Original Film Prop MGC (ModelGuns Corporation) M16A2 From Ellis Props – As Used in Hollywood Film Rambo: First Blood Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a full scale metal replica non-firing prop M16 as used in the Hollywood film Rambo: First Blood. This was acquired from the Ellis Props and Graphics liquidation auction. Ellis was the oldest and the largest Prop Houses in the World until it went our of business in the early 2000s. The original ELLIS AUCTION LABEL IS STILL ATTACHED to the butt stock of this prop gun and Leads DAY 5, LOT 5858 . During the film M16A1 Rifles are used by several members of the National Guard as well as by law enforcement while they hunt down John Rambo. These guns replace the AR-15/SP1 when the officers fire fully-automatic. Rambo returns fire on the National Guard with a captured M16A1. 

The vast Ellis collection was acquired beginning in 1908, when a pawn shop, Ellis Mercantile, began renting merchandise to early filmmakers. According to Ellis Props, it began when a studio employee wanted to buy a glass eye. The pawn shop decided to rent it in case the owner returned, and it continued the practice with other items.

OMGC-M16/CP Replica M16A1 Cap Plug Firing Gun by MGC (Model Gun Corporation) Japan is in decent condition but we do not know if it is still capable of firing caps. It is nicely marked MGC and MADE IN JAPAN. This particular model is the MGC-M16/CP. These work with replica “cartridges”, which have small caps “plugged” into the front of them, which then is detonated by the replica bolt. These would then be ejected like a real spent cartridge, and could be reloaded with additional caps. This example has an added butt stock that features an “Off Hand” notch to grasp when firing from a prone position using a bipod. This appears to be added after the film probably for use in another film. The hand guard is missing.

First Blood is the 1982 action film that introduced the character of John Rambo to the silver screen. Based on the David Morrell novel of the same name and directed by Ted Kotcheff, the film stars Sylvester Stallone as Rambo, a former Green Beret and highly decorated Vietnam veteran who takes on a small town and its police force when the sheriff (Brian Dennehy) pushes him over the edge. Interestingly, it was originally intended as a slow-paced drama story with only occasional action, but the production staff felt that this simply was not working, while Stallone has since stated he wanted to buy the film and destroy it on viewing the rough cut, thinking it would destroy his career. The result was over two hours of the film ended up on the cutting room floor and the final film was completely transformed. In North American theaters, the film was released under the title First Blood, while internationally and on some video releases, it was released under the title Rambo: First Blood (in some instances to capitalize on the film’s blockbuster sequel). Stallone would reprise the Rambo character in four sequels over the span of three decades, culminating in perhaps the final installment Rambo: Last Blood, which was released in September of 2019.