Month: August 2025

James Bond’s world is one of those definitive, patrilinear moments for so many. 007 inhabits a world so much like our own, but with an air of mystery, danger, grandeur, and excitement round every corner.

Young boys with their fathers may not understand every quip or double entendre, but they know that they are taking part in something adult, something thrilling. Since his silver screen introduction in 1962 with DR. NO, and 25 official EON films later, James Bond has excited generations of fathers and sons.

Gun models from the James Bond franchise like the Walther PPK are popular with collectors, shooters, and film enthusiasts alike.

Throughout the decades, Bond has been equipped with a multitude of small arms, ranging from the familiar Walther PPK to fictional space lasers. The guns of James Bond are essentials for any collection, pieces of steel that connect one to the most impactful fictional characters of the last century – 007 transcends generations, and like his cars and clothes, his firearms are ones that once secured, deserve to be passed down for generations to come.

This article seeks to address some of the most iconic pieces of the Bond universe, that are essentials for any collection. Click on the images to learn more information about each featured model.

LITERARY BOND – THE BERETTA 418 & COLT 1911

When Ian Fleming first envisioned James Bond, a “blunt instrument” as he called him, 007 was more a detective than the bulletproof action hero. His cases were, while thrilling, paced more in that classic espionage thriller manner. Bond was armed, but he wasn’t Rambo in a suit. Instead, he preferred a weapon akin to Fleming’s own preferred sidearm during his time in Naval Intelligence.

The Beretta 418 was chosen by author Ian Fleming as the original “James Bond gun.”

While Fleming carried a Browning .25 ACP, he elected to arm Bond first with a Beretta .25 ACP, presumably the 418, with a skeleton grip. The gun would be introduced in Chapter Eight of CASINO ROYALE, the first Bond novel, in 1953. It’s a great bit of prose that, for those fond of firearms and concealed carry, find to be very grounded in accuracy, from the function check on the pistol to confirming the lack of printing before going out into the world.

“After pocketing the thin sheaf of ten-mille notes, he opened a drawer and took out a light chamois leather holster and slipped it over his left shoulder so that it hung about three inches below his arm-pit.

He then took from under his shirts in another drawer a very flat ·25 Beretta automatic with a skeleton grip, extracted the clip and the single round in the barrel and whipped the action to and fro several times, finally pulling the trigger on the empty chamber.

He charged the weapon again, loaded it, put up the safety catch and dropped it into the shallow pouch of the shoulder-holster. He looked carefully round the room to see if anything had been forgotten and slipped his single-breasted dinner-jacket coat over his heavy silk evening shirt.

He felt cool and comfortable. He verified in the mirror that there was absolutely no sign of the flat gun under his left arm, gave a final pull at his narrow tie and walked out of the door and locked it.” – Chapter 8 “Pink Lights & Champagne”

The 418, while certainly a diminutive firearm, is an absolute pleasure to shoot, and is a stunning example of the early automatic handgun. They are a quiet nod to the original James Bond, well worth collecting!

The 6.35mm cartridge, also known as .25 Auto, was designed by John Browning for small, concealable pistols.

As back-up – the literary 007 did conceal a Colt within his Bentley. Again, the model is never named, though using clues from other Fleming Bond adventures, it can be assumed that the firearm in question is a Colt 1911. This makes sense, as Fleming’s history in World War II did include founding and outfitting his own commando unit, 30AU.

Histories of 30AU during the war establish that Fleming was a critical part of sourcing equipment and taking care of his men. Other references to 30AU can be found in other moments in the series, so it tracks that the gun would be such a reference as well.

If you are keen on a “Bondian” Colt, consider sourcing a Lend-Lease era 1911 pistol. These handguns were manufactured by Colt and sent to England, and bear British proof marks as well as all the proper Colt rollmarks. A perfect example of cross-pond cooperation, and a wonderful gun to pair with that skeleton gripped Beretta.

A WW2 U.S. Colt Model 1911A1 with British proofs visible on the frame, slide and barrel.

DR. NO – BOND’S INCORRECT PISTOLS

The novels which inspired the movies actually began with a Beretta .25 ACP – which while unnamed is widely accepted to be the Beretta 418 – something that would change midway through the series with the novel, DR. NO. EON Productions, when making the films, settled on DR. NO as the first book to bring to life, making the transition from the Beretta to the Walther one of the first, and most iconic, scenes of the James Bond canon.

Ironically, not a single firearm in that sequence is correct, an error that would continue throughout the first film. Bond’s Beretta, meant to again be a smaller, diminutively chambered .25 ACP pistol, is stood in by a Beretta 1934 or 1935 – the chambering is impossible to confirm, but the profile of the pistol is clear.

Bond’s 7.65mm PPK recommended by the Armourer is, on screen, a larger Walther PP chambered for .380 Automatic. The thin rear sight makes it easy to identify these Walthers as early Post-War examples.

A Walther PP doubles for a PPK in the first James Bond film.

James Bond would not be armed with a PPK until 1963’s FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, and even then, according to prop records, the pistol in question was a .380 Automatic, presumably standing in once more for a 7.65mm.

It should go without saying that any Bond collection is incomplete without a PPK. The most accurate version that ought to be sought after is a Post-War, Pre-68 pistol – without Interarms import markings. This is the era of pistol most commonly seen on screen and most associated with James Bond.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE introduced the most famous James Bond gun to the series in the Walther PPK.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE – THE AR-7 FOLDING “SNIPER” RIFLE

If there is ever a moment where the Bond films ask you to suspend disbelief, it may very well be the use of an Armalite AR-7 to take down a helicopter, or perhaps even early in the film, when it is introduced and described as a “sniper rifle.” Now, to be entirely fair to the former, Bond does shoot a Spectre henchman inside the helicopter, who then drops a live grenade inside the cockpit, which takes down the helicopter.

James Bond fires the AR-7 in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE.

The description, and the incorrect chambering for .25 ACP however, are a different matter. Regardless, the brown stocked folding rifle is perhaps the perfect weapon for the early, Connery Era 007. The rifle’s profile and unique design ooze that 1960’s espionage spirit perfectly captured by the first Bond. If there was ever a rifle to teach a son or daughter how to shoot on, how about one of Bond’s more unique pieces, in the training essential round of .22LR?

The .22LR AR-7 found a niche with pilots, boaters, and outdoors enthusiast.

YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE – GYROJET WEAPONS

While Bond himself never actually handles any of the Gyrojet weapons shown on screen – they exude the more campy world 007 found himself inhabiting by filming of YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE. What else could an army of ninjas possibly be armed with while raiding a secret volcano fortress?

The Gyrojet, one of the most distinct guns of the James Bond franchise, is demonstrated by Q (Desmond Llewelyn) and Tiger Tanaka (Tetsuro Tamba)’s ninja commandos.

These weapons are a fascinating chapter in the history of small arms, and while they may be less functional day to day than the other Bond items on this list, they are certainly worthy of the attention of any serious Bond collector.

Gold plated Gyrojet pistols like the example seen in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE are some of the rarest guns in collecting.

LIVE AND LET DIE – SMITH & WESSON MODEL 29-2

With the introduction of Roger Moore came serious aesthetic changes to James Bond. George Lazenby, the short-lived second 007, was billed as the “same old James.” Moore, however, was a deviation from the precedent. While at the core the character was familiar, the finer details were tweaked to make Moore a man of his own.

Moore’s Bond in LIVE AND LET DIE smokes cigars, not cigarettes. He drinks dark liquor instead of vodka martinis. His fashion is in stark contrast to Connery. In DR. NO, 007 is wearing a glen plaid suit in Jamaica. Moore rocks a two-piece light denim outfit with flared trousers. Most of all, while the PPK did remain, the firearms used to market the film, and in the climax, were Smith & Wesson revolvers.

The Smith & Wesson 29-2 was used by James Bond in LIVE AND LET DIE.

Undoubtedly the most famous of all was the Smith & Wesson 29-2 .44 Magnum revolver. Carried in a Bianchi X15 split-front vertical shoulder holster in stark contrast to Bond’s black rollneck sweater, the N frame revolver has an all too brief moment on screen. Bond shoots a full cylinder, and proceeds to toss the firearm aside. No room for speed loaders in his fitted trousers, clearly.

This gun was featured prominently in the marketing of the film, and the images of Moore with it today are still some of the most iconic in the entire franchise’s history. Interestingly, the prop masters could only find a blued Model 29-2, and reportedly sent that out to be chromed by a local bumper shop.

The Smith & Wesson Model 29-2, a .44 Magnum powerhouse.

THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS – WALTHER WA2000

The Holy Grail of Bond gun collecting. The venerable Walther WA2000. Only 176 were ever created, with only 150 or so in circulation today. The bullpup sniper’s rifle commands attention, and is even more gorgeous in person than one can describe. In the personal office of Wulf Heinz-Pflaumer, the owner of Walther Arms, rests the actual screen-used WA2000 from THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS, purchased at auction in 2006.

(Right) Timothy Dalton with the WA2000 in THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS. (Left) The author poses with the screen used rifle.

The Walther WA2000 rifle was one of many designed after the horrific events of the 1972 Munich Olympics. Unfortunately, the incredibly complex Walther rifle was far too expensive to manufacture, and was not picked up for any serious contracts, leading to the limited production.

I was fortunate enough to spend time with that exact rifle, and it was absolutely incredible. If life gives you the means and opportunity to secure a WA2000, it is not one to miss.

TOMORROW NEVER DIES – CASINO ROYALE – WALTHER P99

The Walther P99, introduced to both the world of Bond and the world at large really in 1997’s TOMORROW NEVER DIES is one of the most interesting stories of brand relationships with the franchise.

As Wulf aptly told Brosnan on set, “The modern Bond MUST carry the modern Walther.” Brosnan apparently agreed, and managed to get the P99 a starring role in the third act of the film.

The line, “Ah, the new Walther, I’ve been asking Q to get me one of these,” was directly from the mouth of Pflaumer as well. Doubling down, Brosnan reportedly also had the studio do another round of publicity photography, featuring the new Walther pistol. It would be these assets that were used heavily in posters, VHS slip covers, and more.

The Walther P99 became a familiar gun to fans of the the later three Pierce Brosnan James Bond films.

The impact of Brosnan’s Bond on the Walther brand cannot be understated. Before Umarex’s purchase of the brand, it was a hollow shell of its past self. Original drawings, prototypes, and other archival pieces were being sold to keep the company afloat.

If not for Umarex’s intervention and their innovative new design, the Walther brand may very well not be here today. That is the legacy of the P99 – and what better way to introduce it to the world than through one of the most iconic characters in cinematic history, with a longstanding relationship with the Walther brand?

A special James Bond Edition Walther P99, marked “Her Majesty’s Secret Intelligence Service” on the left and right of the slide.

This relationship would bring about a few commemorative Walther pistols as well that are very collectable, including a golden engraved OHMSS Edition Walther PPK, and a MI6 Edition P99.

A cased American Historical Foundation/Walther PPK Secret Intelligence Service MI6 pistol.

The P99 would carry on its legacy with Bond through the conclusion of 2006’s CASINO ROYALE, after which the venerable PPK in 7.65mm would make its triumphant return.

The success of the James Bond franchise has elevated interest in the Walther pistol family for decades.

Exploring the Guns of James Bond

These are but a few of the incredible pieces of history featured throughout the expansive Bond canon. From continuation authors and 25 official films, the breadth of firearms is expansive, and often has fascinating ties with the real world of espionage.

The author and his PPK, a gun every James Bond fan should own.

These ties are further explored in the book, LICENSED TROUBLESHOOTER – THE GUNS OF JAMES BOND by yours truly, Caleb Daniels. My thanks to Rock Island Auction cannot be understated. LICENSED TROUBLESHOOTER was a globetrotting adventure to track down so many of the small arms of 007, but every time I turned up empty handed, Rock Island had already sold and gorgeously photographed the missing pieces.

The book will be available come Fall 2025, and is a coffee-table format piece celebrating the history of 007, his guns, and their real world ties. Until then, be on the lookout here at Rock Island Auction to begin collecting some of the most thrilling guns of pop culture history.

LICENCED TROUBLESHOOTER: THE GUNS OF JAMES BOND is a celebration of the most fascinating small arms wielded by 007. Click on the image to learn more.

Author Caleb Daniels is a lifelong Bond fan and firearms enthusiast from Kansas City, Missouri. For seven years, he worked in the firearms industry, growing up in that world. Commando Bond was founded in 2020 as a passion project to bridge the gap between pop culture and the world of firearms, by analyzing how to live like Bond, from his daily carry, to his wardrobe and lifestyle.