James Bond: The True Story Behind 007's Signature Weapon
There's a true story behind James Bond's weapon of choice: the Walther PPK. MI6 agent 007 is one of the most legendary characters in all of fiction. Practically every facet of his character has become iconic, from his Aston Martin cars to his Omega watches and his Walther PPK, a compact pistol originally designed for use in undercover operations. Originally, James Bond used to be armed with a Baretta 418 in the Ian Fleming novels — here's why the secret agent made the switch.
From the very beginning of his cinematic tenure, 007 has been armed with the PPK. The weapon was first delivered to him in an early scene of Dr. No, the first film in the series. Ever since, it has been Bond's trusty sidearm for nearly all of the character's on-screen adventures, save for a period in the late Brosnan/early Craig era where he switched to the Walther P99.
Related: Proof That James Bond ISN'T A Codename
In the initial novels by Ian Fleming, Bond used a Baretta 418, a small gun chambered for .25 caliber bullets. This was the same sidearm Fleming himself had been issued during his time as a World War II intelligence officer. He felt it would fit a character like James Bond since it was easy to conceal: in a thin chamois leather holster, it would be nigh-unnoticeable to potential enemies and – more importantly – it wouldn't make any unwanted creases in his suit. However, one man believed Bond should carry a stronger weapon, and his interactions with Ian Fleming led to 007 being forced to abandon the Baretta and pick up his iconic PPK.
The true story of James Bond's signature weapon goes back to the Ian Fleming novels. The literary version of 007 had been well-served by his .25 caliber pistol, but Fleming opted to change James Bond's
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