<p>OK, if you haven’t seen the Indiana Jones movie yet, there is a minor spoiler ahead…</p>
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<p>I think it came from the 1987 movie The Untouchables.</p>
<p>“Isn’t that just like a wop? Brings a knife to a gunfight.”</p>
<p>(apologies in advance to any who may find this offensive)</p>
<p>See: [Moviequotes.com</a> Repository - Movie Quote From Untouchables, The - 1987](<a href=“http://www.moviequotes.com/repository.cgi?pg=3&tt=82726]Moviequotes.com”>http://www.moviequotes.com/repository.cgi?pg=3&tt=82726)</p>
<p>Or was it already a saying?</p>
<p>I am absolutely sure that I’ve heard and used it most of my adult life. It was originally told to me as an ethnic joke, as in “[ethnic group] is so dumb they’d bring a knife to a gunfight.” This is, of course, the usage in *The Untouchables *where it is used as a slanderous comment about Italians.</p>
<p>I agree. But “most of my adult life” is post-1987, when the Untouchables came out. Can you find a book or reference where it’s used before then?
(NB - I tend to obsess over weird stuff)</p>
<p>M23, are you familiar with Usenet? If so, try asking your question at alt.usage.english. Those people know everything about etymology.</p>
<p>Tell us if you get an answer!</p>