James bond gun casino royale

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 original James Bond novels, Casino Royale, in , 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 in a flat chamois leather holster he probably didn't think too much about it. He had actually used such a gun during World War II when he was in Naval Intelligence, and felt it was an appropriate sidearm for a secret agent on an undercover mission.

Shortly before the publication of From Russia with Love in , Fleming received a fan letter from Major Geoffrey Boothroyd. Boothroyd was a retired Army Major and gun collector. Boothroyd told Fleming that he really admired the Bond novels apart from the protagonist's choice of weapon. He felt that the Beretta 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 '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 in his missions, saying that they were rarely silent and reduced the power of a gun.

Fleming replied, thanked the Major for his letter, and made a few points. He felt that Bond ought to have an automatic gun; perhaps Boothroyd could recommend one? He agreed that the Beretta 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 now-iconic Walther PPK mm as being the best choice for an automatic of that size, with its ammunition available everywhere. He suggested, however, that 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 Magnum 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 is an odd mistake given that Fleming had bought such a holster and had it sent to Jamaica. (It has been argued that Q-branch could have modified an excellent holster to accommodate automatics.

Kingsley Amis[]

John Gardner[]

On March 20, 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 M in 9mm 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 9mm 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. In later novels, Bond carried the PPK for undercover work and the P99 for overt work.

One Off Novels[]

Starting in , individual novels were written by different authors, unconnected from any other continuation authors. Devil May Care and Solo are prequels set during the Fleming era and use the pistols that Fleming established for Bond in those years, while Carte Blanche and On His Majesty’s Secret Service are set in the year they were published.

Carte Blanche is a full reboot, and Jeffrey Deaver gives Bond the relatively new Walther PPS, intended by Walther as a modernized version of the PPK for concealed carry.

Anthony Horowitz[]

Anthony Horowitz wrote a trilogy of novels set during the Fleming era, using previously unpublished material written by Fleming. Bond uses the pistol that Fleming previously established for Bond in those years, whether the or PPK, depending on the year the novel takes place.

The Moneypenny Diaries[]

Double O Series[]

The Double O Series is set in the world of James Bond, focusing on other Double O agents within MI6.

Films[]

Official films[]

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

As there is significantly more gunplay in more 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 sub-machine guns during the battle sequences.

Unofficial films