U.S. Marshals Ending Explained: Stupid Twists Within Stupid Twists

My pleasant surprise at the Royce reveal was quickly shattered by the stupidity of the next part. I find it completely bizarre that the whole ending of the movie depends on what brand of gun the different characters are waving, but that's what it boils down to. Fortunately, the Internet Movie Firearms Database is here to help those of us who can't tell their Glocks from their Colts on this point.

When Gerard and Royce meet for the first time, the marshal asks the special agent if he is armed. Royce hands over a nickel-plated Taurus PT945, which Gerard mocks and tells him to get a Glock instead. We then see Royce's Taurus when he confronts Sheridan in a swamp, and this plot point is a snap and you'll miss it: Sheridan snatches Royce's gun and shoots Gerard in the bulletproof vest with. Royce then retrieves the weapon before Sheridan escapes.

Later, when Royce kills Newman, he still uses the Taurus. In the scene set-up, Sheridan carries a similar-looking gun, which is a Colt. We will never see or hear of this weapon again. After Royce shoots Newman with the Taurus, he later turns it over as evidence, claiming it was Sheridan's gun.

Gerard is now determined to avenge his teammate, and he and Royce follow Sheridan to a container ship. Gerard and Sheridan face off before Royce shoots Sheridan, this time with a Glock.

Then we see Sheridan in a hospital bed while Royce is out in the hallway, packing up the Taurus as evidence. Gerard arrives and examines the weapon, noticing that the serial number has been filed. Flashback to the previous scene when he mocked Royce's choice of weapon...a nickel-plated Taurus, like this.