call them hollow-point or expanding bullets. While such ammunition is widely used for defensive purposes in many countries today, Doyle dismisses Bodie's suggestion of using it as "filthy". The same debate takes place among the assassins, who unsurprisingly reach the opposite conclusion. After all, they're the villains.

Near the end of the episode, one of the assassins fires the Model 29 through a car door, leaving an enormous hole in the sheet metal. Doyle's dry response says it all:

"What did they need dum-dums for?"

The .44 Magnum Smith & Wesson Model 29 appears in the episode Mixed Doubles, where it is carried by both the CI5 agents and the hired assassins.
Photo: Stephen Z / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Smith & Wesson Model 39: An Early American DA/SA Pistol

As if there weren't already enough Smith & Wesson revolvers in the series, the Model 39 also makes an appearance in the episode Rogue, this time fitted with a suppressor. The pistol is noteworthy as one of the first modern American 9 mm service pistols with a double-action/single-action trigger. It also paved the way for the later Smith & Wesson Model 59, one of the legendary Wonder Nines alongside the Beretta 92, SIG Sauer P226 and the Czech CZ 75.

Back to the Model 39 itself. In Rogue, the pistol closely resembles the Mk 22 Mod 0, better known as the Hush Puppy. This specialised variant was used by U.S. Navy SEALs and, as the nickname suggests, was designed for covert operations requiring maximum sound suppression—even when dealing with guard dogs. To minimise noise, the pistol featured a manual slide lock that prevented the slide from cycling after firing, eliminating the distinctive metallic sound that could reveal the shooter's position.

Heckler & Koch P9S: Ahead of Its Time

In the episode Blackout, CI5 agent Stuart carries a Heckler & Koch P9S. At the time, it was one of the most advanced service pistols on the market from the same German manufacturer that would later become world-famous for the MP5 submachine gun. Like the MP5, the P9S uses a roller-delayed blowback operating system—a design found on only a handful of pistols, one notable exception being the Czech CZ 52.

The P9S offered far more than just its unusual operating mechanism. It featured polygonal rifling, a stamped-steel slide and frame assembly, a polymer trigger guard, a double-action/single-action trigger, a concealed hammer, and a combined safety/decocking lever. In the mid-1970s, all of this proved almost too advanced for the market, and the pistol never achieved widespread adoption. Today, however, it is a highly sought-after collector's firearm.

SIG P210: A Service Pistol with Match-Grade Precision

Speaking of collectible firearms, no list would be complete without the SIG P210, which appears in four episodes: Fugitive, Blind Run, Acorn Syndrome and Where the Jungle Ends. Although designed as a military service pistol, the P210 earned an outstanding reputation for its exceptional accuracy, superb build quality and remarkably smooth trigger pull—qualities more commonly associated with competition target pistols than duty sidearms.

The Swiss Army adopted the P210 as its standard service pistol, Denmark fielded it as the M/49, and it also served with German police forces from the early 1950s onward.

Another distinctive feature of the P210 is its slide, which rides inside the frame rails rather than outside them—a design later made famous by the Czech CZ 75 and still regarded as one of the reasons for its excellent accuracy. Like the CZ 75, the P210 remains in production today, although manufacturing has moved from Switzerland to the United States following SIG Sauer's relocation.

The Swiss-made SIG P210 earned a reputation for exceptional accuracy and outstanding craftsmanship. It appears in four episodes of The Professionals.
Photo: Michael E. Cumpston / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Luger P08 and Mauser C96: Historic Icons on Screen

No overview of The Professionals would be complete without mentioning the Artillery Luger P08 and the Mauser C96 Carbine. The long-barrelled Luger takes centre stage in the aptly titled episode The Gun, while the Mauser C96 appears in the hands of a contract killer in Everest Was Also Conquered.

The Luger is featured in its Artillery configuration with an extended barrel, but the Mauser C96 is shown in full carbine form, complete with a shoulder stock and a barrel measuring approximately 15 inches. At that point, the line between pistol and submachine gun begins to blur—which makes it the perfect time to move on to the latter.

Submachine Guns Featured in The Professionals

The UZI in The Professionals

No other submachine gun could open this section but the UZI. It was a favourite not only among Hollywood armourers but also on the set of The Professionals. Bodie and Doyle both carry the iconic Israeli SMG in several episodes, while in Blind Run it appears in the hands of Arab terrorists fitted with a suppressor. Sharp-eyed viewers will also notice the characteristic magazine clamp, allowing two magazines to be carried side by side for significantly faster reloads.

The UZI hardly needs an introduction. Its boxy stamped-steel receiver, magazine housed in the pistol grip and innovative telescoping bolt have made it one of the most recognisable submachine guns ever produced.

Here's an interesting historical footnote. In the late 1940s, Czechoslovakia provided extensive military assistance to the newly established State of Israel despite the UN arms embargo. Among those who visited Czechoslovakia at the time was Israeli officer Uziel Gal. It is often suggested that he encountered the prototype ZK-476 submachine gun during that visit. Comparing the two designs certainly raises some interesting questions.

The Czechoslovak Sa 25

Another Czechoslovak firearm makes an appearance in the series—this time openly identified as such. The Sa 25 can be seen in the episodes Close Quarters and No Stone, carried by German terrorists clearly modelled after the notorious Red Army Faction (RAF), also known as the Baader-Meinhof Group. Fortunately for British viewers, this RAF had nothing to do with the Royal Air Force.

Known affectionately in the Czech Republic as the "Pumpička" ("Bicycle Pump") because of its distinctive appearance, the version featured in the series is chambered in 9×19 mm Parabellum and fitted with a folding stock and a remarkably high-capacity 40-round magazine.

The Israeli UZI is one of the most iconic firearms featured in The Professionals. In some episodes, it is also shown fitted with a suppressor.
Photo: Jose Fernandez / Pexels

Ingram MAC-10

The American-made Ingram MAC-10 completes the trio of compact submachine guns featuring telescoping bolts and magazines housed in the pistol grip. Like the UZI and Sa 25, it appears in several episodes, including a suppressed variant.

Compared to the previously mentioned designs, the MAC-10 was even more compact and offered nearly twice the rate of fire. Those characteristics made both the MAC-10 and its smaller sibling, the MAC-11 chambered in .380 ACP (9 mm Browning Short), popular among terrorists and organised crime groups—particularly in the United States. At the same time, generations of moviegoers and gamers will recognise the MAC series from countless Hollywood action films and video games.

MP40

In the episode Close Quarters, the German terrorists are armed with the iconic MP40, forever associated with the soldiers of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS during the Second World War. It is another firearm that hardly needs an introduction, so here are the essentials: chambered in 9×19 mm Parabellum, fed from a 32-round magazine, equipped with a folding metal stock, and renowned for its relatively low recoil and controllable rate of fire. Like many wartime German firearms, it made extensive use of stamped-steel components to simplify and accelerate production.

MAT-49

The French MAT-49 brings both the submachine gun section and this article to a close. It served French forces throughout the wars in Indochina and Algeria, while also seeing widespread use with domestic police and gendarmerie units. Like many post-war submachine guns, it was designed to be simple, robust and inexpensive to manufacture. Chambered in 9×19 mm Parabellum, it featured a telescoping wire stock and a straight box magazine.

Its most distinctive feature was the folding magazine housing, which significantly reduced the weapon's overall size when carried, making it particularly practical for vehicle crews and paratroopers. Interestingly, a remarkably similar concept had already appeared years earlier on the Czechoslovak ZK-383H, designed by the Koucký brothers. Apparently, the Czech Republic has exported more than just beer and hockey players.

Coming Next: Rifles Featured in The Professionals

Pistols and submachine guns represent only part of the impressive arsenal seen throughout The Professionals. The series also featured a wide variety of rifles—from well-known military service weapons to far more unusual designs that continue to fascinate collectors and firearms enthusiasts today. We'll take a closer look at those in the next instalment.

To be continued…