List of James Bond firearms

The following is a list of firearms used by James Bond in the novel and film adventures.

Novels

Ian Fleming

When Ian Fleming wrote the first of the James Bond novels, Casino Royale, he had no idea the direction in which the stories would go, let alone how many he would eventually write. So when he introduced Bond as using a Beretta 418 in a flat chamois leather holster he probably didn't think too much about it. He had used a .25 ACP Beretta during the Second World War when he was in Naval Intelligence and felt it was an appropriate side arm for a secret agent on an undercover mission.

Shortly before the publication of From Russia with Love in 1956, Fleming received a fan letter from a Geoffrey Boothroyd. Boothroyd was an author and gun collector. Boothroyd told Fleming that he really admired the Bond novels apart from the hero's choice of weapon. He felt that the Beretta 418 was "a lady's gun" with no real stopping power. He also objected to the choice of holster. Boothroyd proposed that Bond should use a revolver like the Smith & Wesson Centennial Airweight. It had no external hammer, so it would not catch on Bond's clothes. The Smith & Wesson could be kept in a Berns-Martin triple draw holster held in place with a spring clip which would decrease Bond's draw time. Boothroyd also had bad words about the suppressor Bond occasionally used, saying that they were rarely silent and reduced the power of a gun.

Fleming replied, thanked the Boothroyd for his letter, and made a few points. He felt that Bond ought to have an automatic pistol; perhaps Boothroyd could recommend one? He agreed that the Beretta 418 lacked power, but pointed out that Bond had used more powerful weapons when the need required, such as the Colt Army Special he uses in Moonraker. Fleming also said that he had seen a silenced Sten gun during the war and the weapon had hardly made a whisper.

Boothroyd recommended the Walther PPK 7.65 mm as being the best choice for an automatic of that size, with its ammunition available everywhere. He suggested, however, that 007 ought to have a revolver for long-range work. Fleming asked Boothroyd if he could lend his illustrator Richard Chopping one of his guns to be painted for the cover of From Russia with Love. Boothroyd lent Chopping a Smith & Wesson .38 revolver that had the trigger guard removed for faster firing.

Fleming had Bond's Beretta caught in his holster at the end of From Russia with Love, an event that almost costs the secret agent his life. In the next novel, Dr. No, a certain Major Boothroyd recommends that Bond switch guns. Bond is issued a Walther PPK but is told to carry it in a Berns-Martin triple draw holster, which is designed only to carry revolvers. This mistake was possibly due to an error in Fleming's notes, transposing the Walther PPK for the Smith & Wesson Centennial Airweight. However, Fleming lore says that Fleming had bought such a holster and had it sent to Jamaica, making this error all the more puzzling. It has been argued over the years that Q-branch could have modified this legendary holster to accommodate automatics, but this is unlikely- the design of the holster was centered around the cylinder of a revolver, where The Spring clip would "grip" the pistol.

Kingsley Amis

John Gardner

On March 20, 1974 an attempt was made to kidnap HRH Princess Anne. The Walther PPK of the police officer protecting her jammed and was subsequently withdrawn from service. When John Gardner was asked to write a new series of James Bond continuation novels, one of the first things he decided was to update Bond's trusty Walther PPK. Gardner devoted two pages in his first James Bond novel Licence Renewed to the debate over whether to use a revolver or an automatic, and what make and model, before finally settling on an older FN M1903 in 9 mm Browning Long (9x20mmSR). Even Bond himself admits that it is an old gun. The original hardback cover illustration by Richard Chopping shows the FN pistol.

After criticism from fans for choosing an old gun, Gardner replaced the gun three more times, eventually sticking to the ASP 9 mm for the rest of the series. As he intended to downplay the gadgets in his books, Gardner compensated by bringing to the series a colorful arsenal of weapons from around the world.

Raymond Benson

When James Bond expert Raymond Benson was asked to take over writing the series, he briefly gave Bond back his Walther PPK. Benson also brought the series in line with the films and concurrently replaced Bond's PPK with the Walther P99 in the film novelisation Tomorrow Never Dies.

Young Bond

• During a gun battle that takes place in a cave, Bond picks up a rifle of unknown make and model. The gun is never fired by James as it was out of bullets.

• The Apache is a combination of a revolver, knife and knuckle duster that was used by thugs in 19th century Paris. It was notably used by the henchmen brothers Wolfgang and Ludwig Smith as they carried out various murders across London. It was not used by Bond.

Films

Official films

The scene from the novel Dr. No is replayed more-or-less verbatim in the 1962 film, ensuring the Walther PPK a place in cultural history. Bond shows a great deal more fidelity to his side arm in the films than in the novels, even going so far as to take on an international arms dealer and hi-tech arms enthusiastic Brad Whitaker armed only with an eight-shot, 7.65 mm semi-automatic.

During the 1963 production of From Russia With Love (film), photographer David Hurn was commissioned to photograph the actors of the film in their costume. When the Theatrical property Walther PPK did not turn up for the shoot, Hurn volunteered his own Walther LP 53 air pistol and said he would airbrush out the long barrel; the airbrushed stills appearing in a US "JAMES BOND IS BACK" poster. However, Renato Fratini a film poster artist saw the original stills of the weapon and used it in his U.K. posters with the weapon appearing in several more film posters up to The Man With the Golden Gun. On 14 February 2001, Hurn had his LP 53 (serial number 054159)in its original presentation case and letter of provenance auctioned off at Christie's where the weapon fetched US$20,437.41.

As there is more gunplay in recent films, Bond has changed to a more modern handgun, though it is still a Walther. There is also a greater use of assault rifles and submachine guns during the battle sequences.

Unofficial films

External links

• Sean Connery's main guns
• Roger Moore's main gun
• Timothy Dalton's main gun
• Pierce Brosnan's main guns