What gun would you give Bond?

[Billy Shears]

I just watched "Skyfall" yesterday, and it was interesting to see them return Bond to carrying a PPK, even if this one is a "signature gun" that's coded to his palm print, and a .380 PPK/S (the old Bond's gun was a .32 PPK).

But it occurred to me that the only reason to give Bond that gun today is tradition. Like the return of the traditional office for M at the end of the film, with its familiar padded leather door, and Miss Moneypenny as M's secretary, it's just something indelibly associated with James Bond. He carries a PPK and it's part of what makes him James Bond.

But if he were a real agent being armed today with a concealable handgun, it's pretty unlikely that his agency would pick that gun for him, with so many alternative guns on the market today being available which are less expensive, simpler designs, and/or available in more potent calibers. I'm not aware of any agency of any government that is issuing its people PPKs these days.

So, if you were introducing the character today, and nobody had ever heard of him before, what gun would you give him? Bear in mind it does need to be compact and concealable, so full size guns are out. Compact versions of full size guns might be chosen, but seem unlikely to me, owing to how thick through the slide and grip they are, but there might be some that will work. Odds are it would be a gun of European make, but not necessarily. Remember he's a spy, so despite the action you see in the movies, he is supposed to avoid gunfights and maintain a low profile, so the gun should be chosen more for discreet carry than combat. (Bond always had other guns he picked for given missions when he had warning of trouble and needed more firepower anyway.) So how about it? What would you arm Bond with today?

 

[snakeman]

Kimber solo

 

[Billy Shears]

I have a hard time seeing Bond carrying a Kimber Solo. As I said, an American auto seems less likely, though not impossible, but the reliability issues with the Solo would kill it, I should think. The pistol does not have a good reputation in that department.

 

[Deaf Smith]

First off the PPK's DA trigger is awful. Always has been awful and there is no way to fix it so I sure would not give him THAT gun.

And the .32 ACP round? Heck no. 9x19 at the minimum.

First off it would NOT BE POLYMER. I mean surely Bond one day want's to hand it down to his grandkids, right?

Yea the SOLO isn't bad at all, in fact it's bout the ONLY sub-compact 9mm that has a frame other than polymer (yes I know many subcombact 1911s but they are not in the same concealable class as the Solo.

Reliability? Well I am sure 'Q" would take care of any reliability problems that cropped up.

So I guess it's the Solo!

Deaf

 

[Havok7416]

I think the H&K P7 would be a good fit.

Although I have to add that the PPK WAS in fact used by the British armed forces until very recently. It may not have been used exclusively but it was certainly issued. I even had the chance to talk with several British personnel who confirmed that their PPKs had been worn out. Oddly enough they had Browning Hi-Powers that didn't look to be in much better shape than the PPKs they described.

 

[Bovice]

Bond's return to the PPK actually happened in Quantum of Solace, although it was only used in the earlier parts of the movie. After that, he was using P226s stolen from other MI6 personnel.

Today's Bond would more than likely be carrying a compact sized pistol, or even a full size. A lot of places they'd be operating today are warzones, not cities and metro areas. The cold war is over.

 

[Pilot]

Ian Fleming knew next to nothing about firearms, and really didn't seek any expert help it seems. The PP/PPK was a pre WWII cop's gun, and then more of an officers sidearm during the war. I have a WWII bringback PP in .32 ACP (7.65MM). I really don't enjoy shooting it at all.

The closest thing Bond regularly carried that I would also carry, or recommend anyone carrying, was the Walther P-5 in "Never say Never Again", and the Walther P99 in later Bonds, I believe with Pierce Brosnan.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Walther PPS 9mm (as a logical progression)

Otherwise I'd say maybe a Beretta Nano

 

[OregonJohnny]

Beretta 85FS or Sig 239. Classy, European, attractive, 100% metal, DA/SA like he's used to, and fantastic reliability.

 

[Havok7416]

Ian Fleming knew next to nothing about firearms, and really didn't seek any expert help it seems. The PP/PPK was a pre WWII cop's gun, and then more of an officers sidearm during the war. I have a WWII bringback PP in .32 ACP (7.65MM). I really don't enjoy shooting it at all.

The closest thing Bond regularly carried that I would also carry, or recommend anyone carrying, was the Walther P-5 in "Never say Never Again", and the Walther P99 in later Bonds, I believe with Pierce Brosnan.

Never Say Never Again was not and will never be a true Bond film. It was a remake of Thunderball with a different studio and does not count as an official part of the Bond series.

 

[sota]

if I can pick a modern pistol... H&K P30

 

[Pilot]

Never Say Never Again was not and will never be a true Bond film. It was a remake of Thunderball with a different studio and does not count as an official part of the Bond series.

Don't tell Sean Connery that.

You'll also possibly make George Lazenby cry.

 

[Billy Shears]

Ian Fleming knew next to nothing about firearms, and really didn't seek any expert help it seems. The PP/PPK was a pre WWII cop's gun, and then more of an officers sidearm during the war. I have a WWII bringback PP in .32 ACP (7.65MM). I really don't enjoy shooting it at all.

The closest thing Bond regularly carried that I would also carry, or recommend anyone carrying, was the Walther P-5 in "Never say Never Again", and the Walther P99 in later Bonds, I believe with Pierce Brosnan.

Fleming may not have known a lot about handguns, but he gave Bond a PPK because Geoffrey Boothroyd, who most certainly did know a lot about them, wrote to Fleming to chastise him for arming Bond with a .25 Beretta. Boothroyd recommended either a PPK or a S&W .38spl Airweight. Fleming picked the PPK, and in gratitude for the advice, named the character Q "Major Boothroyd."

Remember Bond was a literary creation of the '50s, who made it to the screen in the very early '60s. Think about what was available then. The PPK was as good a choice as any in that era when compact autos could be had in .32 or .380 and that was it, and there weren't all that many of them out there -- the PPK, Mauser HsC, Browning 1922, and not much else. Even compact versions of service caliber guns were almost non-existent. The Commander is the only one I can think of. The PPK was a very logical choice for the time. Even the choice of .32 as opposed to .380 made sense, given that ball ammo was all there was, and there probably wasn't enough difference to matter in their performance.

Today's Bond would more than likely be carrying a compact sized pistol, or even a full size. A lot of places they'd be operating today are warzones, not cities and metro areas. The cold war is over.

Today's Bond would NOT be carrying a full size pistol, except when called for by a specific mission. I repeat, he's a spy, not an SAS operator. For routine wear in places where most people can't go armed, he needs something concealable. The cold war may be over, spying isn't, and being conspicuously armed is a no no most places he'd have to go.

 

[dodo bird]

He's British! They aren't allowed to own guns. That being said . Browning Hi power

 

[Pilot]

Good points Billy, but I will counter that there were better pistols available like the Colt 1908 in .380, or even the 9MM Walther P-38, Browning GP-35 Hi Power, and even the P-08 Luger would have been a better choice for Bond.

If we are stuck with what was available in the 1950's I would choose any of those over a 7.65MM PPK even "with a delivery like a brick through a plate glass window" to quote Maj. Boothroyd.

 

[Havok7416]

He's British! They aren't allowed to own guns. That being said . Browning Hi power

They make exceptions for the spies and soldiers (and some cops). Although they don't technically OWN them.

 

[Billy Shears]

Good points Billy, but I will counter that there were better pistols available like the Colt 1908 in .380, or even the 9MM Walther P-38, Browning GP-35 Hi Power, and even the P-08 Luger would have been a better choice for Bond.

If we are stuck with what was available in the 1950's I would choose any of those over a 7.65MM PPK even "with a delivery like a brick through a plate glass window" to quote Maj. Boothroyd.

The 1908 was out of production by then. It was also a single action, which was not preferred. A Hi Power or a Luger would not have been better choices for Bond. They were too big. They are full sized guns. Sure you'd rather have them if you know trouble is coming, but the whole point of a small concealable gun is that it can be carried places where a full-sized gun would be too conspicuous. Again, remember the era -- back then even plainclothes detectives, who didn't really need deep concealment, tended to wear Colt Detective Specials and S&W J frames rather than full size .38s. There were not just fewer options about concealed guns, there were fewer options as to leather as well.

Again, a full size gun is going to be too conspicuous for a guy who is operating undercover most of the time he's out on the job. And this is one part of arming Bond that hasn't changed. If full size guns are so much better, why do most concealed carriers carry compact autos? Most people make the trade off of sacrificing a little size/capacity/controllability for the sake of having a gun that will carry discretely and comfortably, even under light clothing, or when they cannot afford to draw attention to their armed status.

 

[Old Dog]

SIG-Sauer P-228, non-railed of course, with some good Trijicon nightsights ...

 

[TarDevil]

Was my ears playing tricks, or did "Q" say "PPK 9mm?"

 

[Billy Shears]

He said "9mm short" which is another name for .380ACP (9mm kurz; 9mm corto; 9x17mm. etc.)

 

[Fishbed77]

He should be carrying a Walther PPS or Walther P99cAS these days.

Kimber solo

That's just silly. Besides, he needs a gun that actually fires when you pull the trigger.

 

[Havok7416]

He should be carrying a Walther PPS or P99cAS these days.



That's just silly. Besides, he needs a gun that actually fires when you pull the trigger.

He did carry a P99 during some of the Pierce Brosnan days.

 

[RBid]

Quintessential Bond:

- everything around Bond was fast and sexy, from his cars to the Bond girls
- under the playful facade, Bond was purpose driven

Bond needs a firearm with sleek lines, that is as combat capable as he is.


Beretta 92FS compact. Beautiful, concealable, practical, and reliable. It also accepts mags from its full size sibling, which Bond would appreciate.

 

[mach1.3]

SigSauer P228, P229 or P239 SAS versions in 9mm. Elite would befit a master
spy/assassin with a threaded bbl. to boot.

 

[huntsman]

What gun would you give Bond?

A P232 better than the PPK but still has the look