34 replies to this topic

[Golddragon71]

In Carte blanche Bond's weapon is the New Walther PPS it's about the same size as the PPK but it's a 9mm and it's design reflects the newer Walthers such as the P99 and the P22.
Of course, the PPK has a long history with 007 dating back to Dr. No in 1962 until Tomorrow Never Dies in 1997 From then on until after 2006's Casino Royale Bond used the P99.of course in Quantum of Solace bond goes Back to the PPK. and he's clearly using it again in Skyfall.
My question is then should Bond update his choice of firearm?
Pros of the PPS
9mms are pretty much standard issue nowadays and finding that kind of ammo on an enemy thug would probably be easier than finding 7.65mm ammo.

Unlike the P99 the PPS shares the concealibility advantage with it's older sibling the PPK.

Like the P99, the PPS is a hammerless pistol which reduces the chance of it snagging on the draw.


Cons
It's not the ICONIC Bond Gun (let's face it, most Bond fans are traditionalists (look at the uproar over him drinking a Heineken of a Vodka Martini) and Bond drinking or driving or shooting anything other than his "established" drink, car or weapon is akin to Blasphemy)

It's almost more of a lateral move as he only gains in calibre availability and not round-per-magazine capacity
actually........ that's all the cons I have against the idea.

Here's a size comparison from JamesBondlifestyle.com

Edited by Golddragon71, 09 July 2012 - 11:30 AM.

[AMC Hornet]

The PPS is one ugly, bulky-looking sumbitch. I'd hate to see Craig take it up.

The P5 Moore used in OP fitt his big hands well. I wouIdn't mind seeing it again.

Otherwise, stick with the PPK & P99 - we're already used to them.

BTW, I'm rereading Carte Blanche right now, and Deaver describes the PPS as being .40 calibre. Is that comprable to 9mm?

[thecasinoroyale]

Stick with the PPK - it's easy to conceal on your person, and as Mjr. Boothroyd reminds us - "with a delivery like a brick through a plate glass window."

It does the job and Bond needs nothing more in my opinion.

[x007AceOfSpades]

I'm actually rooting for the PPS, it seems like a more viable choice for Bond to upgrade to. However I'm fine with the PPK and P99 and as AMC said, I even like the P5.

[Dustin]

BTW, I'm rereading Carte Blanche right now, and Deaver describes the PPS as being .40 calibre. Is that comprable to 9mm?

No, .40 calibre would be roughly 10mm (do not confuse this with the real 10mm auto). Smith & Wesson developed the .40 in 1990 after most FBI agents testing the 10mm auto considered it kicking back too hard to for accurate shooting.

[marktmurphy]

I used to think he should stick with it, but to be honest it's only a gun so it doesn't really matter. And it does look a bit incongruous now: it looks like a very old gun. Makes more sense for a high tech Bond to have a newer weapon, and the Brosnan movies made me realise I don't care if he doesn't have the PPK.

[Dustin]

I used to think he should stick with it, but to be honest it's only a gun so it doesn't really matter. And it does look a bit incongruous now: it looks like a very old gun. Makes more sense for a high tech Bond to have a newer weapon, and the Brosnan movies made me realise I don't care if he doesn't have the PPK.

By now it is an old gun. The design of the PP (of which the PPK is but a chopped version) dates back to 1929; the PPK was then produced from 1931 onwards. In a few years I suppose the PPK might look as outdated as a Colt Single Action Army model would.

That said it's still a deadly weapon, every bit so as the wheelgun is. Someone's first priority would not be to argue the age of the firearm if he's hit by either. I can believe Bond uses a PPK if I just assume he's loading some special for-00-use-only fragmentation ammunition provided by the SIS and that's it for me. It's not supposed to be 'real', it's just meant to be not too obviously fake.

Edited by Dustin, 09 July 2012 - 12:35 PM.

[Golddragon71]

After looking at the comparison pic i posted above I found one more pro for the PPS It greatly reduces the chance of Slide-Bite (where the webbing if the gun hand is cut by the rearward/forward movement of the slide in firing) the PPS and P99 both have the grip style so that the slide is positioned in a way that it's above and behind the webbing effectively protecting the hand from any such occurrence.

[Miles Miservy]

Thought he switched up to the P99 in TND? I think that's what he pulled on Goldie in TWINE ("After you; I insist.") Either way, It matters not. Sure, it's the gun he's most identified with but the circumstances sometimes dictate which gun he uses. Example; in the PTS of LTK, Leiter hands him a Beretta, "Just in Case...".

[Messervy]

I honestly don't really care, as long as it's a credible enough gun. Anyway, didn't Bond, just like Miles Miservy mentionned, switched to the P99 a long time ago?

Only thing is, if we lose the PPK: how would we get iconic lines like "Walther PPK, 7.65 millimeter. Only three men I know use such a gun. I believe I've killed two of them."?... Movie-Bond is identified by the villains precisely because he has the PPK. Would be a shame to lose that signature. Just like the Vodka-Martini, actually.

[Golddragon71]

He did indeed They switched him back to the PPK in QoS re-read the original post I walk through the whole progression

[Messervy]

Ok, I see. I just didn't remember seeing a PPK in QoS (didn't really pay attention, I must say).
I personally think the P99 looks better than the PPK. No that it matters what a gun looks like, though!

[The Shark]

No that it matters what a gun looks like, though!

In the world of movie Bond, it does.

[Dustin]

No that it matters what a gun looks like, though!

In the world of movie Bond, it does.

Not really, Bond has used numerous different guns that supposedly were PPKs - or at least were shown without further explanation - nobody cared much. In LALD he suddenly totes a big frame S&W with long barrel, in OP he uses a P5. Most people don't spot the difference or don't care about it. You could show him with a Desert Eagle and still call it a Walther.

[Eric Stromberg]

I like the PPS enough to have seriously considered buying one myself. I like the look of it and also what I am hearing about its performance.

I say Bond keeps the PPK as his standard carry but uses the PPS on one of his "operations" where a fugly, tactical sidearm is more appropriate.

[Miles Miservy]

No that it matters what a gun looks like, though!

In the world of movie Bond, it does.

Not really, Bond has used numerous different guns that supposedly were PPKs - or at least were shown without further explanation - nobody cared much. In LALD he suddenly totes a big frame S&W with long barrel, in OP he uses a P5. Most people don't spot the difference or don't care about it. You could show him with a Desert Eagle and still call it a Walther.

I think Dalton's PPK's were the only ones w/brown wooden pistol grips but I could be wrong.

[Dustin]

No that it matters what a gun looks like, though!

In the world of movie Bond, it does.

Not really, Bond has used numerous different guns that supposedly were PPKs - or at least were shown without further explanation - nobody cared much. In LALD he suddenly totes a big frame S&W with long barrel, in OP he uses a P5. Most people don't spot the difference or don't care about it. You could show him with a Desert Eagle and still call it a Walther.

I think Dalton's PPK's were the only ones w/brown wooden pistol grips but I could be wrong.

Yes, I noticed that too. Looked like wrap-around wood panels in the shoulder rig. Can't say if it was for the first time. I also remember - probably - a publicity shot of Bond's LALD gear in a case ( Walther automatic, S & W revolver, shark gun and ammunition). Here the Walther seemed to be nickel-plated or stainless.

[Golddragon71]

Well here's a refresher of the Guns we've seen James use primarily

The .25 Beretta 418 this was Lit Bond's gun of choice from Casino Royale-Dr. No

The Beretta Model 1934 this was the film Bond's Beretta at the beginning of Dr. No before he's forced to trade it in for the Walther PPK (However Roger Moore can clearly be seen carrying the '34 B in certain parts of the pyramid scene in TSWLM)

The Walther PPK Bond's standard issue from Dr. No to Tomorrow Never Dies (Books and films)

The Walther LP53 Airgun This is the gun seen in many of the early promotional photos of connery as well as many of the Bond movie posters

The Walther P38 used by Goldfinger's Korean Guards (one of which was stolen by Bond in Kentucky and earlier used in the escape attempt from Goldfinger's Plant in Switzerland)

Walther P5 used by Moore in Octopussy and Connery in NSNA

FN Model 1903 Gardner Bond's first Walther replacement in License Renewed

Heckler-Koch VP70 fans objected to the FN so Gardner went with a weapon that more closely resembled the Walther P5

Heckler-Koch P7.....Gardner had trouble making up his mind didn't he?..(This was also used by Dr. Kaufman in TND)

ASP 9mm I actually really like this gun a lot because of the see thru panel in the grip that allowed you to check your ammo.....Bond used it for the better part of the remaining Gardner books except for Win Lose or Die
http://i836.photobuc...mm_IMG_1526.jpg
Browning Hi-Power this gun's been used by a lot of characters in the Bond franchise as well as by Bond himself in gardner's W,LoD
http://i836.photobuc...4_20850/P99.jpg
Walther P99 Bond selected this for the attack on carver's boat in the film Tomorrow Never Dies but in the Novel Q himself issues it to Bond along with the BMW 750il Bond would use it From here until the end of Casino Royale
http://i836.photobuc...Walther_PPS.jpg
Walther PPS Deever gave this new issue to Bond in Carte Blanche and I've taken a liking to it as an update successor to the PPK

Edited by Golddragon71, 09 July 2012 - 07:52 PM.

[DominicGreene]

What about the Walter PPQ?

[The Shark]

Just as fugly as the PPS. They look like plastic sci-fi gun controllers at an arcade.

[DominicGreene]

Just as fugly as the PPS. They look like plastic sci-fi gun controllers at an arcade.

You have to admit that the PPQ looks slightly better.

[Goldengun007]

Had the opportunity to shoot the PPQ recently, and liked it quite a bit. The PPK is really underpowered by today's standards, with the 9 mm being considered the minimum to inflict a great deal of damage. I own both a 7.65 mm PPK and a 9 mm P99 and while the PPK is the easier to conceal, there is such a difference in the delivery both pack. The P99 really is like a brick through a pane glass window; the PPK less so. But as a traditionalist, I love my PPK and would not want to see Bond change his regular weapon to anything different. And spot on to the poster who said the P99 lessens the risk of "bite", having gotten bitten a couple of times by the PPK when you shoot the last round.

[Matt Monro]

No that it matters what a gun looks like, though!

In the world of movie Bond, it does.

Not really, Bond has used numerous different guns that supposedly were PPKs - or at least were shown without further explanation - nobody cared much. In LALD he suddenly totes a big frame S&W with long barrel, in OP he uses a P5. Most people don't spot the difference or don't care about it. You could show him with a Desert Eagle and still call it a Walther.

Hell, Bond CALLS the P5 a PPK in Octopussy, and until I saw NSNA, I thought he was right. Seeing Connery with the P5 made me make the connection.

[MajorB]

Did he use the P5 all the way through OP? I always assumed he had the PPK early on, and was later given the P5 by Q. But I never looked that closely early in the film.

I like the looks of the PPK way better than any of the modern chunky Glockified Walthers. I've never been too concerned about its practicality--stopping power, etc. I don't usually expect the capabilities of guns to be realistically portrayed in movies any more than the capabilities of computers are, so it's more the look than anything else for me.

[AMC Hornet]

Well said. The PPK & P5 look right. Never mind that the PPK was withdrawn from service in 1974 - keep using it, or at least something that looks like it, not one of those big, fugly gutbusters.

[Dustin]

If it's just the looks, nothing easier...

[Messervy]

The looks that kill...

[The Shark]

If it's just the looks, nothing easier...

Great pick. The P232 would be a perfect replacement, if the day comes again.

[Dustin]

Great pick. The P232 would be a perfect replacement, if the day comes again.

Truth be told - I don't even know if this gun hasn't already been in the odd Bond, without anybody taking notice. It's just so, so close to the PPK. The Astra Constable is another one I wouldn't dare a bet upon. It could have been in any of the films after 1969.

[AMC Hornet]

Very nice. I think I like the Astra better of the two.