The gun had NO firing pin

check it out 20:38 there is a shot where he puts the gun to his head and slowly pulls back the trigger, look close, there is no firing pin (the reason why when he opened up the chamber none of the bullets had strike marks on it) Either the pawn shop guy sold him a faulty gun or knew it was a faulty gun hoping he would just get caught and go to jail. Tom figured it out right away when he pointed it at him, then gave it back because he knew it would not work.

Tom would need incredible eyesight to notice the gun had no firing pin in a dark alley!

It's true though that since there was no mark on the primer of the bullet that it was not struck by the pin. Without striking the primer there is no spark, which means no ignition of gun powder.

08:50 PM

But Michael fired the gun at Tom when they were in the alley?
here is a pic of the muzzle flash.

Maybe Tom switched guns when he gave it back to Michael.

Or maybe it is really some supernatural thing related to the island.

you guys are incredible at noticing these details!

but it was the island that took the pin out

Quote:

Originally Posted by folie a deux

But Michael fired the gun at Tom when they were in the alley?
here is a pic of the muzzle flash.

Maybe Tom switched guns when he gave it back to Michael.

Or maybe it is really some supernatural thing related to the island.

I just don't think it matters that much simply because we are just supposed to believe that the island can basically do whatever it wants and if anyone asks questions they can just shut up

good point would be pretty hard to see. I just know i have had bad primers before on bullets but you will still get an imprint of the pin on the bad primer. Unless there is no pin

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZedsDead

check it out 20:38 there is a shot where he puts the gun to his head and slowly pulls back the trigger, look close, there is no firing pin (the reason why when he opened up the chamber none of the bullets had strike marks on it) Either the pawn shop guy sold him a faulty gun or knew it was a faulty gun hoping he would just get caught and go to jail. Tom figured it out right away when he pointed it at him, then gave it back because he knew it would not work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by folie a deux

But Michael fired the gun at Tom when they were in the alley?
here is a pic of the muzzle flash.

Maybe Tom switched guns when he gave it back to Michael.

Or maybe it is really some supernatural thing related to the island.

Both good points. I personally know nada about guns so my only reaction at the fully loaded gun was "wow, the island!!"... That's what the producers want the audience to think anyways, but good to learn about these tech-detail stuff you guys are talking about

Most makers of revolvers no longer put the firing pin on the hammer. The older model Smith and Wessons had them there (my dad has one), but I don't think Colts revolver design ever did. The firing pin "floats" inside the guns housing. Think of a hammer hitting a nail hitting a board rather than a pick-ax hitting a board. As far a props go, it probably was altered so it could not shoot, but we would never see how it was altered by the prop master.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sumthnwitty

As far a props go, it probably was altered so it could not shoot, but we would never see how it was altered by the prop master.

This is another thing to consider too. ^^

A gun used in a TV show is a prop. And safety comes first. In the past there have been actors who have been killed by guns that were loaded with blanks. I have to believe that the gun that Harold Perrineau (Michael) puts to his head was designed for safety first and realism second.